Music

Music 

At Isleham we aim to inspire creativity, expression, and a lifelong love of music 

At our school, Music is for everyone. We believe that every child should have the opportunity to explore, enjoy, and achieve in music, regardless of their starting point. Our curriculum is designed to nurture creativity, build confidence, and develop the skills needed to listen, perform, compose, and appreciate music from a wide range of traditions and cultures. 

How our Music curriculum meets statutory guidance 

Our scheme of work fulfils the requirements of the National Curriculum for Music. It ensures pupils: 

  • Perform, listen to, review, and evaluate music across a range of historical periods, genres, styles, and traditions. 

  • Learn to sing and use their voices, to create and compose music individually and with others. 

  • Have the opportunity to learn a musical instrument and use technology appropriately. 

  • Understand and explore how music is created, produced, and communicated through pitch, duration, dynamics, tempo, timbre, texture, structure, and notation. 

What children learn 

  • Performing: Singing, playing instruments, and developing ensemble skills. 

  • Composing: Creating original music, experimenting with sounds, and using notation. 

  • Listening and appraising: Exploring music from different times, places, and cultures, and developing the ability to discuss and evaluate it. 

  • Musical knowledge: Understanding key elements of music such as rhythm, pitch, dynamics, and structure. 

Our approach 

  • Spiral curriculum: Key skills and knowledge are revisited and built upon each year, ensuring progression from EYFS through to Year 6. 

  • Practical and engaging: Lessons are hands-on, with children actively making music through singing, playing, and composing. 

  • Inclusive: Every child is encouraged to participate and find joy in music, whether through performance, creativity, or appreciation. 

  • Cultural breadth: Pupils encounter music from a wide range of traditions, styles, and composers, broadening their horizons and deepening cultural awareness. 

Developing wider skills 

Music supports children’s wider development by building: 

  • Confidence and self-expression. 

  • Teamwork and collaboration. 

  • Listening and communication skills. 

  • Creativity and resilience. 

Assessment 

  • Formative assessment: Ongoing observation, questioning, and performance opportunities help teachers check understanding and progress. 

  • Summative assessment: End-of-unit performances, recordings, and reflections provide evidence of achievement and progression. 

Long-term plan 

Each year group explores a range of engaging topics, for example: 

  • Year 3: Rhythm and pulse, pentatonic melodies, and music inspired by places. 

  • Year 4: Singing in rounds, instrumental ensembles, and music linked to history and culture. 

  • Year 5: Exploring notation, composing with structure, and studying great composers. 

  • Year 6: Performing with confidence, advanced composition, and preparing for transition to secondary music. 

Skills for life 

By the end of primary school, pupils will have developed the confidence to perform, the creativity to compose, and the curiosity to listen with understanding. Most importantly, they will leave with a love of music that can enrich their lives forever.