At Thames View, Music helps pupils develop creativity, confidence, expression and a sense of belonging. Pupils learn to listen, sing, play, improvise, compose and perform, while developing their understanding of pulse, rhythm, pitch, tempo, dynamics, timbre, texture and structure.
Our Music curriculum is taught through the Charanga Scheme of Learning and is shaped around the needs, context and experiences of pupils at Thames View.
How Music develops Global Citizens
Music helps pupils understand themselves, connect with others and appreciate cultures, traditions and communities beyond their own. Through singing, listening, composing and performing, pupils learn that music can express feelings, tell stories, reflect history, bring people together and help us understand the wider world.
This supports our aim of developing confident, curious and responsible Global Citizens who listen thoughtfully, value difference, express themselves creatively and perform with confidence.
Our Music Narrative Threads
Our Music curriculum is organised around three narrative threads. These help pupils revisit important musical ideas over time, moving from early musical confidence and expression to a deeper understanding of musical culture, creativity, technique and performance.
Thread 1: Musical Identity, Belonging and Expression
Pupils learn that music can help people express who they are, how they feel and where they belong. They develop confidence through singing, listening, moving, playing and performing, while learning to share opinions and respond to music with increasing thoughtfulness.
Thread 2: Musical Culture, Heritage and Connection
Pupils learn that music connects people across time, place and culture. They listen to, discuss and perform music from different traditions, styles and communities, helping them understand how music can tell stories, reflect history and bring people together
Thread 3: Musical Creativity, Technique and Performance
Pupils learn the knowledge and skills needed to think and work as musicians. They develop understanding of pulse, rhythm, pitch, tempo, dynamics, timbre, texture and structure, and apply this through singing, playing, improvising, composing, rehearsing and performing.
How we teach Music
In Music, pupils revisit prior learning before being introduced to new musical knowledge, vocabulary and skills. Lessons include listening, singing, playing instruments, improvising, composing, rehearsing and performing.
Pupils are taught to think like musicians by listening carefully, keeping a steady beat, using their voices expressively, playing instruments with control, creating musical ideas, responding to different styles and improving their performances over time.
From Year 1 to Year 6, pupils follow carefully sequenced Charanga units. These include units such as My Musical Heartbeat, Playing in an Orchestra, Writing Music Down, Musical Structures, Melody and Harmony in Music, Music and Technology, Creative Composition, Improvising with Confidence and Farewell Tour.
Vocabulary and subject talk
Vocabulary is taught explicitly in Music lessons. Pupils learn and revisit important vocabulary such as pulse, rhythm, pitch, tempo, dynamics, timbre, texture, structure, melody, harmony, compose, improvise, rehearse, perform and evaluate.
This helps pupils talk about music accurately, explain their choices, describe what they hear and reflect on how they can improve. Teachers model high-quality musical language and provide sentence stems where needed so that all pupils can take part in musical discussion.
Inclusion and Removing Barriers
Pupils may have different levels of confidence, musical experience, vocabulary, listening skills or access to music beyond school. Some pupils may find singing, performing, keeping in time, reading notation or sharing creative ideas more challenging.
We use modelling, repetition, visual support, call and response, practical music-making, partner work and carefully chosen resources to make Music meaningful and accessible. Teachers adapt activities where needed so that all pupils, including pupils with SEND, can access the same ambitious Music curriculum, develop confidence and experience success.
Progression in Music
Our Music progression map shows how pupils build musical knowledge, vocabulary, creativity, listening, singing, playing, composing and performing skills from Year 1 to Year 6. This will be added to the page once finalised.
Useful Websites
Charanga
BBC Bitesize Music
BBC Ten Pieces
Chrome Music Lab
Young Voices
Classics for Kids
Royal Opera House Create and Learn