The importance of Music at Well Green Primary School

Music education at Well Green Primary school plays a critical role in the cognitive, emotional, and social development of young children. Here are several reasons why music education is essential:

1. Cognitive Development: Learning music enhances brain development, particularly in areas like memory, attention, and problem-solving. Studies show that children who engage in musical activities develop better language and maths skills, as music involves complex patterns and rhythms that mirror mathematical concepts.
2. Emotional Expression: Music allows children to express emotions they may not yet have the words for. This can help in building emotional intelligence and managing feelings, as well as boost confidence and self-esteem.
3. Social Skills: Group music-making, such as singing in choirs or playing in a band, encourages teamwork, communication, and cooperation. Children learn to listen to each other and work together to create something beautiful, fostering a sense of community.
4. Cultural Awareness: Music education introduces children to diverse cultures and historical contexts. It exposes them to various musical styles and traditions, encouraging an appreciation of diversity.
5. Creativity: Music fosters creativity and imagination. When children compose, improvise, or perform, they engage in creative thinking, which is essential not only in music but in many other areas of life.

The renowned composer and conductor Leonard Bernstein once said:
"Music can name the unnameable and communicate the unknowable."
This quotation emphasizes the profound ability of music to express emotions and ideas that words cannot, highlighting its importance in shaping the emotional and intellectual growth of young students.

Overall, integrating music education into primary schools offers a multitude of benefits that extend far beyond just learning to play an instrument or sing. It enriches children’s lives and prepares them for success in various aspects of their personal and academic journeys.

Intent:

At Well Green, the intention is that children gain a firm understanding of what music is through listening, singing, playing, evaluating, analysing, and composing across a wide variety of historical periods, styles, traditions, and musical genres. Our objective is to develop a curiosity for the subject, as well as an understanding and acceptance of the validity and importance of all types of music, and an unbiased respect for the role that music may wish to be expressed in any person’s life. We are committed to ensuring children understand the value and importance of music in the wider community, and are able to use their musical skills, knowledge, and experiences to involve themselves in music in a variety of different contexts.

Implementation:

The music curriculum ensures students sing, listen, play, perform and evaluate. This is embedded in the classroom activities as well as the weekly singing assemblies, various concerts and performances, the learning of instruments, and joining music groups such as the choir. The elements of music are taught in classroom lessons so that children are able to use some of the language of music and understand how it is made, played, appreciated and analysed. In the classroom, children have the opportunity to play the instruments from all four main instrument groups of wind, strings, percussion and keyboards. In doing so, we understand the different principles of each method of creating notes. They also learn how to compose, focussing on different dimensions of music, which in turn feeds their understanding when listening, playing, or analysing music. Composing or performing using body percussion and vocal sounds is also part of the curriculum, which develops the understanding of musical elements.

Impact:

Whilst in school, children have access to a varied programme, which allows students to discover areas of strength, as well as areas they might like to improve upon. Their experiences develop self-confidence, interaction with and awareness of others, and self-reflection. Music will also develop an understanding of culture and history, both in relation to students individually, as well as ethnicities from across the world. Children are able to enjoy music, in as many ways as they choose- either as listener, creator or performer. They can dissect music and comprehend its parts. They can sing and feel a pulse. They have an understanding of how to further develop skills less known to them, should they ever develop an interest in their lives.