Our intention is that children gain an understanding of what music is through listening, singing, playing, evaluating, analysing, and composing music across a wide variety of historical periods, styles, traditions, and musical genres. Our objective is to develop curiosity for the subject, as well as an understanding and acceptance of the validity and importance of all types of music, and respect for the role that music may play and be expressed in a person’s life. We are committed to ensuring children understand the value and importance of music in the wider community and that they can use their musical skills, knowledge, and experiences to involve themselves in music in a variety of different contexts.

Our curriculum enables children to listen, sing, play, perform and evaluate. We use the structured music scheme ‘Kapow’ to teach these skills throughout the year and to ensure that the children’s musical ability progresses from EYFS through to Year 6. Children take part in a weekly singing assembly and sing daily in class. Where appropriate, we link our music topic to history, geography or science units. We also use art and dance to aid children’s creativity and engagement with the music that they are listening to and composing. Children are taught the vocabulary of music, and thus are able to deconstruct what they are listening to and have a greater understanding of how music is made and played. They use these skills to analyse a variety of pieces of music and give their personal opinions on what they have heard. Children also compose their own music, using their voices, body percussion and instruments to express themselves and perform in front of others.

Our children have access to a varied programme, ensuring they encounter a range of music styles throughout history and engage with music in different ways. This allows them to discover their individual areas of strength and areas for improvement within the curriculum. Their education in music helps to build children’s cultural capital, self-confidence, creativity and sense of achievement, as well as giving them opportunities to work collaboratively with their peers. Music also broadens their knowledge of and interest in different cultures and time periods and they learn that music is an integral part of all societies through history. Children enjoy music in different ways and are able to understand and discuss the component parts.