At Willaston, our vision is to enable children to achieve their highest potential through a wide range of quality learning experiences in an environment that is inspirational and stimulating, yet safe and secure. Through our music curriculum we ensure effective teaching and learning of skills and understanding in music whilst stimulating the curiosity and enjoyment of our children. Through the ‘Charanga’ music scheme, our children develop a diverse range of skills and knowledge and will, wherever possible, make links to other areas of the curriculum. Willaston children also encounter a range of musical opportunities through musical assemblies, class and whole performances and varied extra-curricular tuition in piano, brass & woodwind, guitar & ukulele, choir and Rocky Steady.  

Our vision for music is that we provide every child with high quality music experiences which engage and inspire them. We aim to provide opportunities for all children to create, play, perform and enjoy music and to appreciate a variety of music styles. We aim for every child encounter with a range of musical skills, knowledge and an understanding and love of music which they can carry with them for the rest of their lives. 

Our music curriculum is delivered by enthusiastic teachers following the comprehensive and fun, ‘Charanga’ music scheme. Willaston children’s understanding of music will be developed through a broad range of activities which bring together the requirements of  appraising, performing and composition. Over their time at Willaston, children are taught to make music together with tuned and un-tuned instruments, to develop improvisation skills and create their own compositions. They are taught to sing and play in time, both individually and within a group, controlling pulse and pitch and to read appropriate musical notation.  

Our children will develop a love and appreciation of a wide variety of musical styles. They will explore how sounds are made, and how music is produced by a variety of instruments, extending their imagination and creativity. They will build a sense of pulse and rhythm and understand a wide range of musical vocabulary. Through their learning, they will hone a set of interrelated skills including composition, improvisation, performance and appreciation. Children at Willaston learn and enjoy a wide range of songs and develop a positive towards musical expression, leading to success and satisfaction in music. 

About Charanga 

The Charanga Musical School Scheme provides teachers with week-by-week lesson support for each year group in the school. It is ideal for specialist and non-specialist teachers and provides lesson plans, assessment, clear progression, and engaging and exciting whiteboard resources to support every lesson. The Scheme supports all the requirements of the national curriculum.  

In line with the curriculum for music and guidance from Ofsted, this Scheme moves away from the previous levels and learning objective/outcome concepts to an integrated, practical, exploratory and child-led approach to musical learning. Ofsted have stated that “We will not always know the learning outcomes” so segregated learning objectives at the start of each lesson are not appropriate.Instead the interrelated dimensions of music weave through the units to encourage the development of musical skills as the learning progresses through listening and appraising, differing musical activities (including creating and exploring) and performing.  

How the Scheme is structured

Each Unit of Work comprises of three strands of musical learning which correspond with the national curriculum for music:  

1. Listening and Appraising  

2. Musical Activities  

a. Warm-up Games  

b. Optional Flexible Games  

c. Singing  

d. Playing instruments  

e. Improvisation  

f. Composition  

3. Performing 

Musical teaching and learning is not neat or linear. The strands of musical learning are part of the learning spiral. Over time, children can both develop new musical skills and concepts, and re-visit established musical skills and concepts. Repeating a musical skill doesn’t necessarily mean their progress is slowing down or their development is moving backwards! It's just shifting within the spiral. Mastery means both a deeper understanding of musical skills and concepts and learning something new .