Music

Music is an important activity for all pupils offering many opportunities for personal and social development. In particular we aim to teach the pupils to:

· listen and respond to a variety of musical sounds, both vocal and instrumental;
· explore and use a variety of sound makers, including instruments made by or with them;
· recognise how sounds can be made;
· invent and change sounds and patterns;
· create musical effects in response to symbol/pictorial notation;
· participate in the singing of a variety of songs;
· producing sounds as accompaniment to songs and dance.

Music enhances the pupils’ understanding and enjoyment in the context of activities that bring together performing and composing music as well as listening to and appraising the music of others. They are introduced to a variety of stimulating and interesting music from different ages and cultures.

Music activities are flexible enough to assimilate and explore novel and unexpected contributions by pupils. In this way, Music also helps to develop:

· imaginative and creative powers;
· ways of expressing thoughts, emotions and feelings;
· improvisational skills;
· social skills, including listening to and watching others;
· body awareness and control of limbs, hands and fingers;
· notions of cause-effect relationships';
· auditory discrimination;
· reasoning things out - predicting, testing, evaluating;

Some pupils have severe hearing impairments and for them Music will emphasise the visual and tactile sensations involved.