Our music curriculum focuses on high quality teaching, collaborative learning and a practical approach, which draws out musical creativity from our children. Our music curriculum is expressive and lively and motivates children to develop musical skills and knowledge through singing, learning to play instruments, composing and performing musical ensembles.

We aim to build confidence and self-esteem through performance, using drama, knowledge of musical history and knowledge of cultures worldwide. Children will learn key skills such as patience, working with others, respect and appreciation of others.

Our music programme allows for personalised learning and great opportunities for adapted teaching. It exposes children to a wide range of music genres and songs from all around the world and throughout history. The scheme makes links to other areas of the curriculum such as History, P.E, and PHSE.  There are opportunities for children to express themselves through dance, creating lyrics, exploring popular themes, pop artists and games.

We have a peripatetic music teacher who delivers the music curriculum. In year 4 our pupils learn to play a musical instrument: they receive 39 weeks of free musical tuition! At the end of the academic year, the classes perform as a class orchestra.

Music Statement of Intent

At Dollis, we believe Music is a unique way of communicating that can inspire and motivate children. It is a vehicle for personal expression and it plays an important part in personal development. The teaching and learning of music enables children to better understand the world they inhabit. Participating in musical experiences can help children to feel part of a community. Music is a wonderfully creative and enjoyable activity. It can also be a highly academic and demanding subject. We provide purposeful opportunities for all children to create, play, perform and enjoy music, to develop the skills, to appreciate a wide variety of musical forms, and to begin to make judgements about the quality of music.

We ensure pupils perform, listen to, review and evaluate music across a range of historical periods, genres, styles and traditions, including the works of the great composers and musicians. The children learn to sing and to use their voices, to create and compose music on their own and with others, have the opportunity to learn a musical instrument, use technology appropriately and have the opportunity to progress to the next level of musical excellence. They also understand and explore how music is created, produced and communicated, including through the interrelated dimensions: pitch, duration, dynamics, tempo, timbre, texture, structure and appropriate musical notations.

“Music is a universal language that embodies one of the highest forms of creativity” (National Curriculum)

“Music is all around us. It is the soundtrack to our lives. Music connects us through people and places in our ever-changing world” (Model Music Curriculum)