In Music at Florence MacWilliams students will develop a range of skills to help them become confident musicians. The curriculum is centered on the PACE principles and promotion will feature prominently in lessons. Central to the delivery of Music is a sense of Pride and a love of learning reflected through Performing and Composing music, both as individuals and collaboratively through a positive can-do mindset & resilience. The curriculum itself is high challenge and Ambitious making use of a range of instruments, styles and modern technology where appropriate. We aim to foster a Caring and enquiring attitude, encouraging active participation, and the development of cultural capital - asking what we can learn not just about others, but about ourselves - through the study of diverse genres of music. Excellence in all musical activities is a key priority at Florence MacWilliams, celebrating the skills and joy that great musical performances or compositions can initiate. Alongside the core musical disciplines of performing, composing, listening and appraising a range of transferable skills will be developed, for example dexterity and motor skills; commitment; aesthetic judgement; teamwork; time-management; multi-tasking; communication. 

Musical skills develop over time and the musical curriculum is best viewed as a spiral; skills are developed frequently, with increased difficulty and in varying contexts with each repeat. Prior musical knowledge is integrated into each topic, creating a cohesive learning experience that fosters an appreciation for the subject. Students will explore the basic building blocks of Music in Year 7, creating and performing ideas to show their understanding of the constituent elements. By Year 8 their skills can be applied to different genres and styles, e.g Blues, Classical, Indian. Then, in Year 9 pupils are encouraged to utlilise modern technology and express themselves further through the creation of music in different styles. 

Key concepts: performing, composing, critical listening skills, appraisal; self-reflection