Music

At Oak Tree Primary School we believe that music enriches the lives of people, and so we wish to involve as many children as possible in musical activities, therefore we provide opportunities for all children to create, play, perform and enjoy music both in class and to an audience.

The National Curriculum

The National Curriculum for music aims to ensure that all pupils:

• perform, listen to, review and evaluate music across a range of historical periods, genres, styles and traditions, including the works of the great composers and musicians

• learn to sing and to use their voices, to create and compose music on their own and with others, have the opportunity to learn a musical instrument, use technology appropriately and have the opportunity to progress to the next level of musical excellence

• understand and explore how music is created, produced and communicated, including through the interrelated dimensions: pitch, duration, dynamics, tempo, timbre, texture, structure and appropriate musical notations

Intent

Music is a universal language that embodies one of the highest forms of creativity. A high-quality music education should engage and inspire pupils to develop a love of music and their talent as musicians, and so increase their self-confidence, creativity and sense of achievement. As pupils progress, they should develop a critical engagement with music, allowing them to compose, and to listen / appraise critically. (The National Curriculum)

Music teaching at Oak Tree Primary School aims to follow the specifications of the National Curriculum; providing a broad, balanced and differentiated curriculum and ensuring the progressive development of musical concepts, knowledge and skills. We hope to foster a lifelong love of music by exposing them to diverse musical experiences and igniting a passion for music. By listening and responding to different musical styles, finding their voices as singers and performers and as composers, all will enable them to become confident, reflective musicians. At Oak Tree we believe that music plays an integral role in helping children to feel part of a community, therefore we provide opportunities for all children to create, play, perform and enjoy music both in class and to an audience. Wherever possible, families are invited to enjoy performances.

The aims of our Music curriculum are to develop pupils who:

• Can sing and use their voices individually and in a group to create different effects
• Create and compose music on their own and with others
• Have opportunities to learn a musical instrument
• Understand and explore how music is created, produced and communicated
• Listen to, review and evaluate the work of great composers and musicians from a range of historical periods, genres, styles and traditions
• Enjoy and have an appreciation of a range of different musical styles e.g. Classical, Jazz, Hip Hop, Pop, Rock etc.
• Use and understand musical language and include musical features in their own work
• Make judgements and express personal preferences about the quality of music
• Have opportunities to play a wide variety of instruments
• Have different opportunities to take part in performances with an awareness of audience

Implementation

Music teaching at Oak Tree delivers the requirements of the National Curriculum through use of the Kapow Primary music scheme. Consistent high quality lessons are delivered by a music specialist in KS2 and EYFS and experienced class teachers in KS1.

Within the EYFS setting, music is an integral part of children’s learning journey. Children learn a wide range of songs and rhymes and develop skills for performing together. Singing and music making opportunities are used frequently to embed learning, develop musical awareness and to demonstrate how music can be used to express feelings.

Children in Year 4 benefit from whole class specialist teaching, delivered by a member of Stockport Music Service. These lessons allow children the opportunity to learn to play an instrument as part of an ensemble and to engender a love of music learning. 

Performance is at the heart of musical teaching and learning at Oak Tree and pupils participate in a range of performances during their school ‘career’. These include nativities, Easter performances, Leavers performance (Year 6). Pupils also take part in Harvest assemblies and performances to other classes to showcase their learning from the term. Pupils who are confident are encouraged to perform in solo performances. Parents are invited and welcomed to watch all these performances whether at school or outside of school.

Alongside our curriculum provision for music, pupils also have the opportunity to participate in additional 1:1 music teaching by being offered the opportunity to learn a musical instrument with peripatetic teachers. Our peripatetic music teaching is organised by the Stockport Music Service. In addition to this, many pupils continue their enthusiasm for music by joining the RockSteady programme, which is an outside provider where children can learn an instrument while being part of a band, preparing for regular performances.

Oak Tree also has a school, band, choir and recorder club where attendance is optional and children love to perform showcase their talents. 

Here are a few photos taken from some of our music lessons:

Impact

Our music Curriculum is planned to demonstrate progression and build on and embed current skills. We focus on progression of knowledge and skills in the different musical components and teaching of vocabulary also forms part of the units of work.

We measure the impact of our curriculum through the following methods:

· Pupil discussions and interviewing the pupils about their learning (pupil voice).

· Annual reporting and tracking of standards across the curriculum.

· Photo and video evidence of the pupils practical learning.

· Dedicated music leader time.

The impact of our music curriculum is also measured in the uptake of our music after school clubs and uptake of additional music 1:1 teaching.