All pupils receive one hour a week music lesson with a specialist music teacher, in a dedicated, well-resourced music room. During class music lessons, children progress noticeably through their music learning starting in Reception with basic beats, tempos and exploring sound. In KS1, they move on to understanding pulse, pitch and dynamics and are taught to use a range of tuned and percussion instruments. The children are then exposed to more advanced musical terms (such as ‘ostinato’ meaning a repeated pattern). In KS2, children learn composition, notation and musical structure, developing their listening skills further to enable them to compose complex, multi-layered rhythms and songs, using body percussion, voice and instruments. All children are given the opportunity to compose, improvise and perform regularly.

Music History is taught throughout the curriculum where children are introduced to influential musicians from different genres and cultures. They learn to listen carefully with meaning, compare and contrast pieces and understand about important events in music, which provide children with a broad theoretical understanding of music and how it fits into society.

Each week, children participate in singing assemblies. This gives children an opportunity to experience singing in a larger group.  Singing is a basic human instinct that is continuously encouraged and developed. Research has shown that singing can be good for you on many levels. It can help lower stress, boost immunity, enhance memory and improve mental health. In music lessons children are given an opportunity to further find their voice. Singing from a diverse repertoire, the children explore a broad range of songs that complement their wider creative curriculum.

All children will learn an instrument during their time at Edenbridge Primary school:

All Years – tuned and non-tuned percussion / Digital music

Year 1 – Ocarina

Year 3 – Recorder

Year 4 – Glockenspiel

Year 5 – Drumming

Year 6 – Ukulele (30 weeks tuition)