Overview of class lessons

Music is taught across the whole school using the Charanga scheme of work. We have a Musician of the Month focus and the children are exposed to music by this musician every week and learn a few simple facts about them too.  Everyone learns to sing and enjoys our Key Stage singing assemblies each week. 

We have good links with Enfield Music Services who come in across the year to work with different age groups, their specialist teachers extend beyond our existing provision in school. Children are given an opportunity to 'perform' to the rest of the school and their parents through this at the end of the block, as well as performing in the Early Years, KS1 Nativities and the Year 6 end of year production. 

Nursery: In Nursery, we sing lots of songs including nursery rhymes, counting songs and movement songs.  We use a variety of instruments so that we can gain confidence using them, learn correct techniques and learn about rhythm.

Reception: Reception builds on the work done in Nursery, continuing to build children’s confidence in finding their singing voices and playing percussion instruments and to extend their song repertoire. They start to improvise and to use pictures to represent sounds.

Year 1: During year 1 we continue to learn new songs and also play instruments such as drums, tambourines, woodblocks and triangles, exploring the different sounds and creating patterns as well as playing to a steady beat. We are also introduced to glockenspiels to explore using pitched instruments. 

Year 2: By year 2 the children are becoming confident singers and can cope well with simple rhythm work.  They have the opportunity to compose as a whole class and in small groups using classroom instruments and to represent their sounds with symbols.

Year 3: Children in year 3 are usually able to sing in tune and to cope with more complex rhythmic work.  As their reading skills improve, they are able to learn songs quickly and to accompany them on instruments. They compose in small groups using tuned and untuned percussion instruments.

Year 4: During year 4 we continue to learn more complex songs and learn accompanying musical parts to play alongside the songs. 

Year 5: By year 5 the children have learnt good singing techniques and are able to sing songs in two parts and to look at more complex accompaniments using instruments. They will also use tuned and untuned instruments creatively as they compose in groups. 

Year 6: By the time children reach the top of the school they are familiar with a range of songs in a variety of styles and are familiar with many tuned and untuned instruments.  They will have the opportunity to compose songs and raps and to create and notate longer compositions.