Singapore Primary 1 Music Syllabus

The Singapore Primary 1 Music Syllabus is based on the belief that all children are musical and aims to develop their aural and expressive abilities. The curriculum uses three Musical Processes: Listening, Creating, and Performing. These processes are interconnected and work together to develop musical understanding.

Core Understandings

The curriculum is framed by three Core Understandings:

• Music expresses our experiences and values: Music uses elements like tempo, rhythm, and pitch to convey emotions and ideas.
• Music connects individuals and communities: Music helps build identities and fosters appreciation for diverse cultures.
• Music is shaped by historical, social and cultural contexts: Studying music helps understand its role and evolution in different societies.

Learning Outcomes

The Primary 1 syllabus focuses on the following learning outcomes:

• LO1: Listen and Respond to Music: Students learn to actively listen, imitate patterns, describe sounds, and respond to music's elements and mood.
• LO2: Create Music: Students explore and create musical ideas using voice, body percussion, and instruments. They create rhythmic and melodic patterns and soundscapes.
• LO3: Perform Music: This outcome is divided into two parts:
• LO3A: Sing: Students sing with proper technique, accuracy, and expression, performing songs in unison and simple canons.
• LO3B: Play Instruments: Students play rhythmic and melodic patterns on pitched and unpitched instruments, learning basic playing techniques.

Making Connections

Students connect their learning to real-world contexts by exploring music from Singapore and other cultures. They experience and perform the National Anthem, folksongs, and community songs. They also learn about music from at least six different cultures, two of which must be from Southeast Asia.

Musical Elements and Concepts

Students develop an understanding of the following musical elements and concepts:

• Tempo, Rhythm and Beats: Beat/pulse, rhythm, tempo (fast/allegro, slow/largo, etc.), meters (2/4, 3/4, 4/4), note values (crotchet, quaver, etc.), rhythmic ostinato.
• Pitch: High and low, melodic intervals (step, skip, leap), relative solfege (moveable do), melodic ostinato.
• Expression: Dynamics (loud/forte, soft/piano, etc.), crescendo, decrescendo.
• Form: Repetition, phrase, call and response, AB, ABA.
• Timbre/Tone Colours: Speaking and singing voices, sound production of instruments.
• Tonality and Harmony: Bourdon patterns on do and so.
• Texture: Single melodic line, song with accompaniment.
• Notation: Graphic, stick, staff notation.

Core Repertoire

The Core Repertoire for Primary 1 includes songs that foster a sense of national identity and community belonging, such as:

• National and Community Songs in English: "Count On Me, Singapore," "Stand Up for Singapore," "Singapura," "Home."
• Community Songs in Malay: "Semoga Bahagia," "Dayung Sampan."
• Community Songs in Chinese: "Zao Qi Shang Xue Xiao," "Xiang Xin Wo Ba Xin Jia Po."
• Community Songs in Tamil: "Munnaeru Vaaliba," "Singapore Needu Vaazhga."
• Eurasian Song: "Jinkli Nona."

Dynamic Repertoire

In addition to the Core Repertoire, teachers can select from a Dynamic Repertoire, which includes works by Singaporean composers and exposes students to a wider range of musical styles. Examples include:

• Songs: "Aidilfitri," "One By One."
• Instrumental Works: "Symphonic Suite on a Set of Local Tunes," "Sketches of Singapore."

This comprehensive structure ensures that Primary 1 students in Singapore develop a strong foundation in music through active listening, creative exploration, and engaging performances, fostering a lifelong appreciation for music in diverse contexts.