Key Stage 2 Whole-class instrumental lessons
Whole-class KS2 instrumental scheme. Go beyond the statutory requirements and cover the aims of the Model Music Curriculum in your school with our lesson plans and accompanying teacher videos.
Useful teaching resources
MusicUnit 1: South Africa (Instrumental lessons)
Whole-class instrumental lessons on tuned percussion. This South Africa-themed unit develops pupils' rhythmic, singing and notation skills.
(5 lessons)
MusicUnit 2: Caribbean (Instrumental lessons)
Learning about the history and features of calypso music, performing a calypso-style song with voices and tuned percussion in multiple parts and playing from staff notation.
(5 lessons)
MusicUnit 3: South America (Instrumental lessons)
Learning about the history and features of Latin America music, performing a salsa style song and playing from staff notation; performing a mini carnival using a range of performance techniques including song, dance, tuned and untuned musical instruments.
(5 lessons)
- Music
Unit 4: Indonesia (Instrumental lessons)
Discovering the features of gamelan music including the Slendro scale and cyclical rhythmic patterns, identifying traditional gamelan instruments, learning about the concept of an octave, exploring how different timbres are used in gamelan music
(5 lessons)
MusicUnit 5: India (Instrumental lessons)
Learning and understanding the history and key features of Bollywood films, how ambient sounds can be used to enhance a film score, practising staff notation and performing a film sequence using instruments and movement.
(5 lessons)
MusicUnit 6: North America (Instrumental lessons)
Exploring minimalism and the music of composers like Philip Glass and Steve Reich, children learn to identify music features such as interlocking patterns and layered textures. They learn to sing and play the piece 'Interlocking patterns' as they apply their skills reading staff notation and playing tuned percussion.
(5 lessons)
How to use the instrumental scheme
Kapow Primary’s instrumental scheme is made up of six progressive KS2 units for whole-class instrumental teaching.
The DfE’s Model Music Curriculum recommends that pupils take part in a whole-class instrumental programme for at least one term in Year 3 or Year 4. Kapow’s instrumental scheme can be used where schools do not have support from a local Music Education Hub, or where they want to extend instrumental learning.
Schools can use the scheme in three ways:
● Teach Units 1 and 2 to cover one term of instrumental learning.
● Teach all six units for a longer instrumental sequence.
Teach selected instrumental units alongside the standard Music scheme of work, where curriculum time allows.
If curriculum time is limited, the following substitutions can be made in the standard Music scheme:
● Year 3 Reading rhythms, Autumn 2 can be replaced with South Africa.
● Year 4 Musical motifs, Autumn 2 can be replaced with Caribbean.
These substitutions work within the standard, mixed-age and condensed long-term plans and do not affect progression of skills and knowledge.
The DfE’s Model Music Curriculum recommends that pupils take part in a whole-class instrumental programme for at least one term in Year 3 or Year 4. Kapow’s instrumental scheme can be used where schools do not have support from a local Music Education Hub, or where they want to extend instrumental learning.
Schools can use the scheme in three ways:
● Teach Units 1 and 2 to cover one term of instrumental learning.
● Teach all six units for a longer instrumental sequence.
Teach selected instrumental units alongside the standard Music scheme of work, where curriculum time allows.
If curriculum time is limited, the following substitutions can be made in the standard Music scheme:
● Year 3 Reading rhythms, Autumn 2 can be replaced with South Africa.
● Year 4 Musical motifs, Autumn 2 can be replaced with Caribbean.
These substitutions work within the standard, mixed-age and condensed long-term plans and do not affect progression of skills and knowledge.
