The Importance of Music
Music is a unique form of communication that can change the way pupils feel, think and act. Music forms part of an individual's identity and positive interaction with music can develop pupils' competence as learners and increase their self-esteem. Music brings together intellect and feeling and enables personal expression, reflection and emotional development. As an integral part of culture, past and present, music helps pupils understand themselves, relate to others and develop their cultural understanding, forging important links between home, school and the wider world.
Music education encourages active involvement in different forms of music-making, both individual and communal, helping to develop a sense of group identity and togetherness. Music can influence pupils' development in and out of school by fostering personal development and maturity, creating a sense of achievement and self-worth, and increasing pupils' ability to work with others in a group context.
Music learning develops pupils' critical skills: their ability to listen, to appreciate a wide variety of music, and to make judgements about musical quality. It also increases self-discipline, creativity, aesthetic sensitivity and fulfilment.
Key Concepts
There are a number of key concepts that underpin the study of music. Pupils need to understand these concepts in order to deepen and broaden their knowledge, skills and understanding.
- Integration of practice
- Developing knowledge, skills and understanding through the integration of performing, composing and listening.
- Participating, collaborating and working with others as musicians, adapting to different musical roles and respecting the values and benefits others bring to musical learning.
- Cultural understanding
- Understanding musical traditions and the part music plays in national and global culture and in personal identity.
- Exploring how ideas, experiences and emotions are conveyed in a range of music from different times and cultures.
- Critical understanding
- Engaging with and analysing music, developing views and justifying opinions.
- Drawing on experience of a wide range of musical contexts and styles to inform judgements.
- Creativity
- Using existing musical knowledge, skills and understanding for new purposes and in new contexts.
- Exploring ways music can be combined with other art forms and other subject disciplines.
- Communication
- Exploring how thoughts, feelings, ideas and emotions can be expressed through music.
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