Music

Intent

Listen, Appraise, Compose and Perform

At St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, we believe that music is a powerful and enriching part of every child's education. Through our use of the Kapow Primary Music Scheme, we aim to inspire pupils to develop a lifelong love of music whilst nurturing their creativity, confidence and self-expression.

From the moment pupils join us in the Early Years, they develop a love of singing, rhythm and musical expression through rhymes, songs and playful exploration. We believe that music provides opportunities for children to perform, compose, listen and appraise, enabling them to develop as confident musicians and enthusiastic participants in musical experiences. We want all pupils to gain a secure understanding of the interrelated dimensions of music, including pitch, rhythm, tempo, dynamics and timbre, whilst experiencing a diverse range of musical styles, genres, cultures and historical periods. Pupils encounter music from a wide range of genres, cultures and historical periods, such as Classical, Jazz, Motown and Pop, enabling them to appreciate how music is created and how it communicates ideas and emotions.

Implementation

Music is taught through the Kapow Primary Music Scheme, which provides a carefully sequenced curriculum that develops musical knowledge and skills progressively from EYFS to Year 6.

The curriculum enables pupils to:

Sing confidently and expressively both individually and as part of a group.
Listen to and appraise music from a wide range of musical traditions, genres and cultures.
Explore and understand the interrelated dimensions of music.
Compose and improvise using voice, instruments and digital technology.
Perform with fluency, accuracy and increasing confidence.
Develop an understanding of musical notation and musical vocabulary.
Play a range of tuned and untuned instruments.
Reflect upon and evaluate their own performances and compositions.

Music lessons provide practical and engaging opportunities for pupils to explore rhythm, melody, harmony and structure. Learning is enriched through performances, liturgical celebrations, collective worship, concerts and opportunities to share musical achievements with the wider school community.

Lessons are adapted to ensure all pupils can access and enjoy music, enabling every child to succeed and flourish as a musician.

Throughout the year, pupils take part in a wide variety of musical experiences. They learn and perform songs and hymns across school life, including in masses, liturgies, nativities, The Way of the Cross and Year 6's end of year production.

Pupils who wish to extend their musical learning can participate in additional opportunities, including:

Surrey Arts’ 1:1 instrumental tuition,
KS2 Choir,
and wider performing arts events.

These experiences help pupils build confidence and develop ensemble skills in line with curriculum expectations for performing in solo and ensemble contexts with increasing accuracy, fluency, control and expression.

Impact

The impact of our music curriculum is evident in pupils who are confident, enthusiastic and reflective musicians. Through the progressive Kapow curriculum, children develop the knowledge, skills and vocabulary required by the National Curriculum whilst fostering creativity, self-expression and cultural understanding.

By the time pupils leave St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, they will:

Demonstrate confidence and enjoyment when performing and creating music.
Sing accurately and expressively across a range of musical styles.
Perform on tuned and untuned instruments with increasing skill and control.
Compose, improvise and arrange music creatively.
Listen to, analyse and evaluate music using appropriate musical vocabulary.
Understand and appreciate a wide variety of musical genres, traditions and cultures.
Work independently and collaboratively to create and perform music.
Retain and apply musical knowledge and skills across their learning.
Achieve age-related expectations in Music.
Develop a lifelong appreciation of music and its role in faith, culture and society.

Oracy in Music

Through our music curriculum, pupils develop their oracy skills by:

Using musical vocabulary accurately to describe, analyse and evaluate music.
Discussing musical preferences and responding thoughtfully to different styles and genres.
Explaining creative choices when composing and performing.
Performing confidently before a range of audiences.
Giving and receiving constructive feedback respectfully.
Collaborating effectively during rehearsals, performances and composition tasks.
Reflecting on how music communicates emotions, ideas and meaning.
Articulating how their musical skills and understanding have developed over time.

Catholic Ethos

At St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, music plays a significant role in celebrating and strengthening our Catholic faith. Through hymn singing, liturgical celebrations, prayer and worship, pupils experience music as a meaningful way of praising God and expressing faith.

Our music curriculum encourages children to recognise the beauty and joy of God's creation through musical expression. Pupils learn that music has the power to unite communities, inspire hope and communicate messages of love, dignity and respect. Through collective performance and shared musical experiences, children develop empathy, confidence and an appreciation of the unique gifts and talents God has given them.

British Values

The music curriculum actively promotes British Values and prepares pupils for life in modern Britain.

Through music, pupils develop:

Mutual Respect by valuing the performances, ideas and contributions of others.
Tolerance of Different Faiths and Beliefs through studying and appreciating music from a wide range of cultures, traditions and communities.
Individual Liberty through creative self-expression, performance and composition.
Democracy through collaboration, discussion and shared decision-making when creating and performing music.
The Rule of Law through understanding expectations within performances, respecting intellectual property and following agreed rules when working together.

These experiences help children become respectful, confident and culturally aware citizens who recognise music's power to bring people together and celebrate diversity.