Music Curriculum Information

At St Mary’s C of E Infant School, we believe music is an essential part of the curriculum, nurturing creativity, self-expression, and confidence. Our music curriculum is designed to inspire children while developing their listening skills, coordination, and appreciation of diverse musical styles.

Our Music Curriculum

Music is taught weekly in all year groups using the Charanga Musical School platform, recommended by Surrey Arts. Lessons are designed to be interactive and engaging, combining:

●     Listening and Appraising different music styles.

●     Musical Activities such as singing, movement, games, playing instruments, and composing. 

● Performance Opportunities to build confidence and skills.

We follow a repetition-based approach, where children revisit key musical concepts to secure deeper learning.

Musical Instruments

●     Reception – Children explore untuned percussion instruments such as tambours, tambourines, and triangles.

●     Year One – Children continue with untuned percussion and begin learning glockenspiels.

● Year Two – Children are introduced to the recorder and begin reading music notation.

All children use their voices to sing familiar and new songs as part of whole-class ensemble teaching.

Assessment and Progression

Children’s musical progress is monitored through:

●     Teacher observations of participation, listening, and performance.

●     Verbal feedback and encouragement.

●     An end-of-unit tracker to monitor individual progress.

Inclusion and Accessibility

Music lessons are designed to be inclusive for all children. Adaptations are made where needed (e.g. 1:1 support), and a variety of instruments and activities cater to different learning styles.

Extra-Curricular Opportunities

We offer additional opportunities for children to extend their musical experiences:

●     Year Two – Piano lessons with a peripatetic teacher.

●     Choir and Ukulele Club – Open to Year One and Year Two children.

●     Performance Opportunities – Including assemblies, school concerts, and community events.

●     Online Learning – Music resources are available via our Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) for all pupils.

Parents are also encouraged to explore Farnham Youth Choir for further enrichment.

Musical Experiences and Events

Children at St Mary’s take part in a variety of enriching musical experiences, including:

●     Weekly Singing Assemblies to develop vocal skills.

●     Performances at Harvest, Christmas, Easter, and End of Year services.

●     Annual performances such as the Christmas Nativity and Summer Show.

●     Participation in Farnham’s Got Talent for Year Two pupils.

●     Special events like the Farnham Youth Choir Workshop, Southern Pro Musica Concert, and Earthsong Workshops to explore Chinese music and culture.

Our Commitment to Music

At St Mary’s, we are dedicated to providing a high-quality music education that inspires creativity, nurtures talent, and builds confidence in every child. Music is an integral part of our school’s vibrant and engaging learning environment. At St Mary’s, we believe that music and song play a vital role in helping children learn and remember more, which is why we have thoughtfully embedded these elements throughout our wider curriculum, ensuring that every opportunity to engage with music is embraced to inspire a love and appreciation for it.

Our Music DEVELOPMENT PLAN

Please click here to see our latest Music Development Plan.