Music

Intent

At Hoo St Werburgh Primary School, we offer a music curriculum that strives to inspire creativity, self-expression and offers opportunities to connect with others. By providing a progressive curriculum which incorporates key performance skills, opportunities to understand and explore music, along with exposure to a wide range of musical styles, our children experience an enjoyable and engaging music curriculum. We hope to foster a life-long love of music by exposing them to diverse musical experience and igniting a passion for music. We pride ourselves on offering all children the opportunity to learn how to play a musical instrument. These experiences will take place during class teaching as well as music lessons led by an expert music teacher, for some year groups. Our children having the belief and self-confidence to reach their goals is vital in their development and we recognise the important part ‘The Arts’ has to play in this. We instil the belief of ‘be the best you can be’ by giving children the chance to take part in our very own ‘Hoo’s got Talent’, which gives children a platform to showcase any talent that recognise within themselves.

Implementation

At Hoo St Werburgh, we take great pride in our music curriculum, which is thoughtfully designed to comply with the national curriculum standards. Our music lessons, guided by the Charanga online scheme, encourage children to explore their musical talents in a fun and engaging manner. This structured programme carefully maps out the progression of skills and knowledge from Reception through to Year 6, ensuring that students find joy and relevance in their musical journey. Where possible, this links to the termly learning journey, allowing children to further understand the context of music.

Our teachers are dedicated to delivering the interrelated dimensions of music—covering aspects such as pitch, duration, dynamics, tempo, timbre, texture, structure, and proper musical notation. This comprehensive approach allows students to grasp various musical concepts as they progress through their education, leading to a rich and holistic understanding of music.

In our music lessons, each student has the opportunity to:

• Listen to and appreciate a wide range of recorded and live music
• Learn to play tuned instruments in KS2
• Musically engage with both tuned and untuned instruments
• Sing in different genres and for various purposes
• Participate in musical games that enhance learning
• Compose their own musical pieces
• Improvise creatively with music
• Perform for audiences in diverse settings
• Join in a variety of musical activities during dedicated music days

These experiences not only nurture a love for music in each child but also ensure they make meaningful strides in their musical education. From an early age, our students delve into the history of music, and while formal musical notation is introduced in KS2, we lay the groundwork by connecting sound and symbol from Key Stage 1 (KS1).

In Key Stage 2 (KS2), our pupils reap the rewards of the Medway Music Programme, where they have the chance to learn the recorders and clarinet. With highly trained and motivational instructors, we strive to create an inspiring environment where every child can thrive musically.

Music is recorded in learning journey books or is uploaded to central system using a QR code; this allows us to capture the children’s practical learning. Along with pupil voice, this forms the basis of our teacher assessment, which is then uploaded to our tracking system (HAT). The subject lead will then analyse this data to identify trends and next steps. 

Impact

At Hoo St Werburgh Primary School, we believe in the transformative power of music. Through the diverse range of musical opportunities and experiences we provide, our aim is that every child develops a genuine appreciation for different types of music. We want them not only to enjoy listening to music but also to understand its rich history and the ways music is created, produced, and communicated. By engaging with basic notation and exploring the interrelated dimensions of music—such as pitch, duration, dynamics, tempo, timbre, and texture—we’re helping them build a solid foundation in musical knowledge.

Learning to play a musical instrument is an essential part of our curriculum. We encourage children to pursue their musical interests, fostering skills that they can carry with them into later life, should they choose to do so. Beyond just the technical skills, our music programme is designed to instil a sense of confidence and self-worth in our students. They embark on a journey together, enhancing their abilities in effective communication and teamwork, which are invaluable skills both in music and in life.

As children engage with music, they develop critical thinking skills as they analyse and reflect on pieces. This inspires a motivation to continue broadening their musical understanding and enhancing their skills even after they leave our school. At Hoo St Werburgh, we’re dedicated to nurturing a generation of confident musicians who will carry the joy of music with them throughout their lives, enriching their experiences and those of others around them. We are passionate about music, and we want our students to feel the same way.