Music
At Grafton Primary School, music is woven into the life of our school.
It is heard in our assemblies, our classrooms, our performances and our celebrations. It brings energy to learning, creates moments of calm, builds confidence and gives every child the opportunity to express themselves in ways that words sometimes cannot.
We believe music is for everyone. Not just for the children who already play an instrument. Not just for those who love to sing. For every child.
Because music has a unique way of bringing people together.
Every Child Has a Place
One of the greatest gifts music offers is a sense of belonging.
Whether children are performing in an assembly, learning their first notes on the violin, singing alongside their classmates or simply listening carefully to a new piece of music, they are sharing an experience with others.
No one performs alone. No one is left out. Every child has the opportunity to take part, contribute and experience the joy of making music together.
Growing Musicians Year by Year
Our music curriculum is carefully planned so that children's musical understanding develops progressively throughout their time at Grafton.
From the earliest years, children begin exploring rhythm, pulse, singing and sound through playful musical experiences. As they grow, they build on these foundations, developing their ability to perform, compose, listen critically and understand musical notation with increasing confidence.
By Key Stage Two, every child learns to play the violin as part of our curriculum, giving them the opportunity to develop technical skill, musical understanding and the discipline that comes from learning an instrument together.
Each new experience builds upon the last, allowing children to revisit familiar concepts while developing increasingly sophisticated musical knowledge and confidence.
Learning to Listen
Music is not only about performing. It is also about listening.
We encourage children to become thoughtful listeners, exploring music from different cultures, traditions and time periods. They learn to notice rhythm, melody, dynamics and mood, but also to ask deeper questions.
- How does this music make me feel?
- Why might the composer have written it this way?
- What story does it tell?
Children quickly discover that music is something to experience, discuss and enjoy — not simply something that plays in the background.
Performing With Confidence
Performance is a natural part of life at Grafton.
Every child has opportunities to sing, play, perform and celebrate their learning throughout the year.
Class assemblies, singing assemblies, whole-school celebrations, concerts, performances and community events allow children to experience the excitement of sharing their talents with others.
These opportunities do far more than develop musical skills.
- They build confidence.
- They develop resilience.
- They teach children to stand proudly in front of others, knowing that their contribution matters.
Beyond the Classroom
Music continues long after the lesson has ended.
Children perform at community events, visit live concerts, sing in our choir, take instrumental lessons and experience professional musicians performing in school.
These opportunities broaden children's musical horizons while helping them recognise that music belongs not only in school but throughout life.
Whether hearing a professional cellist perform in assembly, learning from visiting musicians or performing for parents and the local community, children discover that music is something to be shared.
Every Child Included
Music is one of the most inclusive subjects we teach.
- Every child sings.
- Every child performs.
- Every child learns an instrument.
- Every child has the opportunity to experience success.
Children are encouraged to have a go, to learn from mistakes and to support one another, creating an environment where confidence grows naturally and every achievement is celebrated.
Music Through Our Values
Everything we do in music reflects the values that shape life at Grafton Primary School.
Love – Discovering the joy that music brings and sharing it with others.
Creativity – Exploring, composing, improvising and expressing ideas through performance.
Kindness – Listening to one another, encouraging others and celebrating every contribution.
Inclusion – Ensuring every child has the opportunity to sing, play, perform and belong.
Resilience – Developing confidence through practice, perseverance and performing in front of others.
Empowerment – Helping children discover their own voice and believe they have something worth sharing.
When children leave Grafton Primary School, we hope they leave with much more than musical knowledge and performance skills.
- We hope they leave with the confidence to stand in front of others.
- The courage to express themselves.
- The curiosity to listen with open ears and open minds.
- The understanding that music connects people across cultures, languages and generations.
- And the lasting memory of what it feels like to create something beautiful together.
Because ultimately, music is not simply something we learn. It is something we experience, something we share and something that reminds us we belong.
Documents
Year 1 Music Planner - Autumn 2026