Primary Music Magazine Issue 5.1 Spring 2021

Northern Ireland The music curriculum in Northern Ireland falls into the broader subject area of ‘The Arts,’ and allows for a considerable level of flexibility when it comes to content. At a basic level, children are expected to work creatively with sound, sing and perform with simple instruments, and listen and respond to own and others’ music-making. There is very much an emphasis on practical music-making rather than theoretical concepts such as music history.

During the Foundation Stage, children are expected to make music, developing the ability to perform a steady beat and repeat simple rhythms, to recognise loud and quiet, high and low, long and short, and fast and slow, and follow start and stop signals. They are also expected to develop their team-working skills, and in particular to value their own and others’ contributions to music making and performing. This sets them up with the basic skills and understanding that they need to progress to more complex musical work in KS1.