"Music can change the world, because it can change people"

Bono

Music

Gillas Lane is a school that embraces the therapeutic and mood enhancing qualities of music. From our daily morning Gillas Lane disco as the children enter school to the amazing performances by our confident children in a range of venues, music is the beating heart of our school. Our Music curriculum is a blend of specialist teaching from the inspirational North East Music Foundation and use of Charanga; this is a high quality programme that supports non-specialists to deliver a high quality music curriculum.  

 

Here are our long term plans for Music.

of
Zoom:
Search:

Music Progressive Milestones in Disciplinary Learning

 

Our Music Milestones contain the disciplinary knowledge needed to understand the disciplinary concepts. Our mid term planning specifies the substantive knowledge the children will learn.

 

Disciplinary Knowledge – Thinking Like a Musician

When thinking like a musician, children learn to listen, create, and respond with awareness and imagination.

Musicians consider:

  • Pitch – how high or low a sound is, and how it creates melody and harmony
  • Duration – the length of sounds and silences, forming rhythm and tempo
  • Dynamics – the volume of music, used to express mood and contrast
  • Tempo – the speed of the music, affecting energy and emotion
  • Timbre – the unique quality of sound from different instruments or voices
  • Texture – how layers of sound are combined, from solo lines to rich harmonies
  • Structure & Pattern – how music is organised, including repetition and variation
  • Value & Appreciation – understanding the cultural, emotional, and personal significance of music, and developing thoughtful responses to it

 

Take a look at our Progressive Milestones in Disciplinary Learning:

 

of
Zoom:
Search:

We have a lot of music going on at Gillas Lane, and all of it is carefully planned for to ensure progression in substantive and disciplinary learning. 

 

Below is our Music Milestones by Focus Area document that demonstrates which milestones are hit in each music session. 

of
Zoom:
Search:

Substantive Knowledge – Understanding Music

 

Knowledge about music history and musicians:

  • The work of specific musicians and composers (current, historical, local, and international)
  • How music has changed over time (genres, styles, and movements)
  • The role of music in different cultures and societies

Knowledge about elements of music (instruments, techniques, and forms):

  • Singing, playing instruments, and body percussion
  • Composing and improvising using rhythm, pitch, and dynamics
  • Listening and responding to different musical forms and structures
  • Exploring musical notation and symbols

 

This knowledge helps children build a rich understanding of music as both a creative and cultural practice, deepening their appreciation and ability to express themselves musically.

 

Take a look at our Substantive Knowledge Map:

 

 

 

 

 

The Importance of Music in the Early Years

 

Music is a powerful and enriching part of early childhood education, offering a wide range of developmental benefits for our youngest learners. At Gillas Lane, we recognise music as a vital tool for nurturing children's growth across emotional, social, cognitive, and physical domains.

 

From singing nursery rhymes to exploring instruments, music helps our children develop listening skills, rhythm, and coordination. These activities support language development by enhancing memory, phonemic awareness, and the ability to follow patterns and sequences - skills that are essential for reading and communication.

 

Music also plays a key role in emotional expression and regulation. It provides a joyful outlet for children to explore their feelings, build confidence, and develop a sense of identity. Group music-making encourages collaboration, turn-taking, and respect for others, fostering important social skills in a fun and inclusive environment.

 

Creatively, music stimulates imagination and curiosity. It invites our children to experiment with sound, movement, and storytelling, helping them to think in new and expressive ways. Exposure to different musical styles and cultures also promotes diversity and global awareness from an early age.

 

Above all, music brings joy and connection. It creates shared experiences that strengthen relationships between children, educators, and families. By embedding music into our early years curriculum, we aim to inspire a lifelong love of learning and creativity in every child.

 

Take a look below at our Music Early Years Link Documents to see how the skills children learn in the early years support them in their learning as they enter Key Stage 1 and beyond:

of
Zoom:
Search:
of
Zoom:
Search:

Music and SEND

 

At Gillas Lane, we are committed to increasing access for disabled pupils and supporting pupils with Special Educational Needs.

 

Music is widely recognised for its positive impact on children with SEND. It can be a powerful tool for boosting self-esteem, improving communication and social skills, enhancing focus, and promoting emotional well-being. Music can also be adapted to various learning styles and abilities, making it an inclusive and engaging activity for all our children.

of
Zoom:
Search:

 

 

 

The North East Music Foundation

The North East Music Foundation — Addanote

 

 

At Gillas Lane Primary Academy, we believe that music education should be relevant, engaging, motivating, and most importantly, it should ROCK!

Working with The North East Music Foundation, we offer a vibrant music curriculum that improves outcomes and raises aspirations.

 

Rock-a-lele: Whole class ukulele teaching gives children an excellent base for future string instruments. Harry Styles and Shawn Mendes songs are quickly learned and performed. George Formby wouldn't know what had hit him!

 

Charanga: Our carefully planned music units are delivered by our staff using Charanga. Clear progression in skills and knowledge ensures our children develop a life-long love of music.

Gillas Groovers

 

We're very lucky to have some performing arts lovers on our staff!

 

Mrs Wharton and Mr Forster deliver our weekly 'Gillas Groovers' singing club - the children belt out modern hits and rock the classics every Thursday lunchtime. Catch our Gillas Groovers performing in our termly showcases!

 

Singing Assembly... not at Gillas Lane!

It's our weekly MUSIC MASH UP!

Each Thursday, Team Gillas comes together to sing their hearts out; and of course there's a Gillas twist!

 

Confidence, resilience, aspiration, strength, love - these are all themes that come through loud and proud on our singing assembly playlist; we take every opportunity to promote these characteristics and singing assembly is another way to do this. 

 

Here are some of our most recent assembly bangers!

Crazy What Gillas Can Do!

This is a school favourite - high tempo and guaranteed to get everyone singing! FYI - we have changed the lyrics to "crazy what Gillas can do" to remind us of how much we can achieve working as a team!

Mountain

"I'm a fighter, it's like I was born to be one!" What a classic lyric which really resonates with Team Gillas. Things may be tough, but when we reach that mountain top and look down at we have achieved, we know we have won! 

Unwritten

Every day is a fresh start - no matter what happened yesterday, today your page is unwritten. This song reminds us that we are in charge of our own future and  we need to do all we can to make that future a bright one!

Music Development Plan

Our Music Development Plan summarises how Gillas Lane delivers music education to all of our children across three areas; curriculm music, co-curricular provision and musical experiences. This will help our families to understand what we offer at Gillas Lane and who we work with to support music education in school. 

of
Zoom:
Search: