Music

Intent 

At Newchurch St. Nicholas School, our Music curriculum aims to inspire a love of music and nurture every child’s creativity, confidence, and enjoyment. Through the Charanga scheme, which provides a carefully planned spiral curriculum, children build musical skills step by step, revisiting and deepening their understanding over time.

We want all children to feel that they are musicians. We support them to listen carefully, sing with confidence, and explore instruments and sounds in expressive and imaginative ways. Our curriculum helps children develop musical understanding, appreciation, and the ability to work both independently and as part of a group.

Our aim is for children to leave primary school with a strong musical foundation, an appreciation for different styles and cultures, and a belief that music can bring joy, connection, and creativity to their lives.

Implementation

We use the Charanga Music Scheme to deliver a high‑quality, progressive, and engaging Music curriculum. Its spiral structure ensures that key skills (listening, singing, performing, composing, and evaluating) are revisited regularly so children can build confidence and deepen their understanding over time.

Music lessons are practical and active. Children learn through singing, playing glockenspiels and other classroom instruments, improvising, and composing their own musical ideas. They experience a wide variety of musical styles and genres, helping them appreciate music from different times, cultures, and traditions.

Teachers follow Charanga’s clear progression of skills, while also providing opportunities for creativity, performance, and collaborative work. Children take part in whole‑school singing, seasonal celebrations, and performance opportunities that help them develop stage confidence and a sense of achievement.

Throughout the school, children develop musical vocabulary and learn to talk about what they hear and create. Technology and digital tools in Charanga support listening skills, practice, and composition where appropriate.

Impact 

Through our Music curriculum, children develop as confident, enthusiastic, and expressive musicians. They gain a secure understanding of musical concepts and demonstrate steady progression in their ability to listen, sing, perform, improvise, and compose.

Children show enjoyment in music lessons and are proud of their achievements, whether performing to an audience, working as part of an ensemble, or creating their own pieces. Their growing musical vocabulary allows them to talk about music thoughtfully and respectfully.

By the time they leave our school, children will have experienced a broad range of musical activities, developed strong foundational skills, and gained an appreciation of music from different cultures and genres. They recognise music as a powerful and creative part of life and have the confidence to engage with it beyond primary school.