Intent
At St. Gregory’s, we believe music is a powerful form of expression that enriches lives, strengthens community and inspires creativity. Our music curriculum aims to ensure that every child recognises themselves as musical, develops confidence in their abilities and leaves primary school with a lifelong appreciation and love of music.
Our approach is grounded in our trust virtues, which are central to musical development:
- Self-belief & confidence – pupils perform, compose and share ideas with growing assurance.
- Creativity & imagination – children explore sound, express feelings and develop original ideas.
- Resilience – pupils practise, rehearse and refine performances.
- Respect & compassion – children appreciate the music of different cultures, traditions and communities.
- Honesty – pupils evaluate their own and others’ work with fairness and integrity.
- Justice – all pupils access an inclusive, high-quality music curriculum.
Our curriculum aims to ensure that pupils:
Develop musical skills and knowledge
Pupils learn to sing, perform, compose, improvise, listen and appraise, building a secure understanding of the interrelated dimensions of music:
pulse, rhythm, pitch, dynamics, tempo, timbre, texture, structure and notation.
Become confident musicians
Children express themselves through performance, composition and movement, developing creativity and musicality.
Develop cultural and historical understanding
Pupils learn about music from around the world and from different periods, understanding music’s role in culture, celebration, worship and society.
Grow transferable life skills
Music supports teamwork, leadership, collaboration, decision-making and problem-solving. These skills strengthen personal development and emotional well-being.
Build a lifelong love of music
We aim to create joyful musical experiences that inspire pupils to continue their musical journey in secondary school and beyond.
Implementation
Kapow Primary Music Curriculum
We deliver a high-quality, progressive music education through Kapow Primary Music, which provides:
- A spiral, progressive curriculum from Reception to Year 6
- Clear skill development in performance, composition, improvisation and listening
- Exposure to global music traditions and a wide range of genres
- Strong focus on developing musical vocabulary and musical identity
- Structured opportunities to learn about notation, rhythm and pitch
- Lessons that nurture creativity, confidence and enjoyment
- Opportunities for pupils to work collaboratively, building teamwork and leadership
Kapow lessons follow a consistent structure and revisit key skills systematically to deepen understanding.
Whole-School Pedagogy: “I Do – We Do – You Do”
Music teaching at St. Gregory’s follows our whole‑school pedagogical approach:
- I Do: Teachers model techniques, rhythm, singing and musical vocabulary.
- We Do: Pupils rehearse, perform or compose together, building shared understanding.
- You Do: Children apply skills independently in composition, performance or notation tasks.
This supports confidence, independence and resilience throughout musical learning.
EYFS Music (Nursery & Reception)
Music plays a central role in early learning. In EYFS, children:
- Sing a wide range of nursery rhymes and songs
- Explore rhythm, rhyme and movement
- Use simple percussion instruments
- Perform songs and rhymes with others
- Move in time with music
- Use music to support storytelling, imaginative play and emotional expression
This supports EYFS ELGs, especially Being Imaginative and Expressive.
Kapow’s Reception programme is introduced gradually, laying foundations for formal curriculum coverage beginning in Year 1.
Musicianship and Musical Elements
Throughout the school, pupils develop understanding of:
- Pulse
- Rhythm
- Pitch
- Tempo
- Dynamics
- Timbre
- Texture
- Structure
- Notation
These are woven into every Kapow unit and revisited regularly to secure mastery.
Performance, Composition & Creativity
Children engage in:
- Singing (unison, rounds, and simple harmony)
- Playing tuned and untuned percussion
- Improvising rhythms and melodies
- Composing original pieces
- Using technology (e.g., GarageBand) to create music
- Performing in class, assemblies and liturgical celebrations
These opportunities develop confidence, creativity and expressive skills.
Listening & Appraising
Each year group explores a wide range of high-quality music from:
- Different eras of history
- Varied genres and traditions
- Diverse cultures and communities
- Significant composers and musicians
Music Beyond the Classroom
Music is embedded throughout school life:
- Hymn practice, liturgical prayer and whole-school singing
- Nativity and celebration performances
- After-school clubs and choirs
- Opportunities to participate in local events, festivals and community celebrations
These experiences develop cultural capital, confidence and joy in music-making.
Assessment
Teachers use:
- Ongoing formative assessment in lessons
- Kapow assessment tools
- Listening, performance and composition outcomes
- Pupil reflection and self-evaluation
This ensures children make strong progress and identify next steps.
Impact
By the end of Year 6, pupils at St. Gregory’s:
See themselves as musicians
They develop confidence, identity and enjoyment in music-making.
Have strong musical knowledge and skills
Children can sing, compose, improvise, notate and perform confidently.
Use musical vocabulary accurately
Pupils can describe and evaluate music using correct terminology.
Demonstrate creativity, teamwork and resilience
Children perform with pride, rehearse with determination and collaborate effectively.
Appreciate diverse music
Pupils understand music from a wide range of cultures, traditions and time periods.
Are prepared for secondary music
They have strong foundations in listening, performance, notation and composition.
Impact is monitored through:
- Learning walks and observations
- Pupil voice
- Performance evidence
- Kapow assessment outcomes
- Participation in musical events
Music at St. Gregory’s develops confident, expressive and creative individuals who carry a lifelong love of music with them.