Music

Intent

Our music curriculum aims to provide each child with a high-quality, inspirational and engaging education that fosters an appreciation and enjoyment of music as an art form. Music plays a vital role in developing creativity and expressing emotions and supports pupils in developing key personal attributes such as self-confidence and resilience. In addition, research has shown that a high-quality music curriculum has a positive cross-curricular impact in other subject areas such as maths, writing, and art.

Implementation

Pupils undertake music lessons once a week from Reception through to Year 6 with their class teacher. During their time at Riversdale, pupils will explore different musical genres, traditions and practices from around the world, and throughout history. Implementing the engaging and diverse Kapow music scheme as a basis, the students will focus on developing their musical skills:

• listening and evaluating,
• creating sound,
• improvising and composing,
• and performing (singing and playing).

In addition, students are challenged to learn and use notation in an age appropriate manner. 

As part of this, pupils in Years 3 and 4 undertake whole-class instrumental lessons using tuned percussion, which is effective for learning pitch notation. Each unit of learning, in line with the DfE's 2020 Model Music Curriculum guidance, explores music from a different part of the world (including South Africa, the Caribbean, South America and Indonesia) and features a bespoke piece of music composed specifically for the scheme.

Riversdale also provides a range of opportunities for pupils to develop their musical skills and knowledge including: peripatetic lessons (delivered by World Heart Beat), music clubs, external performance opportunities, visiting professionals and educational visits. The music curriculum is further enhanced by: music across the world assemblies, students taking part in large scale performances at venues such as the O2 and Cadogan Hall, music sharing assemblies where pupils perform for their peers, and singing as part of each class assembly and christmas production. In addition, each year, our students perform at the Southfields Christmas Lights ceremony, and Year 6 perform as part of their Leavers' Production. 

Curriculum Progression

At Riversdale Primary School we believe in the importance of all children developing a deep understanding of the various aspects of music and in embedding the substantive knowledge and disciplinary skills into their long-term memory. As such, we have selected a well planned and carefully mapped curriculum from Kapow!

You can find a copy of the Music Progression Document here. 

As the school understands the importance of building in instrumental lessons in order to provide pupils with the opportunity to develop the related knowledge and skills, we have utilised the advice and guidance of Kapow to develop a long-term timetable for the music curriculum. You can find this here. 

Music Development Plan

Please find the 2024/25 Music Development Plan here. 

Curriculum Policies

Please find our Music policy below:

• Music - Currently Being Updated