At Galliard Primary School, we are all musicians. Our weekly music lessons aim to develop imagination, creativity and a curiosity for the subject in a nurturing environment where children feel safe to explore and express themselves musically. Our intention is that children gain a firm understanding of what music is through a wide variety of musical activities ranging across several historical periods, styles, traditions and musical genres.  

Our key concepts, in accordance with the National Curriculum are:  

• Performing  

• Listening, reviewing, evaluating and analysing  

• Composing and improvising 

• An understanding of how music is created, produced and communicated  

• A knowledge of the history of music   

With a thoughtfully prepared, coherent curriculum every child can succeed. All activities are designed to inspire and foster a love of music whilst equipping them with the building blocks of music through the interrelated dimensions. We value the importance of giving every child the opportunity to learn a musical instrument and each child, during their time at Galliard, will learn the recorder, glockenspiel and guitar. The whole class instrumental tuition generally takes place towards the beginning of the academic year in order to ensure development as the year progresses. In our instrumental tuition programme, the children will learn traditional music notation, alternative forms such as graphic notation or instrument specific notation such as guitar tablature. Along with the ensemble and technical skills that are reinforced, a consistent refinement of aural skills and musicality are developed when playing by ear or improvising.  

There is a strong musical presence at the school and our culture of singing is at the heart of this. We sing together often in assemblies and in cross curricular settings, where singing may be used to reinforce learning in other subjects. It provides opportunities for self-expression, a source of joy and creates a sense of belonging and inclusion. We sing to grow our linguistic and cultural capital, making literacy links and developing language. 

Integral to our music provision will be the opportunity for the children to take part in the extra-curricular activities such as choir, instrumental ensembles and individual tuition. We value and encourage opportunities for performances that happen throughout the year which increase confidence, resilience and creates those all-important school memories. 

Click here for the yearly curriculum overview

Click here for our music progression of skills overview

Enfield Music Service Choir Festival 

The Key Stage 2 Upper choir took part in the Enfield Music Service Choir Festival at Bowes Primary School. Each school performed two songs and then sang a joint song called 'Walking in the Light,' - a song about hope and unity. It was wonderful to celebrate singing with the other Enfield schools and make some friends along the way! Here's a snippet of the choir in action.