The DfE’s Model Music Curriculum recommends that every child should have the opportunity to take part in a whole-class instrumental programme for at least one term in Year 3 or Year 4. This programme is typically supported by teachers from the local Music Education Hub, with opportunities for pupils to continue developing their instrumental skills beyond the initial term.
If support from your local Music Education Hub is not available, Kapow Primary provides a supplementary instrumental scheme comprising six progressive units. Schools can choose to teach Units 1 and 2 to meet the recommended minimum term, or teach all six units to some or all pupils to provide a longer instrumental learning experience.
Where curriculum time allows, instrumental units can be taught in addition to the standard Kapow Primary Music curriculum.
If curriculum time is limited, schools may instead choose to replace the following units from the standard scheme with instrumental scheme units:
- Year 3 Reading rhythms (Autumn 2) to be replaced with South Africa from the Instrumental scheme.
- Year 4 Musical motifs (Autumn 2) to be replaced with Caribbean from the Instrumental scheme.
These substitutions work within the standard, mixed-age, and condensed versions of the long-term plan and will not adversely affect the progression of skills and knowledge.