Music
Intent
In Music, we intend for all children to:
- Develop a lifelong love for music: Engage with a wide, diverse spectrum of musical genres, traditions, historical eras, and global cultures.
- Master core musical strands: Systematically build skills in listening, singing, playing, composing, performing, and evaluating music.
- Build instrumental confidence: Gain hands-on experience playing tuned and untuned instruments, including dedicated whole-class tuition in violins and guitars.
- Understand musical concepts: Develop a secure understanding of the formal elements of music—pitch, tempo, dynamics, rhythm, timbre, texture, and notation.
- Experience the joy of performance: Build resilience, teamwork, and confidence through regular school assemblies, seasonal concerts, Trust events, and large-scale national venues.
Implementation
Children in the Foundation Stage explore music through Expressive Arts and Design, experimenting with sounds, singing nursery rhymes, exploring rhythm through movement, and playing untuned percussion.
Across Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2, we deliver a progressive, spiral music curriculum where musical skills, notation, and vocabulary are revisited and deepened year-on-year. Every pupil participates in practical, active lessons that blend active listening, singing, improvisation, and composition.
Our curriculum is enriched through extensive instrumental and performance opportunities:
- Whole-Class Instrumental Tuition: Pupils receive structured whole-class instrumental teaching, including dedicated units in violins and guitars, giving children access to high-quality instrumental learning.
- Weekly Singing Assembly: The whole school gathers weekly to learn new repertoire, develop vocal technique, sing in harmony, and celebrate the shared joy of music.
- Singing Club & Young Voices: Our dedicated Singing Club trains throughout the year to take part in iconic national events, performing live alongside thousands of children at major venues such as the O2 Arena and Wembley Arena.
- School Performances & Talent Show: Performance is celebrated throughout the year. Highlights include our milestone Year 6 End-of-Year Production, festive Christmas events, Spring Concerts, and our popular Annual Talent Show, where children across the school volunteer to showcase their individual musical talents and acts.
- Trust & Community Connections: We regularly collaborate with our Trust partner schools for joint musical events, including our annual Trust Carol Service, as well as performing for our local community.
- Rocksteady & Peripatetic Instrumental Lessons: We partner with Rocksteady Music School to offer inclusive, in-school rock and pop band lessons (guitars, drums, keyboards, and vocals). Additionally, parents can arrange paid, individual peripatetic lessons during the school day for instruments such as piano and guitar.
Impact
By the time pupils leave BHCPS, they are confident, articulate, and expressive musicians who can listen critically, read simple musical notation, play instruments, and perform with poise.
Through our vibrant curriculum, weekly singing assemblies, end-of-year performances, Christmas concerts, talent shows, and landmark trips to the O2 and Wembley, BHCPS children develop self-esteem, collaboration, and a lasting appreciation for the power of music.
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