Music
Music is an integral and much‑loved part of life at LGS Stoneygate. We are extremely proud of the high standards, rich opportunities and inclusive ethos that shape musical learning across the school. Our aim is simple: for every child to discover their musical potential and develop a life‑long love of music.
A joyful and inspirational musical journey
Pupils genuinely enjoy Music at LGS Stoneygate. Lessons are lively, inclusive and creative, and children are consistently:
- Motivated by hands‑on, practical experiences
- Energised by performing, composing and exploring different genres
- Excited by the many opportunities to share their talents
Our dedicated Music department is passionate about nurturing young musicians. We see it as a privilege to guide children as they grow in confidence, skill and musical curiosity, and we delight in supporting every pupil—whether they are just beginning their musical journey or already showing exceptional promise.
Pre-Prep
Class music in the Early Years and Pre‑Prep
Class music lessons begin right from Reception, giving children an early and joyful introduction to musicianship. All lessons are taught by specialist Music teachers, ensuring that pupils develop the skills and knowledge outlined in the National Curriculum for Music through high‑quality, engaging teaching.
A strong foundation through the Kodály approach
In Pre‑Prep, pupils learn music through the Kodály approach, which places singing at the heart of musical development. This proven method helps children securely develop the fundamentals of:
- Pitch
- Rhythm
- Musical awareness
The emphasis on playful, interactive learning ensures that musical skills are nurtured naturally and confidently.
Keyboard, violin and choir in Year 2
Year 2 is an exciting step forward. All pupils learn both the keyboard and the violin, enabling them to experience music through different instruments and develop early technical skills. They also continue their regular Pre‑Prep Choir sessions, where they learn to sing expressively, listen actively and perform with others.
Throughout their lessons, pupils benefit from a rich mixture of:
- Singing
- Instrumental work
- Ensemble activities
This varied approach helps every child discover what they enjoy most while building a solid foundation for future musical learning.
Performances and community celebration
Music at LGS Stoneygate is something to be shared and celebrated. Children take part in:
- Regular concerts throughout the year
- An annual Christmas performance combining singing, dancing and acting
- Opportunities to perform for parents, families and friends
These events give every child the chance to shine, build confidence and experience the joy of performing.
Prep
Music in Years 3–6
As pupils move into Years 3 and 4, their musical journey becomes even more exciting. Children continue to develop their keyboard skills through the lively and motivating Keyboard Kung Fu programme, while also beginning to learn the recorder using the fun, graded Recorder Karate scheme. These approaches help pupils build confidence, technique and musical understanding in a way that feels enjoyable and rewarding.
Alongside their instrumental work, pupils enjoy one hour of Junior Choir each week, giving them regular opportunities to sing together, develop vocal skills and experience the joy of ensemble performance.
Becoming independent musicians in Years 5 and 6
In Years 5 and 6, pupils continue to have one hour of Music each week, during which they deepen their skills and begin to think and work like independent musicians. Learning becomes broader and more sophisticated, with pupils developing their musicianship through:
- Critical listening and evaluation
- Performing with increasing confidence
- Composing and improvising
- Understanding how music is structured and created
Composing is inspired by a wide range of musical styles and cultures, helping pupils appreciate diversity in music and encouraging creativity and curiosity.
Whenever possible, classes prepare performances for wider audiences, including school assemblies and instrumental concerts. These opportunities build confidence, celebrate achievement and help pupils experience the pride of sharing their music with others.
Senior School
Music in Years 7–9
In Years 7 to 9, pupils follow a rich and engaging course built around the three core strands of music education: Listening, Performing and Composing. Each pupil has one hour of Music per week, during which they continue to develop both their instrumental skills and their confidence in using music technology.
Pupils explore music from a wide range of styles, cultures and historical periods, learning about different instruments, musical structures and traditions. This broad exposure helps them build strong musical understanding and a genuine appreciation for the subject. The Model Music Curriculum provides the foundation for our course content, ensuring a well‑sequenced, ambitious and inspiring programme of study.
GCSE Music (Years 10–11)
Music is offered as an optional GCSE in Years 10 and 11, following the Eduqas specification. Pupils use Noteflight as their primary composition software, enabling them to develop their ideas creatively and independently.
The GCSE course is structured as follows:
- Performing – 30%
- Composing – 30%
- Appraising – 40%
Current set works include Bach’s Badinerie (BWV 1067) and Toto’s Africa, offering pupils the chance to study contrasting pieces that deepen their understanding of musical form, style and context.
Co-curricular Music
The Music Department at LGS Stoneygate is both long‑established and full of energy, offering pupils high‑quality musical experiences from their very first lessons through to advanced study. Our strong classroom curriculum is enriched by a superb team of visiting instrumental and vocal teachers, ensuring that every child—whether a beginner or an experienced musician—can grow, thrive and be inspired.
Individual lessons and exceptional opportunities
Music is thriving across the school, with well over 100 individual instrumental and vocal lessons taking place each week. From Year 3 onwards, all pupils can access individual lessons, and we offer special arrangements for younger pupils who show a particular interest or aptitude in music.
Our pupils regularly achieve at the highest levels, with some securing places in prestigious national ensembles such as:
- The National Children’s Orchestra
- The National Youth Choirs of Great Britain
These achievements reflect the strength of our teaching, the commitment of our pupils, and the culture of musical excellence that underpins life at LGS Stoneygate.
We have three choirs (Pre-Prep Choir, Junior Choir and Senior Choir) and the Senior Choir enjoy a three-night tour abroad biennially. Our Orchestra plays music in a variety of styles and we have four concerts annually that celebrate the performances of all that have individual music lessons. We have a number of Guitar and Ukulele groups and a Percussion Group and Folkestra (folk group).
The two musical highlights of the year are the Carol Service and the Summer Sequence Concert. The Carol Service is held in St James the Greater, Leicester and involves all pupils from Year 3 to Year 11. The massed choir of all pupils is extremely impressive and is an accurate representation of our belief in music for all. We also showcase our Junior Choir, Senior Choir and Orchestras in the Carol Service.
We are very proud of the results from our ABRSM, Trinity and Rockschool exams across a range of instruments. We help the candidates to find this a positive and worthwhile musical experience. We also believe in the rigour of musical training and have two after school Music Theory sessions and regularly enter pupils for these exams.
Our annual Arts Festival includes instrumental and vocal performances from Year 3 – 11 and highlights the exceptional talent in the school. We also have workshops from visiting organisations in order to broaden the range of music experiences that our pupils can have.
Our assemblies often feature hymn singing and we have a hymn practice twice a term. Assemblies often showcase instrumental performances from pupils and are used to celebrate successes.