Music
Intent
At Hiltingbury Infant School, we believe every child is a musician. Through engaging and inclusive musical experiences, children develop as confident young musicians who enjoy performing, composing, listening to and responding to music. Our values of Belong, Grow and Explore are woven throughout the curriculum as children work together, build their musical skills and confidence, and discover a wide range of musical styles, cultures and traditions. We aim to inspire a lifelong love of music and self-expression in every child.
Our curriculum aims
By the end of year 2 children will:
- enjoy and be able to join in singing with increasing control and expression develop confidence in using their voices to perform chants, rhymes and spoken pieces creatively.
- learn to play a mixture of instruments both tuned and untuned
- listen to and engage in a piece of music
- understand some musical dimensions and use some related musical language
- experiment using different sounds to compose and perform musicexperience a range of live and recorded music from different cultures.
At Hiltingbury Infants, the characteristics of an effective musician are:
- A rapidly widening repertoire which they use to create original, imaginative, fluent and distinctive composing and performance work.
- Very good awareness and appreciation of different musical traditions and genres
- An ability to develop as musicians developing their self-confidence, creativity and sense of achievement
- An ability to make links between musical dimensions, knowledge and skills.
- An appreciation of musical knowledge in different contexts across the curriculum.
- An ability to use a wide range of musical vocabulary.
Curriculum Implementation
We have high aspirations and expectations that every child will develop and grow as a musician during their time at Hiltingbury Infant School. Musical knowledge and skills are carefully sequenced and regularly revisited, enabling children to make meaningful connections, deepen their understanding and retain their learning over time. By applying their knowledge in a variety of contexts, children develop secure musical foundations and increasing confidence as young musicians. Every child is encouraged to participate fully in music lessons, where they engage in musical games, perform collaboratively with their peers, compose music independently or as a group, and develop a strong sense of belonging, achievement and pride. Through engaging, progressive and practical musical experiences, children revisit and build upon prior learning, strengthening their musical skills, vocabulary and self-confidence. Musical dimensions are taught in a progressive sequence, with each new concept and skill building on what has been taught before, enabling children to develop a deeper understanding and appreciation of music over time. Children will be exposed to high quality musical experiences by exploring a diverse range of musical genres, sounds, both tuned and untuned instruments, cultures and styles, fostering curiosity, creativity and a lifelong love of music.
Delivery
Children will
- Take part in a weekly singing assembly
- Perform songs during collective celebrations
- Participate high quality taught music sessions using a wide range of musical instruments
- Be exposed to excellent, engaging and unique music workshops
- Experience a live orchestra visit
- Move to music during PE
- Experience music through direct teaching and continuous provision in the EYFS
- Have the opportunity to take part in school choir
- Have the opportunity to learn to play the recorder
- Contribute collaboratively in Christmas and end of year 2 productions with confidence and enthusiasm.
Impact
Children will leave Hiltingbury Infant School as confident, enthusiastic musicians with a lifelong love and appreciation of music. They will have a secure foundation in the key musical dimensions, enabling them to progress successfully into Key Stage 2 and beyond. Through a rich and engaging music curriculum, children will develop positive attitudes towards music and recognise its importance as part of everyday life and culture. They will gain the confidence to sing, compose, perform and evaluate music both independently and collaboratively, showing creativity, resilience and enjoyment in their musical learning. By the end of their time at Hiltingbury Infant School, children will have developed the skills, knowledge and confidence to express themselves through music, participate actively in musical experiences, and appreciate a wide range of musical styles.
Assessment
Assessment is an integral part of teaching at Hiltingbury Infant School. Staff use assessment for learning strategies throughout lessons to identify pupils' understanding, address misconceptions and adapt teaching to meet the needs of all learners. Teachers assess children's musical knowledge, skills and understanding through observation, discussion, practical music-making activities and performances. Assessment focuses on children's ability to sing, perform, compose, listen and respond to music, as well as their understanding of key musical dimensions such as pulse, rhythm, pitch, tempo and dynamics. Progress is monitored against age-related expectations and the progression of skills outlined within the music curriculum. Subject leadership monitoring includes lesson visits, pupil voice, performance observations, planning reviews and discussions with staff to evaluate the quality of teaching and learning. These approaches help to ensure that music is taught consistently across the school, that children are making good progress, and that the curriculum continues to inspire a love of music while meeting the needs of all learners.
SEND and Inclusion
At Hiltingbury Infant School, we believe every child should explore, belong and grow through music. Our inclusive approach ensures that all children can access, enjoy and achieve in music lessons. Through carefully adapted teaching, appropriate support and engaging musical experiences, pupils are encouraged to develop confidence, creativity and self-expression. We celebrate individual strengths and provide opportunities for every child to participate, perform and succeed as part of our musical community.
