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

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 1Autumn 2
Introduction to Keyboard Skills and Musical FoundationsDeveloping Coordination, Rhythm and Performance
Spring 1Spring 2
Technique, Fluency and Expressive PerformanceDeveloping Expression, Improvisation and Musical Control
Summer 1Summer 2
Introduction to Composition and Musical StructurePerformance, Ensemble and Showcase

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

Year 4

Autumn 1Autumn 2
Keyboard Foundations and Performing SkillsFluency, Chords and Performance Development
Spring 1Spring 2
Technique, Sight-Reading and Musical Evaluation Articulation, Expression and Creative Musicianship
Summer 1Summer 2
Composition, Accompaniment and Musical StructurePerformance, Ensemble and Musical Showcase

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

Year 5

Autumn 1Autumn 2
Reviews of First Year: Keyboard FoundationsG Major and Grand Staff Development
Spring 1Spring 2
C Major Scale and Technical DevelopmentMajor and Minor Tonality
Summer 1Summer 2
Composition and Creative MusicianshipPerformance, Preparation and Assessment

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

Year 6

Autumn 1Autumn 2
Advanced Keyboard Technique and Musical FluencyHarmony, Chords and Accompaniment
Spring 1Spring 2
Expressive Performance and InterpretationImprovisation and Musical Creativity
Summer 1Summer 2
Composition and Arrangement.Performance Showcase and Transition to Key Stage 3

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 1Autumn 2
Beatboxing and rappingSinging
Spring 1Spring 2
Keyboard Production
Summer 1Summer 2
Production (2)Singing and band music

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

Year 8

Autumn 1Autumn 2
Djembe drummingDjembe drumming and singing
Spring 1Spring 2
KeyboardProduction 
Summer 1Summer 2
Production (2)Singing and band music 

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

Year 9

Autumn 1Autumn 2
Music productionRapping
Spring 1Spring 2
KeyboardDrumming
Summer 1Summer 2
Song composition Band Musicianship
Ensemble skills

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