Head of Department
Primary
Year 1
Year 2
Year 3
Year 4
Year 5
Year 6
Secondary
Year 7
Year 8
Year 9
Year 10
Year 11

Head of Department

Year 4 Teacher Pascal/ Primary Music Head

Ms Graham

Music and Drama Lead

Ms Allan

Primary

We believe that music is an essential learning experience for all pupils that strongly supports pupils’ well-being and well-roundedness. It develops pupils’ cognitive and processing skills, sense of timing, fine motor skills and listening skills. Professional musicians come in to teach the lessons, modelling both the technical skill and enthusiasm needed to fully learn and enjoy music. 

In EYFS and KS1, pupils develop their voices with a focus on rhythmic and melodic phrases.  

In year 3 and 4, pupils learn how to play the djembe drums with a focus on understanding bass and tone.  

In year 5 and 6, pupils learn to play the ukulele with a focus on learning specific chords.

Year 1

Autumn 1 Autumn 2

Establishing Musicianship Skills

  • Sing/chant in unison with an awareness of pulse
  • Show a steady pulse whilst accompanying songs/chants
  • Use a variety of different voices (whispering, singing, speaking, thinking, sound effects)
  • Use their singing voice
  • Recognise and respond to musical signals
Spring 1 Spring 2

Exploring Musicianship – Rhythm

  • Recall and internalize 4 beat rhythmic phrases
  • Clap the rhythm of familiar songs
  • Improvise 4 beat rhythms
  • Notate rhythms using graphic notation

Exploring Musicianship – Pitch

  • Distinguish between high and low sound
  • Use body signs to express pitch positions
  • Identify the pitch pattern of familiar songs
  • Recall and internalise 4 beat melodic phrases
  • Pitch match with increased accuracy
Summer 1 Summer 2

Let’s Get Creative

  • Control vocal and instrumental sounds
  • Make links between rhythm and pitch
  • Use structure to shape their musical ideas
  • Notate their ideas using graphic notation

Performance

  • Sing songs from memory with enjoyment and expression
  • Have a sense of the shape of the melody
  • Sing songs with accurate pitching
  • Perform with an awareness of posture, breathing and diction.
  • Respond to performance direction e.g. start, stop
  • Evaluate their performance

All Year 1 subjects Next Year 1 Subject - Art and Design

Year 2

Autumn 1 Autumn 2

Establishing Musicianship Skills

  • Use their singing voice confidently
  • Sing with more accurate pitching within a wider range
  • Perform with a strong awareness of pulse
  • Differentiate between pulse and rhythm
  • Have an awareness of their individual role in whole class activities
  • Control the expressive elements: tempo and dynamics
Spring 1 Spring 2

Exploring Musicianship – Rhythm

  • Recall and internalise 4 beat rhythmic phrases
  • Clap the rhythm of familiar songs
  • Improvise 4 beat rhythms
  • Notate rhythms using graphic notation
  • Create simple ostinato patterns

Exploring Musicianship – Pitch

  • Distinguish between high, middle and low pitches
  • Use hand signs to express pitch positions
  • Identify the pitch pattern of familiar songs
  • Recall and internalize 4 beat melodic phrases
  • Pitch match with increased accuracy
Summer 1 Summer 2

Let’s Get Creative

  • Control vocal and instrumental sounds
  • Make links between rhythm and pitch
  • Use structure to shape their musical ideas
  • Notate their ideas using graphic notation
  • Appraise and compare their work and the work of others

Performance

  • Sing songs from memory with enjoyment and expression
  • Perform with greater awareness of posture, breathing and diction
  • Perform with more secure ensemble skills
  • Respond to performance direction, understanding performance objectives
  • Rehearse and perform with an increased ability to self-assess

All Year 2 subjects Next Year 2 Subject - Art and Design

Year 3

Autumn 1 Autumn 2

Introducing Treble Clef Notation

  • Demonstrate appropriate seating position and identify fingers of both hands by number.
  • Find all the C's on the keyboard and identify surrounding notes using the musical alphabet.
  • Learn how to tap a steady beat and play single notes on the keyboard in high and low ranges demonstrating steady pulse.
  • Learn how to create short improvisations on the piano, using black keys only.
  • Learn how to play five finger pattern (pentascale) starting on middle C, ascending and descending, in steady quarter notes.
  • Learn how to draw and identify notes on the treble staff (C-G).
  • Learn how to play Ode to Joy (Lang Lang Piano Method Book) with their right hand.

Introducing Bass Clef Notation

  • Learn how to play five finger pattern (pentascale) with right and left hands (separately), using quarter notes and half notes.
  • Learn how to draw and identify notes on the bass clef.
  • Learn how to play Ode to Joy (Lang Lang Method Book) with their left hand.
  • Learn how to draw treble and bass clefs and write and name notes on the staff.
  • Learn how to play pentascales, legato and staccato.
  • Learn how to play "Press-Ups" and "Turning Cartwheels", individually and as a group.
  • Learn how to play "Jingle Bells" by rote.
Spring 1 Spring 2

C Major 

  • Learn how to play G Major pentascale, hands separately, legato and staccato, using quarter, half and whole notes, followed by triad.
  • Learn how to play C Major triad sequence, broken and blocked.
  • Learn how to play "Floating Along" by memory.
  • Learn how to play the scale of C Major, hands separately, one octave.
  • Write and identify notes on the grand staff. 
  • Learn how to play Lanterns Glowing in the Dark (Lang Lang, p.19)

A Minor

  • Learn how to play the A Minor pentascale.
  • Learn how to play Dragon Dance (Lang Lang, p.21) by memory.
  • Recognise the difference between the sound of major and minor triads.
  • Learn how to play Take me to Your Leader (p.25) observing the dynamic indications in the music.
  • Demonstarte the ability to name notes on the staff in treble and bass clefs and finding them on the keyboard.
Summer 1 Summer 2

Staccato and Legato

  • Perform one piece by memory for the class [Halloween Dance, or Let's Celebrate].
  • Chose a title for their improvised composition project.
  • Learn basic keyboard skills.
  • Basic reading skills in C Major, G Major and A Minor positions.
  • Ability to clap back basic rhythmic patterns involving quarter, half, whole notes and rests.

Performance Preparation and Assessment 

  • Learn basic keyboard skills.
  • Ability to play back short melodic patterns, moving by step or skip, using five finger position, the three pentascale postions.
  • Ability to play two or more pieces by memory, incorporating legato and stacato touch and varying dynamic levels.
  • Ability to improvise simple melodies and use black and white keys to create sounds that tell a story.

All Year 3 subjects Next Year 3 Subject - Art and Design

Year 4

Autumn 1 Autumn 2

Reviews of First Year

  • Learn how to find all the C's on the keyboard and identity surrounding notes using the musical alphabet.
  • Learn how to play a five finger pattern (pentascale) starting on any C, ascending and descending, in steady quarter notes.
  • Learn how to tap a steady beat and play and clap patterns based on a quarter, half and whole notes and rests.
  • Learn how to play Ode to Joy, (Lang Lang Piano Method, Level 1) alone and in small ensembles.
  • Learn how to create short improvisations on the piano.
  • Learn how to play C Major and A Minor pentascales with right and left hands (separately), using quarter notes and half notes.
  • Learn how to draw and identify notes on the treble staff and bass staff.
  • Learn how to play Gym Display (Lang Lang, p.13), individually and in small groups.
  • Learn how to play a five finger pattern (pentascale) starting on any C, ascending and descending, in steady quarter notes. 
  • Learn how to play "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star" by ear in C Major.

G Major by ear 

  • Learn how to play G Major pentascales with right and left hands (separately), using quarter notes and half notes.
  • Learn how to draw and identify notes on the Grand staff.
  • Learn how to play Dragon Dance (Lang Lang, p.21), by memory for the class.
  • Learn how to play "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star" by ear in G Major.
  • Learn how to draw treble and bass clefs and write and name notes on the grand staff.
  • Learn how to play pentascales, legato and stacato (C Major, G Major, A Minor).
  • Learn how to play "Halloween Dance" individually and as a group.
  • Learn how to play "Jingle Bells" by note.
Spring 1 Spring 2

C Major scale 

  • Learn how to play the C Major scale, one octave, in contrary motion with smooth and even tone and correct fingering.
  • Learn how to play "Fireworks Display" by memory.
  • Learn how to play the scale of C Major, hands separately, one octave with smooth and even tone.
  • Learn how to clap rhythms and write patterns in triple meter.
  • Learn how to play "Dancing Tree Frogs" (Lang Lang p.9) demonstrating variety in touch and tone.

Major and Minors

 

  • Learn how to play pentascale patterns using quarter notes followed by eighth notes within a stable tempo.
  • Learn how to play Dragon Boat Racing (Lang Lang, p.11) by memory.
  • Learn how to write, hear and identify in repertoire major and minor triads.  
  • Learn how to play Village Chant (p.17) and Lullaby (p.19) demonstrating constrasting dynamic levels and musical characters.
  • Learn how to play demonstrate their ability to name notes on the staff in treble and bass clefs and find them on the keyboard.
  • Learn how find F sharp and B flt on the keyboard.
Summer 1 Summer 2

Composition

  • Perform one piece of music by memory for the class [Tumbling Acrobats or The Magic Unicorn]. 
  • Chose a title for their improvised composition project.
  • Be aware of expectations for the Year Two Assessment and will be motivated to prepare to the best of their ability.

Performance Preparation and Assessment

  • Learn basic keyboard skills.
  • Reading skills in C Major, G Major and A Minor positions.
  • Ability to clap back basic rhythmic patterns involving whole, half, quarter, dotted half and eight notes and rests.
  • Ability to play basic short melodic patterns, moving by step or skip, using five finger positions in the C Major, G Major and A Minor positions.
  • Ability to play three or more pieces by memory, incorporating legato and staccato touch and varying dynamic levels.
  • Ability to improvise simple melodies and use black and white keys to create sounds that tell a story.
  • Complete The Lang Lang Method, Level 2, and requirements for RCM Preparatory A Level.

All Year 4 subjects Next Year 4 Subject - Art and Design

Year 5

Autumn 1 Autumn 2

Open Strings

  • Learn the cultural and historical context of the ukulele
  • Handle the ukulele with care and respect
  • Learn the names on the open strings
  • Learn the following playing techniques: thumb brush strum, thumb rest stroke, banjo freestyle
  • Play the open strings with purpose
  • To play the major C chord
  • Begin to understand the ukulele chord chart

Introducing Chords

  • Learn the LH finger numbers
  • Play the chords C and Am
  • Move smoothly between two chords
  • Understand and distinguish between major & minor chords
  • Learn the 1st finger up/down/shuffle stroke
  • Follow new techniques: ‘damp’ and ‘tremolo’
  • Improvise strumming patterns
  • Play in parts
  • Read tab chord notation for C and Am
Spring 1 Spring 2

New Chords

  • Play chords F and C7
  • Move accurately and smoothly between two chords F and Am
  • Read tab notation
  • Play a tango rhythm
  • Play in 2/3 parts

New Chords

  • Move accurately and smoothly between C7 and F
  • Play a calypso strumming pattern
  • Move accurately and smoothly between three chords F, C, Am
  • Read chord diagrams
  • Play the G7 Chord
  • Move accurately and smoothly between G7 and C
  • Move accurately and smoothly between three chords F, C, G7
Summer 1 Summer 2

Creative Project

  • This unit will be a consolidation of prior learning, devised by the ukulele tutor in discussion with pupils and class teacher to decide on an appropriate theme.
  • The composition will be performed in the end of term school performance together with a selection of songs from the year.

Performance Preparation and Assessment

  • Follow and respond to gestures and cues
  • Performance etiquette
  • Maintain their part in a group
  • Play in time with others
  • Identify their strengths and areas of improvement
  • Critically assess their work and the work of others

All Year 5 subjects Next Year 5 Subject - Art and Design

Year 6

Autumn 1 Autumn 2

Introduce The Three-Chord Trick

  • Review how to play the chords C C7 Am F G7
  • Review how to read chord diagrams
  • Review playing techniques
  • Learn the 12-bar blues chord sequence
  • Improvise solos on the pentatonic blues scale
  • How to write blues lyrics

Exploring New Repertoire

  • Move accurately and smoothly between 3 and 4 chords exploring songs from a variety of styles and genres
  • Learn the waltz strum
  • Sing and play a medley of songs to the same 3 chord sequence
  • Play ukulele solos using tab
  • Play in three parts
Spring 1 Spring 2

New Chords

  • Play the chords G, D
  • Play a variety of songs incorporating new and previous chords
  • Read different strumming patterns
  • Consolidate playing techniques

New Chords

  • Play the chords Dm, Em
  • Play a variety of songs incorporating new and previous chords
  • Read different strumming patterns
  • Consolidate playing techniques
Summer 1 Summer 2

Creative Project (Song Writing)

  • Consolidation of prior learning
  • Celebrate students’ musical learning throughout their time in Primary School
  • The composition will be performed in the end of term school performance.

