Areas of Musical Experience

All Programmes of Study comprise the following areas of musical experience: 

A: Listening and internalising

• listening to music with concentration in and out of lessons, building on their experiences
• having a clear aural perception of the music to be sung/played
• recognising and discriminating between the musical elements of pulse, pitch, rhythm, tempo, dynamics, texture, and tone colour
• recognising and conveying structural elements in their singing/playing
• making links between sound and symbols when using notation

B: Making and controlling musical sounds – Developing technique

• posture and freedom of movement (for all curricula)
• instrument-specific aspects of technique including:
  • tone quality
  • tuning
  • intonation
  • breathing
  • embouchure
  • coordination
  • articulation
  • fingering
  • diction

C: Creating and developing musical ideas

• improvising expressively
• applying vocal/instrumental skills in composing

D: Singing/playing music

• working out how to sing/play music by ear
• repeating musical patterns and phrases accurately from memory
• singing/playing pieces in a variety of styles with fluency, expression and understanding
• memorising songs/pieces that have been learnt
• reading and singing/playing music at sight (where appropriate)
• interpreting music, developing a personal response

E: Singing/playing music with others

• listening, watching, responding and leading
• contributing to collective decisions, including interpretation

F: Performing and communicating

• interpreting and communicating the character of the music
• evaluating their performances and making improvements

The six interrelated areas should be viewed as a whole and not as hierarchical. Rather than working through each area sequentially, skills should be developed through interrelated activities using a holistic approach to teaching and learning.