Music

How do we teach Music in the Bursledon Federation?

At Bursledon Federation, our Music curriculum is designed to inspire creativity, nurture self‑expression and foster a lifelong enjoyment of music. We provide children with rich opportunities to explore, perform and compose, enabling them to develop the knowledge, technical skills and musical understanding set out in the National Curriculum. Through practical, immersive learning, pupils experience music in a hands‑on, meaningful way—singing, playing instruments, listening to diverse musical traditions and creating their own compositions.

Oracy is woven throughout our Music teaching to strengthen children’s ability to discuss musical features, articulate preferences, evaluate performances and explain their creative choices. Pupils take part in structured talk, musical discussions, partner work and reflective conversations that help them think, listen and communicate like musicians while ensuring every child has a voice.

Teachers cultivate a positive, high‑expectations culture where children are encouraged to take creative risks, perform with confidence and refine their work through rehearsal and feedback. Musical skills—such as listening, notation, composition, improvisation and performance—are embedded throughout the curriculum to ensure progression across the school. Key vocabulary and new musical concepts are introduced through direct teaching, high‑quality modelling and supportive resources such as knowledge organisers.

By the end of Key Stage 2, our children leave Bursledon as confident, expressive young musicians equipped with the knowledge, skills and cultural understanding they need for future learning and for life beyond primary school. They enjoy music, value its role in society and feel inspired to continue performing, listening and creating as they grow.

The impact of the Music curriculum at Bursledon will be children who are musically literate, culturally aware and equipped with the confidence, creativity and critical listening skills needed for further education and for life as an adult in the wider world.

The Bursledon Music Curriculum

National Curriculum link for Music Programme of study: Click Here

EYFS curriculum link: Click Here

Infant School Overview

At Bursledon Infant School, music is explored through singing, playing, improvising, and composing—igniting children's creativity and nurturing a lifelong love of music. Pupils develop their understanding of key musical elements—dynamics, tempo, duration, pitch, notation, timbre, and texture—through vibrant experiences such as song, instrumental exploration, and listening to music from a wide range of genres and cultures. This approach fosters both musical curiosity and expressive confidence from an early age.

Junior School Overview

At Bursledon Junior School, music is brought to life through a rich and progressive curriculum that inspires creativity and deepens understanding. Pupils explore the interrelated elements of music—pitch and harmony, dynamics, tempo, duration, structure, timbre, texture, and notation—through a carefully sequenced journey of learning. These foundational concepts are embedded across a wide range of musical experiences, including singing, playing instruments, improvising, composing, and active listening. Our approach nurtures both the declarative knowledge of musical theory and the procedural skills needed to express and appreciate music in meaningful ways. Children at Bursledon Junior School are given rich opportunities to explore a wide range of musical genres and traditions from diverse cultures. They engage in creative music-making through various mediums, including singing, music technology, recorders, glockenspiels, and a broad selection of tuned and untuned percussion instruments. This inclusive and hands-on approach empowers pupils to develop their own musical compositions while deepening their appreciation for the global language of music. By the end of Key Stage 2, pupils develop a genuine love and appreciation for music, demonstrating the ability to collaborate effectively with others as well as work independently with confidence and creativity.

Music Medium Term Planning example: Click Here

Music Knowledge Organiser example: Click Here

What does a Bursledon Music expert look like?

A Bursledon Music Expert is a confident, expressive and thoughtful learner who thinks, listens and performs like a musician. They use their musical understanding, technical skills and creative voice to appraise music, compose original ideas, perform with accuracy and expression, and talk about music using the correct vocabulary. They demonstrate resilience, creativity and a genuine enjoyment of making and experiencing music.

Confident performer – sings and plays instruments with control, accuracy and expression, both individually and as part of an ensemble.
Active listener – listens attentively to a wide range of music, recognising musical elements, styles, traditions and composers.
Creative composer – generates, develops and structures musical ideas through composing and improvising.
Skilled musician – uses notation, musical vocabulary and technical knowledge to support performance, composition and discussion.
Articulate communicator – uses oracy skills to describe music, explain choices, evaluate performances and engage in musical dialogue.
Reflective evaluator – appraises their own work and that of others, identifying strengths and suggesting improvements.
Enthusiastic participant – shows a passion for music, embraces new challenges and enjoys exploring different sounds, genres and creative opportunities.

Subject Specific Information

Useful Websites: Useful websites

Music Chrome Lab: Click Here

Music development Plan

All schools should have a music development plan from academic year 2023-24. Schools are expected to publish a summary of their plan on their website from academic year 2024-25. To see our plan for 2025/2026 click here.