At Gifford Primary School we believe that Music is a powerful, unique form of communication that transcends different cultures, abilities and generations. Listening to and making music fulfils an instinctive human need for co-operation, collaboration self-expression and fostering creativity. We want our children to receive a diverse musical curriculum, experiencing the many different musical styles and traditions that are in the world.

We believe music is essential for personal growth, instilling confidence, achievement, and collaboration. Through a rich curriculum and extra-curricular activities, we ensure every pupil experiences the full power of a diverse musical education. If we can foster a lifelong love of music in every child, then we have succeeded!

What’s on offer?

All children from Reception to Year 6 have regular sessions with our music specialist. This is music-as-a-subject where the children will explore, as suggested in The New Model Music Curriculum:

• Singing
• Listening
• Composition
• Performing

Instrumentally, The New Model Music Curriculum: recommends at least one term of whole class instrumental lessons. We have various modules that introduce instruments throughout each year group.

• Year 1 we introduce the one-octave glockenspiel
• Year 2 the two-octave glockenspiel
• Year 3 introduction to the Ukelele
• Year 4 whole class Samba ‘baterias’ introduction followed by Ukelele
• Year 5 whole class Djembe and African drumming techniques. This is then followed by Samba ‘baterias’ followed by an introduction to Charanga, our music software used to compose with.
• Year 6 composition work on Charanga and work on the production in Summer Term

From Year 1, we offer 1:1 and small group instrumental lessons on guitar and piano with our amazing instrumental teachers. These lessons are during school hours.  Parents can sign up for lessons by contacting the office and expressing interest.

Early Years

In the Foundation Stage Music is covered in Expressive Arts and Design. Children explore sounds and how to change them through the use of instruments including their voices. Children are provided with opportunities to compose, perform and discuss music from the world around them. Through stories, poems and songs children explore rhyme and rhythm.

They also have regular music sessions with the music teacher, which focus on pitching notes and intervals, pulse and listening skills.

This year, D&T, Art and Music joined forces, building musical instruments that could be used to perform with: shakers, xylophones, rattle drums and ukuleles!

Partnerships 

We have a number of enriching partnerships with the school that enhance the music provision in various ways:

Ealing Music Service

Working with Ealing Music Service allows us access to workshops, assemblies, peripatetic teachers, and support from their team. These have recently included:

• An introduction to woodwind instruments from a specialist. This was an assembly for all of Year One
• A choir trip to The Albert Hall which included singing with a symphony orchestra and performing with other primary schools.
• A steel pan workshop for Year Four, which tied into their learning about The Windrush generation.

 Ealing Music Service - broadening horizons & developing talent

Charanga

We also have access to a software called Charanga. This is a useful teaching tool that also has an inbuilt sequencer called YuStudio. This is used in Year 5 and Year 6 and allows children to make their own beats, soundtracks and study the art of ‘music production’.

Charanga's Musical School programme

School Choir

Each week, there is a school choir rehearsal. Each year brings new opportunities for the choir. We have performed at Grange Care Home, Gifford Winter Fair, The Royal Albert Hall, St. Barnabas Church with Ealing Symphony Orchestra and Voice in a Million at OVO Arena, Wembley. Photo – Selected children performing as part of the ACE choir from Gifford Primary School on stage at VIAM 2026.

Voice in a Million  

Each year we have taken our choir to Wembley to take part in either Young Voices or Voice in a Million. Voice in a Million was set up in 2009; as a promoter of school / singing events, with an under-pinning message that raises awareness of the plight of children in care and the importance of Adoption and Fostering, both in the UK and worldwide. The night involves around 5,000 to 6,000 schoolchildren of all ages, performing a set list of songs in the arena, as part of the VIAM Choir. On Stage we also have a number of smaller choirs and selected soloists, that together form our stage choir and we were proud to have a number of our children on stage this year as part of the ACE choir.

Voice in a Million – The Choir that Makes a Difference

Tenebrae 

Tenebrae is a world famous choir that run an incredible schools programme. We are incredibly lucky to have been chosen as one of the schools in Southall that they are working with. This means, weekly singing workshops for Year 3 (our chosen year group). There has been a huge increase in performance and singing confidence across every year group who has received Tenebrae workshops.

Working closely with Ealing Music Service, we form multi-year partnerships which help us to introduce and embed a singing culture in schools which face barriers to engagement with music.

Photo: children in Year 3 performing at Questors Theatre in their Spring sharing concert with other Tenebrae partner schools.

Tenebrae Schools | Tenebrae Choir

Rocksteady 

Rocksteady is the UK's leading provider of in-school, weekly rock and pop band lessons for primary school children (ages 4–12) It offers inclusive, fun, and exam-free music education aimed at building confidence, social skills, and musical ability, with instruments provided. Each week a Rocksteady practitioner comes and guides groups of children in their band to learn a song together. The children have excelled in confidence and ability in these sessions. It’s a great asset to the music department.

Home - Rocksteady Music School