The Music curriculum at St. Peter’s is carefully sequenced to develop pupils’ musical knowledge and skills over time, enabling them to listen, perform and create with increasing confidence. In the Early Years, children explore pulse, rhythm and pitch through singing, movement and percussion, and begin to talk about how music makes them feel. In Key Stage 1, they learn a repertoire of songs, keep a steady beat, and begin to distinguish between pulse and rhythm. They are introduced to simple notation, untuned percussion and improvisation, while also performing to an audience.
In Key Stage 2, pupils build fluency in singing, playing and composing. They learn to recognise musical styles and features, identify instruments, and respond to composers from different periods including Beethoven and Mozart. They refine their understanding of pulse, rhythm, pitch, dynamics, tempo and texture, and begin to use standard notation to record compositions. Children improvise confidently, compose using a range of structures, and perform both individually and as part of an ensemble. By Year 6, pupils can analyse and compare songs, talk about musical identity, create melodies using notation, and understand the historical and cultural context of pieces, including the work of composers such as Elgar.
Throughout, progression is carefully structured, knowledge is revisited, and performance opportunities ensure pupils grow as confident, expressive musicians.