At St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School, our Music curriculum aims to develop a lifelong love, appreciation and understanding of music. We believe that music has the power to bring people together, express emotion, celebrate culture and strengthen our sense of community. Rooted in our Catholic identity and our mission, Fidelis in Servitio – Faithful in Service, music is an important part of both our curriculum and the wider life of our school.

Drawing upon the Charanga scheme of work and the National Curriculum, we provide a progressive and inclusive Music curriculum in which all children have opportunities to listen, sing, perform, compose, improvise and respond to music. Children progressively develop their understanding of the interrelated dimensions of music, including pulse, rhythm, pitch, tempo, dynamics, timbre, texture, structure and notation.

We want children to experience music from a broad range of traditions, cultures, countries, historical periods and musical styles, developing curiosity and respect for the diverse ways in which people express themselves through music.

Our intention is that every child sees themselves as someone who can participate in and enjoy music. Regardless of previous experience, SEND or musical ability, pupils are encouraged to find their voice, develop confidence and experience the joy of making music alongside others.

Music is taught progressively across the school through Charanga, providing a clear sequence of knowledge and skills from the Early Years through to Year 6. Learning builds upon previous experiences so that children develop increasing musical fluency, confidence and independence.

Lessons provide regular opportunities for children to listen and appraise, sing, play instruments, improvise, compose and perform. Musical vocabulary is explicitly taught and revisited, enabling pupils to talk confidently about what they hear, perform and create. Children are encouraged to listen critically, identify musical features and explain their responses using increasingly sophisticated musical language.

Singing has a particularly important place within the life of St Joseph’s. Weekly whole-school hymn practices develop vocal technique, confidence, repertoire and collective performance while also preparing children to participate fully in Mass, Collective Worship and celebrations within our Catholic community. Through sacred music, children experience how music can support prayer, reflection and worship.

Music is also woven into the everyday culture of our school. Music is played throughout the school each day, carefully exposing children to composers, performers and musical traditions from different countries, cultures, genres and periods. These regular encounters broaden children's musical horizons and help establish music as a natural and valued part of school life.

Our curriculum is further strengthened through ambitious performance and enrichment opportunities. Key Stage 2 pupils have the opportunity to participate in Young Voices, performing as part of a large-scale choir at the O2 Arena. Year 5 and Year 6 pupils participate in the PFMAC Big Christmas Sing, joining with pupils from across our wider Catholic family of schools. These experiences provide authentic purposes for rehearsal and performance and enable children to experience the excitement, discipline and sense of belonging that comes from making music collaboratively.

Children also perform within school through Masses, assemblies, celebrations and other community events. These experiences enable pupils to develop confidence, resilience, teamwork and an understanding that musical performance requires preparation, commitment and cooperation.

Teaching is inclusive and appropriately adapted so that all children can participate successfully. Visual prompts, repetition, modelling, accessible instruments, movement and carefully structured musical experiences support pupils who require additional scaffolding, while opportunities for greater independence and musical complexity provide appropriate challenge.

By the end of their time at St Joseph’s, children will have developed a secure foundation of musical knowledge, vocabulary and practical skills. They will be able to listen attentively and respond thoughtfully to music, recognising and discussing key musical features using appropriate terminology.

Pupils will sing with increasing accuracy, expression and confidence and will understand how individual contributions combine to create a successful ensemble performance. They will have experience of playing instruments, improvising, composing and performing and will be able to draw upon their knowledge of rhythm, pitch, notation and the interrelated dimensions of music when creating and responding to musical ideas.

Children will have encountered a rich and diverse musical repertoire, spanning different cultures, countries, traditions, genres and periods. They will develop an understanding that music is both culturally significant and universally human: a means through which people celebrate, worship, communicate, remember and express themselves.

Through opportunities such as Young Voices, the PFMAC Big Christmas Sing, weekly hymn practices, Masses and school performances, pupils will leave St Joseph’s having experienced the powerful sense of achievement and belonging that comes from making music with others.

Most importantly, we want children to leave our school believing that music belongs to everyone. Whether they continue as singers, instrumentalists, composers, performers or simply enthusiastic listeners, they will have developed the confidence, curiosity and appreciation needed to enjoy and engage with music throughout their lives.