Music
Music at Harris
At Harris, music is part of everyday life. Whether it’s singing together in assembly, joining in with a class activity, or taking part in a dedicated music lesson, or performing in a concert, there is always music to be heard, made and enjoyed somewhere in our school.
From our youngest learners in EYFS through to Year 6, children follow a carefully planned programme that helps them to:
Learn and use musical vocabulary confidently
Play both tuned and untuned instruments, developing their creativity to compose original pieces
Explore different musical genres, understand how music has changed over time, and recognise the key elements of great compositions
Throughout their time at Harris, children will have many opportunities to:
Perform as part of a group and shine as solo performers
Listen to and reflect on a wide range of music
Discover how music connects to history, culture, and influential people
Musical learning begins in the Foundation Stage, where children explore sound through play, enjoying daily access to songs, instruments, and simple composition activities. In Key Stage 1, they begin to learn the recorder or glockenspiel, developing skills step by step. As they move into Key Stage 2, they build on this knowledge, learning to read musical notation, perform more complex pieces, and explore a variety of musical styles from around the world.
Throughout school, children can discover books about composers, performances, and instruments from across the world and cultures, helping them to see music as a truly universal language.
At Harris, we celebrate that music is subjective and that everyone has their own tastes and favourites. We encourage children to make their own choices, listen with curiosity, and appreciate all kinds of music.
We believe music is not only a skill, but also a source of relaxation, inspiration, and wellbeing — something that can lift the spirit and speak to the soul.
