Free Music Curriculum for Every Primary School
A free music curriculum for every primary school
Looking for a complete, ready-to-teach music curriculum? Oak National Academy’s Primary Music Curriculum is free for every school. It covers Years 1–6, with lessons in singing, listening, composing and performing.
It was created by Bristol Beacon and Cathedral Schools Trust, working with musicians and organisations including the London Symphony Orchestra, Paraorchestra, Royal Ballet & Opera, Debbie Wiseman OBE and Jasdeep Singh Degun. It’s designed to be inclusive, joyful and ambitious, and to draw on a wide range of musical traditions and voices.
More than 1,350 schools and 3,746 teachers had used it by July 2026. It has been shortlisted for Outstanding Music Education Resource in the 2027 Music & Drama Education Awards.
“It’s so comforting to know that there’s an amazing place to start.”
Primary teacher
What’s included
- 39 units across Years 1–6: about 228 sequenced lessons that build year on year.
- Ready-to-use lesson resources: everything you need to teach, whether or not you’re a music specialist.
- Planning and curriculum guidance: to help you shape music across your school.
- Inclusion at its heart: built to be accessible to every pupil.
A taste of the units
- Year 1: finding your singing voice, feeling the pulse, high and low melodies
- Year 2: singing games, graphic scores, soundscapes of the sea
- Year 3: rhythm grids, rounds and partner songs, pentatonic melodies
- Year 4: improvising in Hindustani classical music, singing in harmony, cosmic programme music
- Year 5: minimalist composition, syncopation, part-singing with tuned accompaniment
- Year 6: polyrhythms, music and social change, film scores inspired by nature documentaries
Explore the units on Oak National Academy →
Free training for teachers
Bristol Beacon runs training to help schools get the most from the curriculum. It’s designed with busy primary schools in mind.
| Session | Date | Time | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| Discover (Session 2) | Thu 22 October 2026 | 4.45pm | Online |
| Adopt (in person) | Fri 20 November 2026 | 4.30pm | Bristol Beacon, Bristol |
| Adopt | Tue 1 December 2026 | 4.45pm | Online |
| Adapt | Thu 18 March 2027 | 4.45pm | Online |
| Sustain | Thu 20 May 2027 | 4.45pm | Online |
See the full training programme and book →
How Octagon Music Hub can help
Using the Oak curriculum? We can help you make it work for your pupils:
- Curriculum and School Music Development Plan support: through Somerset Music and Dorset Music Service.
- Whole-class instrumental teaching: to sit alongside the Oak units.
- Lead Schools: see how other schools near you are teaching music, and share ideas.
- Training: for teachers, teaching assistants and music leads.
Find out more about the curriculum on the Bristol Beacon website.