How do you ensure you are covering the National Curriculum for music across your school and that the skills your pupils are learning are progressing across the school?

On Monday 2 March Essex Music Service launched its new CPD workshop at Robert Drake school in Benfleet.

Class teachers and music tutors came together to try out classroom based activities in singing, playing instruments, composing and listening and to look how these activities could be developed across the primary age range.

Using the ‘Minimum Expected Standards in Music’ document to guide the session and to use as a practical tool to develop the curriculum, we looked how the National curriculum can be broken down into skills which lead to the learning objectives for music sessions.

The session involved all participants playing and singing together and proved that everyone can be part of a musical experience that suits different skill levels.  We also thought about ways in which pupils with different needs can be taught together in a way that is both meaningful and encourages progression to their next level of musical excellence.  The singing, compositions and performances during the session were inspiring to hear.  Group music making really is a joyful experience and one that we cherish in our schools.

If you work with a group of schools and would like to host a CPD session in your local area, please email Liz.Leatherdale@essex.gov.uk to arrange a session