“We enjoy learning and exploring new music, especially the learning of new instruments. Music helps to keep us calm. We have many opportunities to experience music in different ways together with our friends”

(KS2 Choir)  

Music Education: To share joy and creativity through musical experiences

At Breadsall Hill Top Primary School, we believe that a love of music should be inspired within our community and music is made accessible for every child. The Music Curriculum at Breadsall enables children to develop skills of both musical appreciation and individual talent as musicians, through the exploration of a diverse range of musicians, composers and genres.  We recognise that music is universally enjoyed and appreciated and aim to provide a broad range of opportunities that children may not otherwise experience beyond school.  We believe that through music, creativity can flourish and build confidence and self-belief.  Through musical ensembles, children are encouraged to work together, create friendships and develop the necessary skills to become a team player. 

We care about;

• Inspiring the children to enjoy music alongside developing life skills such as resilience, self-discipline, confidence, teamwork and self-motivation
• Children demonstrating commitment and determination through their enjoyment of music, experiencing clubs, tuition, enrichment opportunities and showing relentless focus on improvement
• Challenging our children to discover new talents while celebrating their success and achievements
• Children observe and contribute to an ensemble and having opportunities to perform in public; in class, locally, through Transform Trust and nationally
• Allowing opportunities for all children to experience learning and playing a musical instrument
• Children developing their cultural capital, being able to identify and discuss a diverse range of contemporary and traditional musicians and composers   
• Children connecting deeply with music in different ways, reflecting upon how it makes them feel and impacts upon their mental health and wellbeing
• Providing opportunities for the children to respectfully express their personal opinions about Music and how it has been used to convey emotion and cultural identity  

We know that a rich and secure knowledge and skills base is essential for our children to be able to work like a musician. We follow the Kapow scheme to support our wider curriculum entitlement, which covers the National Curriculum and provides a detailed progression for the inter-related dimensions of Music and the key concepts within the curriculum. It also supports staff development and effective curriculum delivery through the use of video, a range of musical genres and quality resources. Half-termly themes ensure a cyclical curriculum and opportunities to recap and deepen understanding and enhance authentic links with other subject disciplines e.g. History.

Our curriculum ensures that knowledge is:

• Valued and specified
• Well-sequenced
• Taught to be remembered
• Knowledge is a pathway to a skill. Teach knowledge, and skills are the end result.

The curriculum is enriched through; regular singing assemblies, performance opportunities, instrumental tuition, Rocksteady, links with the Music Hub, Choir and Musician of the Month.

Fundamentally, we aim to instill in all children a lifelong appreciation of music, developing a secure knowledge of the fundamentals of the music curriculum which they can then aspire to continue when they leave Breadsall. We want children to be confident and resilient, appreciating the creative nature of music and how this can bring joy throughout their lives, both experientially and through further application of skills.  

Progression of Musical Skills through Kapow