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Music
Music is a vibrant and vital part of life in the Junior School; pupils are offered a rich and varied experience from their very first day. Our carefully sequenced curriculum supports musical development from Reception through to Year 6, combining singing, instrumental work, movement, listening, composing, and performing in a joyful and inclusive environment. From thunderstorm soundscapes in Reception to composing motifs for Winnie the Pooh characters in Year 6, every year group embarks on a creative and meaningful journey.
Reception to Year 2: Laying the Foundations
In the early years, we focus on musical awareness through exploration and play. Reception pupils keep a steady beat with action songs and body percussion, and explore sound contrasts such as loud/soft or metal/wood. They begin to use voices and instruments to represent real-world sounds like traffic or rain. So–mi handsigns introduce pitch, and listening to orchestral pieces such as Storm Interlude from Peter Grimes reveals music’s expressive potential.
In Year 1, children refine rhythmic skills through ta, titi, and rest patterns, and begin relating pitch contour to tuned instruments. In projects like How to Look After Your Dinosaur, they compose rhythms to match story scenes, explore dynamics, and use simple graphic scores. The Nutcracker helps them link music with movement and character.
Year 2 pupils become more confident in ensembles, maintaining ostinati and creating compositions using repetition and pattern. They begin reading melodic notation (m–r–d) and respond with greater nuance to tempo, dynamics, and pitch, laying the groundwork for more advanced skills.
Years 3 to 6: Skill and Imagination
By Year 3, pupils explore more complex musical ideas. A cross-curricular Ancient Egypt unit inspires creative singing, composing, and the production of digital music using GarageBand. Pupils notate rhythms, sing in rounds, and improvise using pentatonic scales and minor chords.
Year 4 covers a broad stylistic range—from blues and fireworks-inspired compositions to djembe drumming and Tudor melodies. Pupils improvise, compose using digital sequencers, and learn three-part singing. Ensemble playing and instrumental technique continue to grow in confidence.
In Year 5, ukulele playing takes centre stage in the autumn. Spring features Latin American music and ensemble skills, while summer focuses on composing atmospheric “space music” using Soundtrap, tuned percussion, and digital instruments. In Year 6, pupils compose using triads and passing notes, learn chord symbols, and use DAWs to arrange their work. Singing in harmony becomes routine, and lyric-writing projects link music to literacy. The Year 6 musical production is a highlight—this year’s Mary Poppins was no exception.
Beyond the Classroom: Performing Together
Our musical life extends well beyond the classroom. A major highlight is the Winter Celebration at St Michael’s Church, a festive concert showcasing our choirs and part-singing in a beautifully atmospheric setting.
In the Summer Term, the Key Stage 2 Showcase Concerts celebrate our thriving extra-curricular music programme. These events feature our mariachi band, folk band, string orchestra, choirs, chamber ensembles, and the ever-popular Breakfast Brass—a joyful celebration of the musical diversity within our school.
We also offer a specialist Year 1 and 2 strings programme, introducing young pupils to violin and cello in small group lessons, supported by our expert string team. From Key Stage 2, pupils may choose to learn from the full range of orchestral instruments in our 1:1 peripatetic programme.
Pupil Voice and Leadership
This year, our Performing Arts Leaders have made a valuable contribution to the department. These pupil ambassadors help plan events, support rehearsals, and offer feedback that shapes our provision. Their passion and leadership ensure that the music we make reflects the creativity and voice of our pupils.
Whether it’s exploring rhythms on a djembe, writing music for outer space, or singing by candlelight in a historic church, music in the Junior School is an exciting and enriching part of school life. It encourages creativity, confidence, collaboration—and above all, joy.