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Important update!
The Key stage 2 Music units have been updated for 2026–2027. Both updated and previous versions will remain available, allowing flexibility to choose between them.
Explore the Music, Long-term plan for 2026–2027 to preview updated units. Additional units will be added as they become available.
Unit outcomes
Pupils who are secure will be able to:
- Define some key features of Baroque music, including recitative, canon, ground bass and fugue.
- Take part in a vocal improvisation task based on Baroque recitative.
- Play several parts of a canon using staff notation, with or without letter names.
- Compose a ground bass melodic ostinato.
- Notate a ground bass pattern using staff notation.
- Name some well-known Baroque composers and describe what musical features they were known for.
- Learn a fugue part by reading staff notation, with or without note names.
- Perform a fugue.
Suggested prior learning
Theme and variations (Theme: Pop Art)
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Lessons
Lesson 1: Monteverdi and the invention of opera
Lesson 2: Johann Pachelbel and the canon
Lesson 3: Henry Purcell and the ground bass
Lesson 4: J S Bach and the fugue
Lesson 5: George Frideric Handel and the oratorio
Key skills
- Discussing musical eras in context, identifying how they have influenced each other, and discussing the impact of different composers on the development of musical styles.
- Recognising and confidently discussing the stylistic features of music and relating it to other aspects of the Arts.
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Key knowledge
- To know that music in which very similar parts are introduced one by one to overlap is called a canon.
- To know that a canon is a musical structure or ‘form’ in which an opening melody is imitated by one or more parts coming in one by one.
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Key vocabulary
Baroque
bass clef
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Equipment list
Equipment needed across all lessons in this unit.
This list does not include equipment which is usually readily available in the classroom (e.g pencils, A4 paper etc)
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Full equipment list for the subject
Quantities marked × will update. Items without quantities are unaffected
- Tuned percussion instruments ×15
The equipment below is optional
- Music stands ×30
- Composing software loaded onto devices ×1
- Video recording devices
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Related content
Unit resources
Knowledge organiser – Music Year 6: Baroque
Aimed at pupils, a single page which gives key facts and definitions from the unit Baroque.
Year 6: Baroque vocabulary display
A display version of the vocabulary from the unit Baroque.
Subject resources
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Cross-curricular opportunities
None relevant to this unit.
Build on the learning
Composing and performing a Leavers’ song
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