Performance Preparation and Assessment

  • Follow and respond to gestures and cues
  • Performance etiquette
  • Maintain their part in a group
  • Play in time with others
  • Identify their strengths and areas of improvement

All Year 6 subjects Next Year 6 Subject - Art and Design

Secondary

At Ark Academy the Music curriculum at KS3 has been created to ensure that students develop the knowledge, understanding and skills required to become performers and / or composers of the future. Students receive a traditional music education learning how to appreciate contrasted musical genres, composers and Artists. Students perform music individually, in groups and frequently within a whole class ensemble performance. Composition takes place live and is also extended through the use of music technology, studio techniques and awareness of ‘The Music Industry.’


The KS4 Eduqas specification allows our GCSE students to extend their experience performing (solo and ensemble) and composing music (in multiple genres) to a higher level as well as appraising / evaluating music with greater depth of understanding. In the specification appraising is divided into 4 main sections: 1. Musical Forms and Devices 2. Music for Ensemble 3. Film music and 4. Pop and Rock Music.

Year 7

Autumn 1 Autumn 2

Understanding Musical Elements

Stomp and Sing'
What is music?
Do we need instruments to make music? 
Spring 1 Spring 2

Pentatonic 

 Pentatonic 
How do we make a melody sound good? 
Summer 1 Summer 2

Band music

 AQA assessments
What makes pop songs so catchy?

All Year 7 subjects Next Year 7 Subject - Art and Design

Year 8

Autumn 1 Autumn 2

Baroque music: Performance 

 Baroque music: composition
What does music from different historical periods sound like? 
Spring 1 Spring 2

African Drumming

 Film Music
Can you make music using only rhythms?  What is the point of music in film? 
Summer 1 Summer 2

Blues and Jazz  

Band Musicianship

Ensemble skills
Can you make up music on the spot and it still sound good?

All Year 8 subjects Next Year 8 Subject - Art and Design

Year 9

Autumn 1 Autumn 2

EDM

 EDM
How to use music technology to make music? 
Spring 1 Spring 2

Film music composition

 Film music composition
How do you make film scores effective? 
Summer 1 Summer 2

Writing Protest songs 

 Band Musicianship
Ensemble skills
Can music influence actions? 

All Year 9 subjects Next Year 9 Subject - Art and Design

Year 10

Autumn 1 Autumn 2

Appraising: Film Music 
Performance: Learning ensemble performance
Theory and Keyboard skills  

 Appraising: Film Music 
Performance: Learning ensemble performance
Composition: Creating and developing a chord sequence
Spring 1 Spring 2

Appraising: Jazz and Blues

Performance: Learning Solo performance

Composition: Writing a melody

Appraising: Set work - Toto's Africa 

Performance: Learning Solo performance

Composition: Choosing a subgenre 
Summer 1 Summer 2

Appraising: Set work - Badinerie by Bach

Performance: Class ensemble 

Composition: Creating beats and a bassline

Appraising: Set work - Badinerie by Bach

Performance: Preparation for recording

Composition: Creating counter melodies and developing texture 

All Year 10 subjects Next Year 10 Subject - Art and Design

Year 11

Autumn 1 Autumn 2

Appraising: Music for ensemble

Performance: Recording ensemble performance  

Composition: Submit Free composition and start brief composition 

Appraising: Popular music

Performance: Recording ensemble performance  

Composition: Brief composition: writing chords and a melody 
Spring 1 Spring 2

Appraising: Revision of Badinerie and Melody

Composition: Brief composition: creating countermelodies and textural variety

Appraising: Recap all key knowledge 

Composition: Submitting brief composition 
Summer 1 Summer 2

Appraising: Recap all key knowledge and exam preparation 

  

All Year 11 subjects Next Year 11 Subject - Art and Design