Key Stage 1
Singing is at the heart of Key Stage 1 music making with songs and chants underpinning all areas of study. There are lots of opportunities for movement and active engagement through which pupils are able to develop a strong internalised sense of pulse, rhythm and pitch. Children gain confidence through repetition of techniques.  Nativity performances are a highlight of the Autumn term. In the Spring term, Year 1 children begin to learn about dynamics control when performing. Percussion instruments are introduced to support the development of musical skills. In Year 2, children are introduced to soh and me hand signs to support pitch development. They also begin to distinguish between rhythm and pulse. By the end of Year 2 children read simple four beat rhythms using the Kodaly rhythm names. This builds on prior learning in Year 1 when they learnt to speak the names ta and ti-ti. Throughout the Key Stage, pieces of recorded music are carefully selected to reinforce key concepts.

Lower Key Stage 2
Throughout KS2, pupils continue to internalise key musical skills and techniques through a range of activities including call-and-response songs and chants, improvisation, movement and active listening.  Pupils sing unison songs with a wider pitch range. They walk, move, clap a steady beat, following the tempo of the music as it changes. They learn about phrasing and music is carefully selected so that children can respond to changes in pitch, dynamics and tempo. In Year 3 children learn to play song rhythms on untuned percussion instruments and they develop early skills in improvising. This prepares them for learning the recorder in Year 4 when they are introduced to staff notation for the first time.