Music

Music is a core subject that helps children develop essential skills in rhythm, melody, performance, and composition. At Queensgate Foundation Primary School, we focus on building a strong musical foundation through engaging, hands-on activities and creative experiences. Our curriculum encourages children to understand musical concepts deeply, develop confidence in performing and composing, and apply their learning to different styles and contexts. From exploring simple rhythms and songs in the early years to more complex compositions and ensemble work in later years, we support every child to progress at their own pace. Music is not only about notes—it helps develop creativity, listening skills, perseverance, and collaboration, all of which are vital for success across the curriculum and beyond.

A Message from Mrs Riches, our Music Subject Leader

Our well-equipped music room allows every child to explore a variety of instruments throughout their time with us. In the early years and Key Stage 1, children learn untuned percussion and glockenspiels. Year 2 introduces Ocarinas, followed by recorders in Year 3, Toots in Year 4, and ukulele and keyboard in Years 5 and 6. Additionally, we have peripatetic teachers who offer lessons in guitar, piano, and violin.

Singing is a beloved activity at Queensgate. We hold singing assemblies and incorporate singing into our lessons. Our choir proudly represents the school at various locations, including Osborne House, Carisbrooke Castle, the Minster, and other local churches and venues. A highlight of our year is when we spread cheer by carol singing at a local nursing home.

Beyond instruments, we explore the purpose of music through diverse topics such as "Music in Wartime," "The Most Dramatic Music in the World," "A World Tour of Music," "The Blues," and "A Discovery of Music Through the Ages." These topics provide ample opportunities to play instruments, collaborate, compose original pieces, and perform for each other and the rest of the school. We also host visiting groups. This year, the London Sinfonietta supported our composing work, and we enjoyed watching them in concert.

At Queensgate, we believe music should be enjoyed, expressive, and foster a lifelong love of singing and music-making.

Intent

We want our learners to develop a passion for music, in which pupils learn to appreciate music and develop a life-long love of music.

• Develop their skills, knowledge and understanding, to enable them to become confident performers, composers and listeners.
• Be introduced to a variety of genres of music from around the world and across generations and use music as a medium to explore and appreciate our own and other cultures.
• Develop their musical skills through singing, playing tuned and un-tuned instruments, composing and responding to music that they listen to.
• Develop transferable skills like expression, resilience and perseverance which are key in their development as learners and have a wider application in their lives both inside and outside of school.

Implementation

At Queensgate, our music curriculum follows the model music curriculum which builds the skills of singing, playing, composing, improvising and listening, progressively through the year groups.In Early years children’s musical awareness is developed to support their imagination and creativity. Pupils knowledge is built upon year-on-year, and they are taught how to sing fluently and expressively, play tuned and untuned instruments with accuracy and control. They will learn to recognise and name the key features of music: pitch, duration, tempo, timbre, structure, texture and dynamics and use these in their own composition and improvisations expressively. Pupils actively participate in a range of musical activities and tasks that are drawn from a range ofmusical styles and traditions to develop their musical skills and their understanding of how music works.Pupils take part in weekly singing assemblies where they are able to hone their performance skills and celebrate diversity by learning new songs from other cultures as well as learning new key vocabulary.

Impact

The impact of the Music curriculum can be seen through:

• Engagement and excitement of children taking part in music.
• The skills that they are taught equip them with a range of skills to enable them to appreciate music throughout their lives.
• Our children have become confident performers, composers and listeners, who are able to express themselves musically at school and beyond.
• Our children take part enthusiastically in the singing assemblies and are keen to excel.
• Lots of our children sign up for the enrichment music clubs and the peripatetic instrumental lessons which are taught by professional outside providers.
• Our children leave the school with the skills to progress at the next level of their education.