Music Curriculum Intent

At Studley Infants’ School, music is a joyful and engaging part of daily life. Our curriculum nurtures creativity, confidence and a love of music from the moment children join us in Reception.

We follow the Kapow Music Scheme from Reception through to Year 2, giving children a rich, carefully sequenced experience of composing, performing and listening. This helps pupils grow into confident young musicians who can express themselves creatively while developing the skills to listen thoughtfully and talk about music with understanding.

Children are introduced to a wide range of musical styles, genres and traditions from different cultures and time periods, broadening their awareness and deepening their appreciation of music. We also enhance experiences further through whole‑school workshops, such as our hands‑on Jazz Labs, which allow children to explore new genres in exciting, memorable ways.

To support routine and predictability across the school, we use singing transitions, helping children move smoothly between activities while strengthening their sense of rhythm, confidence and belonging.

Beyond classroom learning, our KS1 Lunchtime Choir offers children a warm and welcoming space to sing together and share their voices with pride. Singing is one of our real strengths as a school, and we love performing for an audience whenever we can!

We also partner with Rocksteady Music School, giving children the opportunity to become real‑life “rockstars”. Through band‑based lessons, pupils can learn instruments such as keyboard, guitar, drums or vocals, discovering the thrill of making music as part of a band.

Across all these opportunities, our aim is simple: to make music enjoyable, inclusive and inspiring for every child. We encourage all pupils to participate, perform and shine throughout their musical journey at Studley Infants’.

Music Curriculum Implementation

At Studley Infants’ School, we take a holistic approach to music, ensuring that all strands of the curriculum — performing, listening, improvising and composing — are meaningfully connected. Our aim is for children to experience music as a creative, expressive and enjoyable subject woven throughout their school journey.

Using the Kapow Music Scheme, pupils learn to sing fluently and expressively, and to play untuned instruments with accuracy and control. Throughout their learning, children explore musical elements such as pitch, tempo and timbre, developing the confidence to use these features purposefully within their own improvisations and compositions.

Our curriculum is delivered through a spiral model, meaning that key concepts and skills are revisited, strengthened and deepened over time. As children progress, they build on previous learning by taking on increasingly complex musical tasks — and by refining simpler tasks to a higher standard each year.

Lessons are practical, immersive and highly engaging. Children take part in musical activities drawn from a wide range of styles and traditions, helping them to develop strong technical skills alongside a growing understanding of how music works. Opportunities include independent exploration, paired or group work, improvisation and teacher‑led performance.

In KS1, music is taught every other week in a dedicated hour‑long session, allowing pupils to fully engage with each unit and make sustained progress across fewer, more in‑depth topics. In the EYFS, singing happens daily, with Reception children introduced to Kapow units as preparation for their transition into KS1.

Performance is an important part of our musical culture. Each year, children share their learning with families through events such as the Nursery and Reception 'Songs around the Tree, the Year 1 Nativity, and the Year 2 leavers’ performance. We also take many opportunities to sing throughout the year, including Christmas carols and Family Celebration Days.

Children also enjoy a wider range of songs beyond the Kapow scheme through welcome music in assemblies, during singing transitions that support routine and predictability, and on the playground at lunchtime as part of our OPAL project.

Rocksteady at Studley Infants’ School

We are proud to partner with Rocksteady Music School to offer fun, inclusive rock and pop band lessons right here at Studley Infants’ School. These weekly sessions take place during the school day and are led by highly trained professional musicians who know exactly how to spark a love of music.

Rocksteady gives children the chance to learn new musical skills, make friends, and experience the joy of performing — all while boosting confidence, wellbeing, social skills and even academic achievement.

What Rocksteady Offers:

• No experience needed — all instruments are provided.
• Open to children from Reception to Year 2.
• Children learn up to 300 band, instrument and performance skills, playing songs they know and love.
• Pupils can work towards an Ofqual‑regulated music qualification, accredited by Trinity College London — with no exams required.
• End‑of‑term concerts give families the chance to see just how far their young musicians have come.
• Parents receive regular updates, including photos and videos of their child’s progress.

If your child would like to experience the excitement of learning music as part of a real band, you can sign up through Rocksteady:
👉 rocksteadymusicschool.com/parents