Music
Without music, life would be a mistake.
Friedrich Nietzche
Why music?
Music helps children express themselves, build confidence, and develop important life skills such as listening, teamwork, and creativity. Through singing, playing instruments, composing, and performing, children explore rhythm, pitch, and musical patterns in ways that support their wider learning and emotional wellbeing.
Music also plays a key role in brain development, enhancing memory, language, and problem-solving skills. It brings children together, helping them to collaborate, celebrate different cultures, and experience the joy of making music as a group.
Music intent
An RPS child will develop an understanding of what music is by listening, composing, reviewing, and evaluating a range of tuned and untuned instruments. Children will learn how to sing and collaborate with others in class, within singing assemblies and other celebrations. They will engage with music of different genres, styles and by great musicians.
Key music knowledge and skills
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Musical Elements: Children learn to understand and use the building blocks of music—pulse, rhythm, pitch, tempo, dynamics, timbre, texture, and structure. These are explored through singing, movement, and instrumental work.
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Performing and Singing: Pupils develop their vocal skills and learn to sing in tune, with expression and control. They also perform using a range of tuned and untuned instruments, both individually and in groups.
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Composing and Improvising: Children create their own music using instruments, voice, and digital tools. They learn to experiment with sounds, structure musical ideas, and express their creativity through composition.
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Listening and Appraising: Pupils listen to a wide variety of music from different times, cultures, and traditions. They learn to describe what they hear, recognise instruments and musical features, and express their opinions using musical vocabulary.
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Notation and Musical Literacy: As they progress, children begin to read and write simple musical notation, helping them to understand how music is recorded and shared.
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Cultural and Historical Awareness: Through music, children explore different cultures and historical periods, gaining a deeper appreciation of the role music plays in society and in people’s lives.
How music is taught
Children learn music through singing, playing instruments, composing, and listening to a wide range of musical styles—from classical to contemporary and world music.
We use a hands-on approach where children explore the key elements of music such as rhythm, pitch, tempo, and dynamics through engaging activities. In Key Stage 1, pupils sing songs, play tuned and untuned instruments, and enjoy musical games and rhymes. As they move into Key Stage 2, they build on these foundations by learning to read simple notation, compose their own music, and perform in groups or as individuals.
Our teaching is supported by specialist music teachers and programmes such as Hampshire Music Service’s “Listen2Me” and “Beyond the Beat,” alongside Rock Steady and peripatetic tuition which provide opportunities for whole-class and individual instrumental learning and ensemble experiences. Music is also woven into school life through assemblies, performances, and extra-curricular clubs, helping children to develop a lifelong love of music and a sense of belonging through shared musical experiences.
Music overview