Skip to content

Skip to content

Curriculum
AI experiments

Home
Curriculum resources
KS1 & KS2 music curriculum

Choose a curriculum

KS1 & KS2 music curriculum

Unit sequence
Explainer
Download

Unit sequence

Filter and highlight

Year group

All

Year 1

Year 2

Year 3

Year 4

Year 5

Year 6

Highlight a thread

None highlighted

Creating, composing and improvising

Developing our singing voice

Music over time and in different places

Notating and sharing music

Playing together in an ensemble

Practising and preparing for a performance

Year 1

Start with singing: finding my singing voice
Unit info
Singing together: how singing makes me feel
Unit info
Compose and Create: exploring and performing rhythm patterns
Unit info
Music and movement: feeling the pulse and changing the tempo
Unit info
Compose and create: high and low melodic responses
Unit info
Singing for performance: Changing tempo and dynamics in our songs
Unit info

Year 2

Start with singing: learning through singing games
Unit info
Singing together: how singing helps us work together
Unit info
Compose and create: recording our musical ideas using a graphic score
Unit info
Music and movement: using symbols to represent pitch
Unit info
Compose and create: improvising with four notes
Unit info
Singing for performance: adding a simple vocal accompaniment
Unit info
Compose and create: soundscapes of the sea
Unit info

Year 3

Start with playing: adding percussive layers to build to texture in our songs
Unit info
Singing together: how songs are used in communities
Unit info
Compose and Create: notating and performing using rhythm grids
Unit info
Playing together: building texture with melody, drone and ostinato
Unit info
Compose and Create: major pentatonic melodies
Unit info
Singing for performance: holding a second part in rounds and partner songs
Unit info

Year 4

Start with playing: adding layers to major and minor songs
Unit info
Singing together: how stories are shared through song
Unit info
Compose and Create: improvising within Hindustani classical music
Unit info
Playing together: effective rehearsing as part of an ensemble
Unit info
Compose and Create: composing a major melody on a stave
Unit info
Singing for performance: discovering different ways to sing in harmony
Unit info
Compose and create: cosmic programme music
Unit info

Year 5

Sing, play, perform: adding tuned accompaniment to part-singing
Unit info
Singing together: how songs unite us
Unit info
Compose and rehearse: creating and combining minimalist cells
Unit info
Playing together: discovering different vocal timbres
Unit info
Compose and Create: composing a minor melody on a stave
Unit info
Singing for performance: syncopation in songs
Unit info

Year 6

Sing, play, perform: accompanying songs with polyrhythms
Unit info
Singing together: music that comments on social change
Unit info
Compose and rehearse: improvising with the minor pentatonic scale
Unit info
Playing together: arranging and rehearsing a fusion performance
Unit info
Compose and Create: creating melodic variations based on a theme
Unit info
Singing for performance: conveying emotion and character through performance
Unit info
Compose and create: nature documentary inspired film scores
Unit info

Music

•

Year 4

Compose and create: cosmic programme music

4 lessons

Description

In this unit, pupils are introduced to the term, programme music. They study the programme music symphonic work, Deep Field, by Eric Whitacre and use this as their inspiration for composing, considering structuring around the golden ratio and the use of small music ideas called golden bricks.

Pupils are given the opportunity to develop their creative music skills further, composing and improvising in a way that offers plenty of freedom of expression. Pupils can use their composition skills developed in other lower key stage two units alongside their working knowledge of the musical elements to create programme music as part of an ensemble with greater freedom than before. Due to the freedom of composition suggested in the lessons, this unit can be placed at any point across the key stage, with the compositional, performance and ensemble outcomes adjusted accordingly.

Introducing programme music
Composing programme music with a 'golden brick'
The golden ratio and music
Inspired by Earth Choir

See lessons in unit

Use this KS1 and KS2 music curriculum plan to explore our sequences developed by leading subject exp...

Use this KS1 and KS2 music curriculum plan to explore our sequences developed by leading subject experts from across the country, to build your knowledge of primary music curriculum planning, or use it as inspiration for your own planning, seeing where you could use our teaching resources to update what you’ve already got. It’s all designed to align with the national curriculum for primary music.

You can filter to find the year group or concept you’re teaching – from rhythm and pulse to composition and performance. Threads highlight how musical vocabulary, listening skills and creativity are built on year after year.

Year 1 music curriculum
Year 2 music curriculum
Year 3 music curriculum
Year 4 music curriculum
Year 5 music curriculum
Year 6 music curriculum

You can find the full lesson resources for KS1 and KS2 music and download all the resources you need for free.

39 units shown,

Need help with our new curriculum?

Visit our help centre for technical support as well as tips and ideas to help you make the most of Oak.

Go to help centre

Pupils

Learn online

Teachers

EYFS
Key stage 1
Key stage 2
Key stage 3
Key stage 4
Plan a lesson

Oak

Home
About us
Oak's curricula
Get involved
Meet the team
Careers
Contact us
Help
Blog
Webinars
Status

Legal

Terms & conditions
Privacy policy
Cookie policy
Copyright notice
Accessibility statement
Safeguarding statement
Physical activity disclaimer
Complaints
Freedom of information requests

© Oak National Academy Limited, No 14174888

1 Scott Place, 2 Hardman Street, Manchester, M3 3AA