Music
Inspiring Creativity, Confidence and a Lifelong Love of Music
At Winford Church of England Primary School, we believe that music is an important part of every child's education. Music brings people together, encourages creativity, builds confidence and provides opportunities for children to express themselves in different ways.
We want every child to experience the enjoyment of making music, develop their musical knowledge and skills, and discover the many ways that music can enrich their lives.
Our Christian vision, Together we Flourish, and our values of Aspire, Belong and Care are reflected in our approach to music. We encourage children to develop their talents, celebrate their achievements, appreciate different musical traditions and enjoy making music together.
Our Music Curriculum
At Winford, we follow the Bristol Music Curriculum – Get on Board, developed by Bristol Beacon in consultation with teachers and in partnership with schools.
This progressive curriculum builds children's musical knowledge and understanding throughout their primary education. Learning is carefully sequenced so that children revisit and develop the elements of music as they move through the school.
Through engaging musical experiences, children learn to:
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Listen carefully and respond to a wide range of music.
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Develop their understanding of rhythm, pulse, pitch, tempo, dynamics, timbre, texture and structure.
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Sing confidently and develop their vocal skills.
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Play and explore musical instruments.
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Compose, improvise and develop their own musical ideas.
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Develop their aural memory and recognise musical patterns.
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Make musical judgements and explain their responses.
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Perform individually and as part of a group.
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Appreciate music from different cultures, traditions and historical periods.
Children are encouraged to express themselves physically, emotionally and through discussion, developing their confidence as listeners, performers and composers.
Developing Musical Knowledge and Skills
Our curriculum builds upon the important elements of music, helping children develop an increasingly secure understanding of how music works.
Listening and Appraising
Children listen to a wide range of music, learning to identify musical features and explain how music makes them feel.
They develop their ability to recognise instruments, musical patterns and changes in sound, and gradually become more confident in making musical judgements using appropriate vocabulary.
Singing
Singing is an important part of musical life at Winford.
Children develop their voices through songs, singing activities and opportunities to perform together.
They learn to sing with increasing accuracy, control, expression and confidence, developing their understanding of melody, rhythm and harmony.
Playing and Performing
Children have opportunities to explore instruments, develop practical musical skills and perform with others.
They learn the importance of listening, keeping a steady pulse, following musical instructions and working together as part of an ensemble.
Performing helps children develop confidence, concentration, resilience and a sense of achievement.
Composing and Improvising
Children are encouraged to experiment with sounds and develop their own musical ideas.
They explore different ways of organising sounds, creating rhythms and melodies, and communicating ideas through music.
As they progress, children become increasingly confident in making creative choices, refining their compositions and explaining their musical decisions.
Music Throughout the School
Music in Reception
In Reception, music forms an important part of learning through the Early Years Foundation Stage.
Children explore music through singing, nursery rhymes, movement, listening activities and experimenting with sounds and instruments.
These experiences help children develop their sense of rhythm, listening skills, creativity and confidence.
Music in Key Stage 1
In Years 1 and 2, children build on their early musical experiences.
They develop their understanding of pulse, rhythm and pitch, learn to sing and perform together, and begin to create simple musical patterns and compositions.
Children explore different instruments and develop the vocabulary needed to describe the music they hear and make.
Music in Key Stage 2
In Years 3 to 6, children deepen their musical knowledge and develop greater independence as musicians.
They explore more complex rhythms, melodies and musical structures, develop their instrumental and vocal skills, and create increasingly sophisticated compositions.
Children are encouraged to listen critically, make musical choices and perform with growing accuracy, expression and confidence.
Throughout the school, learning builds progressively so that children can apply and develop the musical knowledge and skills they have already acquired.
Music Beyond the Classroom
Creating Opportunities to Enjoy and Experience Music
We recognise that music is not limited to the classroom. It is an important part of school life and provides opportunities for children to develop confidence, creativity and a sense of belonging.
Music is celebrated through singing, performances and other shared experiences.
Our weekly Sing and Praise collective worship provides an opportunity for children to enjoy singing together as a school community.
Music also plays an important role in celebrations and special occasions, helping children experience the enjoyment of performing and sharing music with others. We celebrate Harvest, Remembrance, Christmas, Easter and take part in Summer Leavers' performances which all incorporate music as a key element.
Musical Opportunities and Tuition
We want children to have opportunities to explore music beyond their curriculum lessons and develop their individual interests.
At Winford, families can access additional musical opportunities through:
West of England Music and Arts
Instrumental music tuition provides opportunities for children to develop their skills and confidence in learning an instrument.
Rocksteady Music School
Rocksteady provides opportunities for children to experience making music as part of a band, developing performance skills, teamwork and musical confidence.
Information about current music tuition and opportunities is available through our school office and extracurricular activities information.
Exploring Our Local Musical Community
The Bristol Music Curriculum makes meaningful connections with the rich musical heritage and cultural life of Bristol and the surrounding area.
Children are introduced to music from different traditions, communities and cultures, helping them appreciate the diversity of musical expression.
These local connections support children in recognising that music is part of the world around them and can be enjoyed, created and shared in many different ways.
We want children to develop an appreciation of music within their own community as well as from across the world.
Supporting Every Learner
We believe that every child should have opportunities to enjoy and succeed in music.
Music provides different ways for children to express themselves, develop confidence and discover their strengths.
Teachers adapt learning to meet individual needs, using practical activities, modelling, repetition, visual resources and opportunities for collaborative music-making.
Children are encouraged to participate at their own level while being supported and challenged to develop their skills.
We celebrate effort, creativity and musical progress, recognising that success in music can take many forms.
How Parents Can Support Music at Home
There are many enjoyable ways to encourage children's musical development beyond school.
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Listen to music together – Explore different styles, artists and traditions.
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Talk about music – Ask children what they notice, how the music makes them feel and which instruments they can hear.
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Sing together – Enjoy familiar songs and encourage children to learn new ones.
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Explore rhythm – Clap, tap or move along to music.
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Encourage creativity – Make up songs, rhythms or simple compositions.
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Enjoy live music – Look for opportunities to experience concerts and musical performances.
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Celebrate musical interests – Encourage children to explore the instruments and styles of music that interest them.
Curriculum Information
Our Music curriculum follows the Bristol Music Curriculum – Get on Board, developed by Bristol Beacon, and is aligned with the National Curriculum for England.
The curriculum provides a progressive approach to developing musical knowledge, skills and understanding throughout the school.
Further information about our curriculum can be found in the documents below.
Winford Music Intent and Curriculum
Skills and Knowledge Progression Grid
Year Group Curriculum Overviews
Together we Flourish
Aspire • Belong • Care
Listening, creating, performing and discovering the joy of music together.
