Listen. Perform. Create.

Music gives children opportunities to communicate, create and experience something collectively. At Elburton, every child develops musical knowledge through listening, singing, playing, composing and performing. We want pupils to develop musical confidence and experience the enjoyment that comes from making music together.

Why this subject matters

Music develops listening, memory, coordination, creativity and cultural understanding. It allows children to encounter traditions and forms of expression from different times and places while developing their own musical voice. Music also builds confidence, teamwork and self-expression through shared musical experiences.

What children learn

Children learn to sing, perform, improvise, compose and listen with increasing understanding.

They develop knowledge of:

• Pulse
• Rhythm
• Pitch
• Dynamics
• Tempo
• Timbre
• Texture
• Structure
• Notation

Through a wide range of musical styles and traditions, children learn how music is created, performed and appreciated.

How knowledge develops

Musical concepts are revisited through increasingly demanding repertoire, listening activities and performance opportunities.

Children build confidence from imitation and simple patterns towards greater independence in singing, playing, composing, performing and evaluating music.

What this looks like at Elburton

Music is active and participatory. Children listen, sing, move, play, rehearse, compose and perform.

They learn to respond to feedback, work as an ensemble and use musical vocabulary to discuss what they hear and create.

As children progress through school, they have opportunities to develop their performance skills and experience the enjoyment of making music with others.

How we know children are learning

Assessment takes place through listening to performances, observing rehearsals, questioning and reviewing compositions.

Teachers look for growing accuracy, fluency, musical understanding, creativity and confidence, as well as children's ability to reflect on and improve their work.

Supporting Learning at Home

You can support your child's musical development by:

• Listening to a wide range of music together and talking about what you notice.
• Singing together and encouraging children to keep a steady pulse or copy rhythms.
• Watching live performances, concerts or musical events where possible.
• Discussing how music makes you feel and what instruments or sounds you can hear.
• Encouraging regular practice if your child learns an instrument.

Music in Action

Music brings people together. Through listening, performing and creating, children learn to express themselves, work collaboratively and appreciate different musical traditions and cultures. By the time they leave Elburton, we want pupils to be confident, enthusiastic musicians who value music as an important part of their lives and the wider world.