Music

Music Intent – What We Aspire for Your Child

At Green Park, we believe that music inspires creativity, builds confidence and enriches children's lives. Our music curriculum is designed to develop every child's musical understanding, appreciation and performance skills, regardless of their starting point.

Following the original Charanga Scheme of Work, pupils develop the interrelated dimensions of music—pulse, rhythm, pitch, tempo, dynamics, timbre, texture, structure and notation—through singing, listening, composing and performing. The curriculum introduces children to a wide range of musical genres, cultures, traditions and historical periods, fostering curiosity, respect and an appreciation of diversity.

Practical music-making is central to our curriculum. In Key Stage 1, pupils begin by exploring pulse, pitch and melody using chime bars, providing a secure foundation for understanding tuned percussion. As pupils move into Key Stage 2, glockenspiels are integrated throughout all Charanga units, enabling children to apply and develop their understanding of notation, melody and harmony within every area of learning.

Alongside this, we provide a progressive instrumental pathway. In Years 2 and 3, pupils have discrete units to learn the ocarina, developing breath control, finger placement, reading simple staff notation and ensemble performance. In Years 4 and 5, pupils build on these musical foundations by learning the recorder in discrete units, extending their technical skills, musical literacy and confidence as performers. By Year 6, the use of recorder is integrated into each unit, alongside the glockenspiel. This carefully planned progression ensures that all pupils experience sustained instrumental learning while developing resilience, discipline and teamwork.

Our curriculum aims to ensure that every child:

Develops a lifelong love and appreciation of music.

Becomes a confident singer, performer, listener and creator.

Learns to read and understand increasingly complex musical notation.

Progresses in playing tuned instruments through a clear pathway from chime bars to glockenspiels, ocarina and recorder.

Understands music's role across different cultures, communities and historical contexts.

Leaves primary school with the confidence and skills to continue their musical journey.

Music Implementation – Bringing Harmony to the Classroom

Music is taught weekly using the original Charanga Scheme of Work as the foundation for planning, ensuring clear progression from Reception to Year 6. Lessons are practical, engaging and inclusive, allowing all children to experience music through performing, listening, composing and evaluating.

Teaching includes:

High-quality singing as the foundation of every lesson.

Listening and responding to a broad range of musical styles and traditions.

Progressive teaching of the interrelated dimensions of music and musical vocabulary.

Opportunities to improvise, compose and perform individually and collaboratively.

Regular performance opportunities within school and the wider community.

Instrumental learning is embedded throughout the curriculum:

Key Stage 1: Pupils develop early understanding of pitch and melody through regular use of chime bars.

Across Key Stage 2: Glockenspiels are integrated into every Charanga unit, enabling pupils to apply their developing knowledge of notation, rhythm and melody in practical contexts.

Years 2 and 3: Pupils learn the ocarina, beginning with posture, breathing techniques, fingerings and simple notation before progressing to performing melodies and ensemble pieces.

Years 4 and 5: Pupils transition to the recorder, applying previously developed notation-reading skills while extending their range, technique, expression and ensemble playing.

Year 6: Pupils apply skills developed whilst learning to play the recorder in practical contexts, including opportunities to improvise and compose.

Assessment is continuous through teacher observation, discussion, practical performance, composition and pupil self-reflection. Learning is carefully sequenced so that pupils revisit and deepen musical knowledge and skills over time.

Music Impact – The Lasting Benefits for Our Children

By the time pupils leave our school, they are confident, enthusiastic musicians who have developed practical skills, musical understanding and a genuine appreciation of music.

Pupils will:

Sing with increasing accuracy, expression and confidence.

Perform confidently on chime bars, glockenspiels, ocarina and recorder, demonstrating secure technical and musical skills appropriate to their age.

Read and interpret musical notation with increasing fluency.

Compose and improvise using a range of musical elements.

Listen critically to music, identifying key features and expressing informed opinions using appropriate musical vocabulary.

Demonstrate resilience, collaboration and self-confidence through regular performance opportunities.

Appreciate music from a wide variety of cultures, traditions and historical periods.

Be well prepared for secondary music, having developed secure foundations in singing, instrumental performance, notation, composition and musical understanding.

The impact of our curriculum is evident in pupils' enjoyment of music, their confidence as performers and creators, and the quality of their musical outcomes. Through the progressive use of chime bars, glockenspiels, ocarina and recorder alongside the original Charanga Scheme, every child develops the knowledge, skills and enthusiasm needed to become an independent and lifelong musician.

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The Music Progression Documents (both knowledge and skills)