Music

Discover how Riverside's six-year music curriculum builds confidence and creativity in students, from learning instruments like the ukulele and recorder to performing at school events.

Last updated 28 July 2026

Our Beliefs

In Riverside, we believe that music is an integral part of our lives as it is a way of expressing our feelings, emotions and thoughts. It helps to develop our students holistically by building on their confidence, critical and creative thinking and cultural awareness through music learning experiences.

Objectives of Music Curriculum

The objectives of our six-year music curriculum are as follows:

Sing with accuracy, clarity and expressions.
Perform singing or playing instruments with melodic and rhythmic accuracy.
Enjoy and appreciate music of local and global cultures.
Listen and respond to music through movement and discussions.
Play the recorder, keyboard, ukulele and Orff instruments with expression either individually or in an ensemble.
Apply music concepts through improvisation and composition using voice, movement or instruments.

The Primary One and Two Curriculum Experience

Music Class curriculum by primary level

Level	Instruments Taught	Skills learnt
P1	Handbells, Orff and Classroom instruments	Singing and breathing techniques Performing with instruments Performing as part of an ensemble Listening Improvisation/ basic composition Note-reading Basic music concepts
P2	Handbells II, Orff and Classroom instruments

P2 students playing percussion musical instruments

In Primary One and Primary Two, music teachers deliver engaging student-centric lessons in a safe and fun learning environment. Riverians learn essential musical concepts like steady beat, rhythm and dynamics through songs of local and global cultures. They also have opportunities to use percussion and melodic instruments to showcase the concepts learnt.

The Primary Three and Four Curriculum Experience

Music Class curriculum by primary level

Level	Instruments Taught	Skills learnt
P3	Boomwhackers, Recorder, Orff and Classroom Instruments	Singing and breathing techniques Performing with instruments Performing as part of an ensemble Listening Improvisation/ basic composition Note-reading Basic music concepts
P4	Gamelan, Angklung, Recorder II, Keyboard, Orff and Classroom Instruments

P3 students perform music using boomwhackers

In Primary Three and Four, Riverians learn to play and perform a varied repertoire of songs using not only the voice but also instruments such as the boomwhackers, recorder, keyboard as well as percussion instruments with the correct technique. Riverians also learn about the Gamelan ensemble in Primary Four.

The Primary Five Curriculum Experience

Music Class curriculum by primary level

Level	Instruments Taught	Skills learnt
P5	Keyboard II, Garage Band (IPad Apps), Ukulele I, Orff and Classroom Instruments	Singing and breathing techniques Performing with instruments Performing as part of an ensemble Listening Improvisation/ basic composition Note-reading Basic music concepts
P6	Ukulele II, Garage Band (IPad Apps), Orff and Classroom Instruments

P6 students playing keyboard and ukulele

In Primary Five and Six, Riverians learn to read chord charts and play the ukuleles. They also have opportunities to take part in jam band projects and explore the use of digital technology apps and websites like Chrome Music Lab and Garageband to create their own songs.

Learning Outside the Classrooms

Riverians are also given opportunities to engage in music-making outside the classrooms through a variety of platforms during lunchtime or special event performances.

An instance is the lunchtime performance ‘Music Jam’ which provides Riverians the opportunity to perform and showcase not only their musical or performance talents but also what they have learnt in the classroom.

The aim of Music Jam is to bring out the musicians in all Riverians through:

Exposure
Creativity
Confidence