Music at The Discovery School

Our Vision for Music

At The Discovery School we want all pupils in music to:

  • be inquisitive and have an opportunity to explore and try new things
  • be creative
  • build on their prior learning and knowledge
  • enjoy learning new skills for life
  • feel included and feel like they are part of something
  • understand about themselves and their place in the world
  • get along with and collaborate with others
  • be brave, ambitious and resilient
  • “be the best that they can be”


These statements underpin the intention of our music curriculum.

By providing a high quality music curriculum we aim to provide our children with the opportunities to;

  • develop the skills required to listen to and appreciate all forms of music,
  • become vocalists or musicians who are soloists,
  • develop the skills required to play in bands and ensembles,
  • develop the skills required to create music as writers and composers.

We ensure that all pupils have the opportunity to listen, play, perform and compose through regular music learning and opportunities. Our emphasis on a broad and balanced curriculum ensures that music is valued as a subject.  Music begins in the Early Years Foundation Stage.  Children develop their communication and language skills, physical development and explore the expressive arts through exposure to sounds, rhymes and songs.  Music learning at KS1 and KS2 continues to be practical; our children are taught to understand and appreciate music through listening, singing, playing, performing and composing. Through regular, active and practical engagement in music learning, our children develop musical understanding and fluency.

Learning an Instrument

Our music offer at The Discovery School enables all pupils to experience learning an instrument.  As part of our curriculum, whole class instrument teaching begins in Year 3 with the recorder:

  • Recorder lessons are delivered by the class teacher and/or teaching assistant and follow an online recorder tuition programme.
  • Each class receives two terms of lessons, culminating in a performance to parents to celebrate their progress.
  • Children are able to borrow a school recorder to take home for practise.
  • All children are provided with a login to access ‘Charanga Music World’ where they can follow a fun practise programme to develop their skills.

In Year 4, children have the opportunity to learn the Ukulele:

  • Ukulele lessons are delivered by a specialist Music Teacher and are part funded by the Music Plus Scheme.
  • Each class receives a 30-minute lesson per week throughout the whole academic year.
  • The lessons develop children’s musicianship skills as well as their confidence in playing and performing together.
  • Children are able to borrow a school ukulele for their lessons but can purchase their own instrument if they choose.
  • The year’s programme will culminate in an end of year performance to parents to celebrate progress.

In Year 5, children are taught to play the djembe drum and percussion as part of their curriculum:

  • Djembe lessons are delivered by the class teacher and/or teaching assistant and follow an online djembe tuition programme.
  • Each class receives two terms of lessons, culminating in a performance to parents to celebrate their progress.
  • The lessons develop children’s musicianship skills as well as their confidence in playing and performing together.
  • Children will be able to use an instrument from school for lessons but can purchase their own if they wish.
  • All children will be given a login to access ‘Charanga Music World’ where they can follow a fun practise programme to develop their skills.

In Year 6, children continue to develop their musicianship skills, building on their prior learning and experiences throughout KS2. Many choose to learn an instrument with one of our peripatetic music tutors and carry this on into their secondary school years.  This reflects the intent of our music curriculum at The Discovery School.

Co-curricular Music Offer

All children from year 1 to 6 have the opportunity to learn a range of instruments as part of the school’s co-curricular offer.  Lessons are delivered by independent peripatetic tutors and take place during the school day.  The tutors liaise with class teachers and rotate lesson times each term to avoid children missing the same subjects.  Children can choose to learn the piano, violin, electric guitar, clarinet, flute, cornet, trumpet, saxophone, classical guitar or continue with the ukulele. Children can also learn to play as part of a band selecting either drums, keyboard, lead guitar, bass guitar or vocals.

For more information about how your child can learn these instruments, you can contact our peripatetic music tutors or independent music providers directly:

  • Piano lessons - Mr Mark Copping, mark.copping78@gmail.com
  • Violin lessons - Miss Kate Coles, katecoles@gmail.com
  • Electric guitar - 'Edge Guitar School', Mr Matthew Mallery, matthewmallery@yahoo.com
  • Classical guitar/ ukulele - Miss Caroline Beevis, caroline@cbmusicteaching.me.uk
  • Wind and brass instruments - 'Music For Schools Foundation', https://www.mfsf.org.uk/
  • Rock band instruments/ vocals - 'iRock', https://irockschool.com/
The Discovery School Choir

The Discovery School Key Stage Two Choir love to perform!  Children from Year 3 to Year 6 meet every Wednesday after school and and enjoy singing a broad range of pop and rock songs. Children perform confidently and enthusiastically, regularly singing songs involving two and three part harmonies.  Recent performances have included a live broadcast on BBC Radio Kent for Children in Need and the West Malling Christmas Festival.  The Choir have lots of performances to look forward to this year, including the Young Voices Concert at the O2 London Arena in January.

Performance at the West Malling Christmas Festival

Young Voices 2023

Our Key Stage Two Choir participated in the Young Voices Concert at the London 02 Arena in January.  We sang as part of a huge 'wall of sound' - a choir of 9099 children!  It was so exciting for the children to perform in an event of this scale and the experience will stay in their memories for a lifetime.  The most memorable moment was when we sang 'Proud' with pop legend Heather Small.  The atmosphere in the arena was amazing!

The Discovery School Staff Band - No Direction!

At The Discovery School, we believe it is important to model the passion and enthusiasm for music that we want to instill in our children.  Participating in music events creates a sense of togetherness and enjoyment which supports the wellbeing of children and adults alike. That's why our staff band enjoy performing for our children!  Here is the epic performance from our staff band 'No Direction' at our Christmas music assembly!

No Direction! Merry Christmas Discovery!