MUSIC

We aim to involve every child in enjoyable and educational musical activity, whilst encouraging high standards. Giving every child the right to learn to play an instrument and have outstanding teaching in their music education.

Curriculum Intent

At Newton Farm Infant and Primary School we see the value that music brings to pupils' education and lives. We therefore provide a range of opportunities for all pupils from Nursery to year 6 to create, play, perform and enjoy music. We want every pupil to have an exemplary primary music education, learning and experiencing a wide variety of musical forms and appreciate the importance of performing music together.

At Newton Farm our music curriculum intends to engage and inspire all pupils to develop a love of music, to identify and nurture their talent as musicians, and increase their self-confidence and creativity in the arts.

Over half of our pupils in KS2 learn an instrument, and there are normally more than 60 Musicians identified as musically more able across the school from year 1 - 6. We offer tuition in many orchestral instruments, they have weekly lessons and work towards practical examinations with Trinity School of Music. Most musicians are involved in ensemble work through choirs, bands and orchestras; there are more than 20 concerts and productions each year, with many solo performance opportunities.

Newton Farm has specialist music teaching from our Music Coordinator Miss Smith. Pupils from Nursery to Year 6 have a weekly music lesson in the school’s beautiful music room located inthe KS2 building. All pupils also have a weekly singing assembly in the hall where the school has two pianos, a stage, lighting, microphones and brand new sound system.

Curriculum Implementation

At Newton Farm we use our own music curriculum skills progression map across all Key Stages. Children are taught class music once a week as part of the curriculum for an hour. Currently Year 3 also takes part in Whole School Brass teaching which means that all our pupils learn a specialist instrument.

In addition, we have a range of instrumental tuition delivered by peripatetic staff from the Harrow Music Service. We currently offer tuition on the Violin, Trumpet, Clarinet and Guitar. Children are taught in small groups for 30 mins each week. 

We aim to implement the intent by giving the children opportunity to:

• Listen -  To review and evaluate music across a range of historical periods, styles and traditions, including the works of the great composers, looking at music from around the world and exposing pupils to different cultures and genres. 
• Compose  - to create and compose music on their own and with others, have the opportunity to learn a musical instrument, learn to read notation  whilst playing an instrument and have the opportunity to progress to the next level of musical achievement.
• Musicianship - Understand and explore how music is created, produced and communicated, including through the elements of music: pitch, duration, dynamics, tempo, timbre, texture, structure and musical notes.
• Perform - Pupils perform both on instruments and with their voice, giving many opportunities throughout the school year within class and as extra curricular activities. Pupils will gain confidence in performance throughout rehearsals and solo opportunities to showcase their talents.
• Singing - Learn to sing and to use their voices effectively, in school assemblies and in lessons. Pupils will sing a variety of songs in the curriculum to celebrate different faiths and cultures festivals. Pupils will sing songs and perform each year in class and as whole year groups/whole school. As a school we think singing is a fantastic way of encouraging pupils to engage in learning and we use SingUp to encourage all pupils to actively take part in singing inside and out of school. 

Curriculum Impact

During their time at Newton Farm, pupils will have a well-rounded experience giving them opportunities to develop vocal, listening, instrumental and performance skills. 

• Pupils in year 3 receive free tuition on either the Trumpet or Trombone as a year group. 
• Pupils learn to read notation from Nursery to Year 6, using different works and topics pupils gain understanding of reading notation to a high level. 
• Harrow Music Service provides specialist Brass teachers to deliver inspiring and engaging instrument lessons weekly. 
• Every year children who learn an instrument through small group teaching have the opportunity to participate in the Harrow Music Service music festivals alongside children from other schools in the borough. These are currently the Band, Guitar and String festival. 
• Pupils regularly achieve high standards in musical graded exams and perform with exceptional level of skill in music. With some gaining music scholarships and performing well in auditions for their following school.

Choir

“Most polished performance of the evening award” - J and C Sings choir festival

The Newton Farm Choir elite vocal ensemble, consisting of around 40 members, rehearses twice a week with one session led by Harrow Boys School Choir Fellow Mr Moy. Pupils sing sacred or classical vocal music and Miss Smith takes the following rehearsal to prepare for festivals and concerts externally. 

Over the years the KS2 School Choir have had many opportunities to perform in different venues including the Royal Albert Hall, Purcell School of Music, The Harrow Boys School, the Harrow Arts Centre and the 02.

Orchestra

The School Orchestra regularly performs in school and has external performance opportunities. The School Orchestra also regularly goes out of school on trips/performances to be inspired by incredibly talented musicians and join other musicians to perform. Previous School Orchestra trips include: BBC Primary proms at the Royal Albert Hall; The Chineke Orchestra at the Southbank Centre; The Royal College of Music Jazz Big Band; Music For Youth Proms at the Royal Albert Hall and The Purcell School of Music.

Concerts, Festivals and Productions

Special festivals including Diwali, Eid, Chinese New Year and Christmas are celebrated with productions by the Infants and Juniors. 

Every term we have a Concert in school which celebrates the musical skills and achievements of our pupils, Christmas Concert, Spring Concert and Summer Showcase. Pupils who are in the choir and orchestra or who have lessons either inside or outside of school perform solo/ensemble pieces on voice/instrument to an audience of around 200 parents. 

Pupils learning instruments in school additionally participate in Music Festivals throughout the year run by Harrow Music Service. 

In Year 6 pupils put on a production at the end of the Year to celebrate their time at Newton Farm, accompanied by the school year 6 band/orchestra.

All pupils in KS1 and KS2 are taken on trips to watch musicians perform, KS1 this term are taking part in a creative project with the London Symphony Orchestra and KS2 will be attending a concert called ‘Music Makers’ at the Royal Albert Hall, showcasing young musicians across the UK. In addition to this KS2 pupils are taken to the west end every year to watch a musical, previous musicals we have attended are Matilda, The Lion King, School of Rock and Wicked.

Our curriculum for this subject is based on the Newton Farm scheme of work.