Classroom Music Programmes

Our programmes provide children the opportunity to learn a musical instrument in a class environment alongside friends and peers. This encourages a range of musical and social benefits and has a positive impact on learning across the curriculum.

For many children, this experience is the first step on a musical journey of developing musicianship skills alongside singing, rhythm games, notation, composing, listening and performing.

Programmes for all schools and stages

• Early Years programmes
  10-week programmes of 40 minute lessons delivered by early years specialists, offering focused music activities that support the prime and specific areas of learning.
  
• Key Stage 1 programmes
  10-week programmes of 40 minute lessons delivered by music specialists, designed to develop musicianship skills with songs and by playing instruments.
• Key Stage 2 programmes
  Classroom Instrumental Learning (CIL) programmes delivered by music specialists, supported by The National Plan for Music Education, delivered by a music specialist.

Programmes for Early Years

Our programmes for Early Years offer focused music activities that support the prime and specific areas of learning.

Musical Gems

A 10-week music programme led by a specialist that introduces key concepts such as pulse, rhythm, tempo, pitch, dynamics and silence. There is a strong focus on listening and attention, developing musicianship and exploring the voice, including solo singing.

Whole class sets of instruments are provided and children are encouraged to play together in a musical way, with a focus on beat-keeping and starting and stopping together. Live music is performed by the music leaders who also sing with and to the children unaccompanied.

Musical Exchanges

An 8-session project that adopts a child-led approach by blending structured group activities with self-initiated music making. Backed by Youth Music, thanks to the National Lottery via Arts Council England.

The project develops musicianship, instrumental skills and listening through songs, rhymes, and live music. School staff are invited to collaborative CPD sessions, encouraging exchanges between educators, music leaders, and specialists.

• This project is an extension to Musical Gems and is available by invitation only. 

Programmes for Key Stage 1

Our programmes for Key Stage 1 deepen understanding of musical concepts such as beat and pitch through age-appropriate activities and use of pitched percussion instruments.

Musical Explorers

The programme incorporates rhymes, songs, games, and activities to foster key musical concepts like pulse, rhythm, tempo, pitch, dynamics, and silence. It encourages development in listening, attention, and exploration of the voice, developing vocal control and deepen pitch understanding.

Children have access to instruments, encouraging collaborative musical play with a focus on beat-keeping and coordinated starts and stops. The experience includes live music performances by the programme leaders.

Musical Rainbows

A 10-week programme designed specially for Key Stage 1 pupils introducing pitch, performance and composition through tuned percussion.

Children are taught to play tuned percussion instruments and learn how to read simple music notation, compose music in response to a storybook stimulus, sing rainbow themed songs and play a simple melody. Pupils will then get the opportunity to perform their work at the end of the programme in a concert.

• This project is coming soon

Programmes for Key Stage 2

Our fully accessible programmes compliment school music provision and give children the opportunity to learn an instrument in their classroom environment – supported by the National Plan for Music Education and the Model Music Curriculum.

Classroom Instrumental Learning

Our fully inclusive, 30-week instrumental programmes are led by specially trained music teachers and incorporate skills from the National Curriculum.

This allows development of confidence and self-esteem with key musical concepts such as beat, rhythm, tempo, pitch and dynamics being introduced to children through songs, rhythm games and learning to play the instruments together.

Skills progression and planning documents are provided to schools, and two hours of consultancy time is offered to those that book to support a review of music curriculum.

• Bookings are now open for 2024-25

Starter for Ten Programmes

Our smaller 10-week projects, delivered by specially trained music teachers and classroom teachers, provide a stimulating and creative musical experience for children.

These shorter programmes are designed to support schools who do not have a Classroom Instrumental Learning programme.