We follow the Kapow Primary scheme as our approach to teaching music. This scheme takes a holistic approach, weaving together five core strands to create rich and engaging learning experiences:
· Listening and evaluating
· Creating sound
· Notation
· Improvising and composing
· Performing
Each unit of five lessons blends these strands within a cross-curricular theme designed to spark curiosity and inspire pupils to explore music with enthusiasm.
Through this scheme, children learn to:
· Sing fluently and expressively
· Play both tuned and untuned instruments with accuracy and control
· Recognise, describe and apply the interrelated dimensions of music — pitch, duration, tempo, timbre, structure, texture and dynamics — and use them purposefully in their own improvisations and compositions
Kapow Primary follows a spiral curriculum model, meaning that skills and knowledge are revisited and built upon over time. As pupils move through the scheme, they progress by:
· Tackling increasingly complex tasks
· Refining and improving simpler skills
· Deepening their knowledge of musical history, notation (including staff notation), and the interrelated dimensions of music
Every lesson is highly practical, encouraging pupils to take part in musical activities from a wide variety of styles, genres and traditions. They develop both technical skills and an understanding of how music works through:
· Independent tasks
· Pair and group work
· Improvisation and teacher-led performances
Lessons are designed to be active and hands-on, incorporating movement and dance, while also making meaningful links with other areas of the curriculum.
Books 1 and 2 are used at our school to deliver recorder teaching in Year 4 and 5.
· In Year 4, pupils work through Book 1, which introduces the fundamentals: how to hold and play the recorder, basic notation, simple rhythms, and a small range of notes. The lively, accessible pieces build confidence, fluency, and enjoyment.
· In Year 5, pupils progress to Book 2. This extends their skills by adding new notes, developing rhythm patterns, introducing longer and more varied pieces, and building ensemble skills. Pupils also grow in their ability to read music and perform with accuracy and expression.
Together, the two books provide clear progression and coverage from first access to confident early performance, ensuring that children leave Upper Key Stage 2 with secure foundational recorder and music-reading skills.
Opportunities to Perform
· Each class takes part in a Christmas performance – EYFS and KS1 Nativities and KS2 a Christmas concert including music.
· As part of the assessment, KS1 and KS2 perform to another class at the end of each unit to showcase their learning.
· Year 5 and 6take part in an end of year musical.
Music Cultural Capital
Peter Crossley teaches many children at school and has done so for many years. Contact Peter Via admin or directly: 07876 786389
IROCKs - fancy being a rock star and performing in one of a school bands, then enquire at the school office.
Whole School Music Workshops
Our KS2 school choir meet every Wednesday and take part in a local schools concert at Christmas and a Cantata in the spring.
(See out separate choir page)
Music is taught as a separate lesson each week in class. We follow the KAPOW scheme of work and Year 6 are currently learning to play the recorder.
There are opportunities to learn guitar and violin with Mr Crossley.
We also have a KS2 choir which meet each Wednesday (after school).
Throughout the year - we like to provide musical experiences through workshops and visiting musicians.
This year, we have had an African Drumming workshop and a Steel Pan workshop.
Music Medium Term Planning and vocab