Music

Overview

Curriculum Aims

At East Dene Primary School our curriculum aims to give every child the opportunity to become a musician.

A musician is a person who has great musicianship, loves listening to music, singing and composing their own pieces of music! A musician has a passion for music and would like to pursue a career in music.

Intent, Implementation, Impact

Intent

The Power of Music – Music is all around us. It is the soundtrack to our lives. Music connects us through people and places in our ever-changing world. It is creative, collaborative, celebratory and challenging. In our schools, music can bring communities together through the shared endeavour of whole-school singing, ensemble playing, experimenting with the creative process and, through the love of listening to friends and fellow pupils, performing. The sheer joy of music-making can feed the soul of a school community, enriching each student while strengthening the shared bonds of support and trust which make a great school.

(Department for Education, Model Music Curriculum)

At East Dene, our vision is for children to become independent, confident, successful and lifelong learners with high aspirations and the adaptability to make a positive contribution to their community and wider society, now and in the future.

Through music, we aim to:

Inspire creativity, self-expression and a love of music that lasts a lifetime.
Develop every child’s musicianship so they can sing, listen, compose and perform with increasing skill and confidence.
Provide opportunities that foster collaboration, celebration and belonging, both within school and the wider community.
Nurture an understanding and appreciation of the diverse musical traditions and cultures that enrich our world.
Prepare children with experiences that broaden their horizons and equip them for life beyond primary school.

Our music curriculum is built around the Model Music Curriculum, delivered through the Charanga scheme and the Rotherham Music Service, which provides a clear, progressive and spiral approach to musical learning. This ensures children revisit and strengthen prior knowledge while gradually extending their skills in singing, listening, composing and performing.

Implementation

Key features of music provision at East Dene include:

A progressive spiral curriculum, where knowledge and skills are revisited and deepened over time, ensuring children build confidence and musical understanding year on year.
Specialist music teaching through Rotherham Music Service for pupils in Years 3 to 6, providing high-quality musical experiences and expertise that develop musicianship, performance and instrumental skills.
Extra-curricular opportunities, including the school choir, enabling children to collaborate across year groups and perform regularly.
Community and enrichment opportunities, including participation in One Voice, Big Blast and other community singing events, allowing pupils to represent the school proudly within the wider community.
Whole-school music-making, culminating in end-of-year showcases where every child has the opportunity to perform and celebrate their achievements.
Cross-curricular links, where appropriate, to enhance learning and provide meaningful real-world connections.

Impact

The impact of music at East Dene is seen in the joy, confidence and sense of achievement it brings to our children. Music contributes to our school value of “We can and we will”, demonstrating to children that perseverance, resilience and collaboration lead to success.

Through our provision, children will:

Develop musical knowledge and skills across singing, listening, composing and performing.
Gain the confidence to perform individually and collectively in both formal and informal settings.
Experience the discipline, teamwork and enjoyment of ensemble playing and whole-school music-making.
Build cultural capital through exposure to a wide variety of musical styles, genres and traditions.
Strengthen their sense of identity, community and belonging through shared musical experiences.
Leave East Dene with positive memories of performing, collaborating and creating music, alongside skills that can be built upon in secondary education and beyond.

The end-of-year whole-school showcase is a key moment in the school calendar, bringing together pupils, staff and families to celebrate musical progress and achievement. These performances demonstrate the progression of skills across year groups and provide every child with the opportunity to perform with pride.

The long-term impact is that children leave East Dene as confident, creative and resilient young musicians who appreciate the value of music in their own lives and within society. They carry forward the teamwork, discipline, self-expression and confidence developed through music into all aspects of their future learning and experiences.

Cultural Capital

At East Dene, we are committed to developing children’s cultural capital and ensuring they gain transferable skills that will support them throughout their education and future lives. Through a rich and varied music curriculum, children are provided with opportunities to experience, perform and appreciate music in a range of contexts.

Children in Years 3 to 6 benefit from specialist music teaching delivered by the Rotherham Music Service, enhancing their musical knowledge, understanding and performance skills. As part of this provision, Year 3 pupils learn the recorder, while Year 4 pupils develop their instrumental skills through learning the ukulele. Children in Years 5 and 6 continue to develop their musicianship through specialist music lessons provided by the Rotherham Music Service, broadening their performance skills and musical understanding. Children in Years 1 and 2 learn to play the glockenspiel, establishing key musical foundations and early instrumental skills.

Beyond the classroom, children have the opportunity to join the school choir, bringing together pupils from different year groups to collaborate, perform and create lasting memories through shared musical experiences. Performance is an integral part of our curriculum, enabling children to showcase their learning, build confidence and develop pride in their achievements. A highlight of the school year is our whole-school Music Showcase, where every child has the opportunity to perform and celebrate their musical journey.

Children also enrich their musical experiences through participation in a range of events beyond school, including One Voice, Big Blast and community singing opportunities. These experiences broaden pupils’ horizons, strengthen their sense of belonging and help them recognise the important role music plays in bringing people and communities together.

Progress Model

Progress Model Download

Progression of Language

Progression of Language Download

Research Around the Curriculum