Our vocabulary progression is a working document as we adapt to the needs of the children. When we make changes we will let you know on class dojo so you can take a look at the updated version.
Charanga Music at Totternhoe
Music is a universal language that embodies one of the highest forms of creativity. A high quality music education should engage and inspire pupils to develop a love of music and their talent as musicians, and so increase their self-confidence, creativity and sense of achievement. As pupils progress, they should develop a critical engagement with music, allowing them to compose, and to listen with discrimination to the best in the musical canon.
National Curriculum Music (2014)
We have been extremely fortunate to have secured funding from our PA, so that we could begin using the Charanga Musical School scheme at Totternhoe, from Autumn 2019. Our PA very kindly helped with the purchase of a class set of glockenspiels and the initial subscription. The children have loved taking part in their fun, interactive music lessons, developing a range of skills in listening, appraising, playing, performing and improvising.
Through the Musical School programme, the children develop their understanding, make musical judgements, apply their new learning, develop their aural memory, express themselves physically, emotionally and through discussion and create their own musical ideas.
The activities and games cover the musical dimensions, (formerly elements – pulse, rhythm, pitch etc) through singing and playing instruments, listening and creating music – all intrinsically linked through a central song or piece. They don't just learn about the music but are able to use their new skills to perform their chosen piece.
There are lots of different song choices for each year group as well as theme based songs for the children to learn in topic lessons - listen out for those at home and in our class assemblies!
Enrichment activities: additional tuition for all
For the past few years, we have been extremely fortunate to have been able to offer further enriching musical experiences to our main school children, through the provision offered by Central Bedfordshire Inspiring Music, and generous donations, including through the Governors' Trust Fund and the PA. The projects we have been able to experience are Music Makers, Learn to Sing, and Instrumental Superstars.
In 2021/ 2022, all children from Year 1 - Year 6 will be taking part in music lessons for the whole of the Summer Term. Year 1 and Year 5/6 will be having singing/ voice lessons with Lindsay Monteath, Year 2 will have ocarina lessons with Mary-Ann Bland, and Year 3 and Year 4 will have ukulele lessons with Natasha Thompson.
In previous years, KS2 children have had a term of learning ukelele, and KS1 children have had a term's lessons singing and playing percussion instruments. Each year group/ class has ended their learning with a wonderful performance, showcasing their learning, their progress and their amazing skills, to the whole school and to parents/carers, under the guidance of Natasha Thompson.
Learning an instrument at Totternhoe CE Academy

Children from Year 2 upwards have the opportunity to learn a musical instrument through Central Bedfordshire Inspiring Music service. These lessons are privately funded and arranged directly between families and Inspiring Music. Unfortunately, we are NOT able to offer IN school 1:1 lessons currently. It is possible to make arrangements to continue learning at home, through online lessons. We were very pleased that a number of our pupils continued their music lessons online throughout the lockdown period.
Please contact Inspiring Music direct to discuss options, if your child would like to continue/take up learning a musical instrument.
Contact Inspiring Music
Call us: 0300 300 6604
Email us: inspiring.music@centralbedfordshire.gov.uk
Our address:
Inspiring Music
Flitwick Library
15 Coniston Road
Flitwick
Bedfordshire
Follow the link below to find out more:
https://www.inspiringmusic.co.uk/lessons-schools/overview
Under normal circumstances, we encourage all our pupils who learn an instrument, either at home or at school, to take part in performance opportunities at our community tea party events, and during some Church services.
Visits and Visitors: Music in EYFS
Autumn 2020
Cherry Class have enjoyed exploring their theme: 'What's that sound?'
They have designed and created some amazing instruments, and were treated to a wonderful outdoor concert by one of our accomplished parents, who shared her skills on various woodwind instruments, including flute and clarinet.
Thank you, Mrs Neill!
Cherry class love the music of 'Peter and the Wolf', and have become very good at identifying the sounds of particular instruments.