Note: This document has recently been updated to reflect changes to Kapow Primary’s Music curriculum. For more information, see pages 3 and 4.

Our approach to the mixed-age Music curriculum 

This printable PDF document provides a detailed overview of Kapow Primary’s mixed-age Music scheme of work, designed to support mixed-age settings arranged into Y1/2, Y3/4 and Y5/6 classes.

The plan organises Music units into a rolling two-year programme, with Cycle A and Cycle B units taught alternatively. This allows teachers to confidently deliver a well-structured, mixed-age Music scheme aligned with the National curriculum.

What does the mixed-age Music plan contain?

The plan outlines the progression of skills and knowledge in Music, ensuring that pupils build upon their learning each year in a spiral curriculum.

It covers the statutory requirements of the National curriculum, details the Music skills and knowledge taught and offers guidance on primary Music assessment and the scheme’s implementation.

How does the mixed-age Music scheme develop knowledge and skills?

This document provides a suggested long-term plan for mixed-age year groups, ensuring a clear pathway for pupil learning. Progression is broken down into the following key areas:

• Listening and evaluating – expressing musical preferences; exploring the impact of musical ideas; understanding how effects are created by combining musical elements.
• Creating sound – exploring the children’s vocal skills; developing skills to manipulate sounds on a range of instruments.
• Notation – recognising the basics of musical notation; reading simple rhythmic patterns; developing the foundational knowledge of how staff and graphic notations can communicate music.
• Improvising and composing – creating and refining the children’s own music through improvisation and notation; experimenting with styles and features; employing musical concepts to add interest.
• Performing – using voices expressively; developing instrumental control and expression; performing as part of a group.

What other Kapow Primary resources support primary Music teaching?

• If you follow the mixed-age Music plan, see the corresponding Progression of skills and knowledge – mixed-age version.
• If you follow the Long-term plan – condensed, see the corresponding Progression of skills and knowledge – condensed.
• Explore Kapow Primary’s mixed-age Music scheme by browsing the Mixed-age units for both Cycle A and Cycle B.
• See our KS2 whole-class instrumental lessons for six units of lessons focusing on music from different parts of the world.