Music

Our Music Intent 

At Oyster Park Primary Academy, we are committed to ensuring the effective delivery of a music curriculum that is accessible to all our children. Music is a practical, creative subject, which should enhance the lives and learning of all children. Music is a unique way of communicating that can inspire and motivate children. It gives an opportunity for personal expression and it can play an important part in the personal development of an individual. Music reflects our culture and society and so the teaching and learning of music enables children to understand the world they live in. Our aim is to promote enthusiasm for and enjoyment of, music in all its forms and to develop musical skills and knowledge. By engaging children in musical experiences, we can offer our children opportunities to develop skills, attitudes and attributes that can support learning in other areas as well as developing life skills such as listening skills, the ability to concentrate, creativity, self-confidence and a sensitivity towards others.

In EYFS, through expressive arts, children are taught to sing songs, make music and dance. Children are given opportunities to experiment with ways of changing sound and develop an understanding of pulse rhythm and pitch. Children follow a scheme of work from Charanga Music School and enjoy listening and responding to different styles of music, learning to sing, joining in with nursery rhymes and action songs which leads to playing classroom instruments and performing for others.

In Key Stage 1, we encourage children to work and play with others in a range of group situations and develop their performance skills for different activities and performances, including Christmas and end of year celebrations. We demonstrate to our pupils how to improve the quality and control of their performance as well as teaching children to recognise and describe how their bodies feel when listening to and playing music. We develop our pupils’ enjoyment and passion for music through interactive, creative activities. We embed an understanding in children of how to develop their abilities and how to evaluate their own success.

In Key Stage 2, opportunities exist for children to experience learning beyond the classroom. This will allow them to enrich their knowledge by, for example, attending performances by professional musicians and participating in school productions and concerts. Other opportunities might include visits to concerts, meeting musicians, professional musicians visiting schools to work with pupils, musicians from other schools sharing their expertise with staff and children. Children also have the opportunity to join our KS2 Singing Club and perform in events in the community.

Reading

In Music, we cultivate a reading culture by exposing children to a variety of genres through carefully planned activities.  In Key Stage 1, children have the opportunity to use subject specific vocabulary to translate into music. Children will also read nursery rhymes where they will begin to compose their own accompanying music. In Key Stage 2, children will read lyrics as part of considerately planned comprehension lessons. Children will also apply their reading skills through linking music to stories that they read. Children have the opportunity to read about specific artists and composers through their listening and appraise lessons.

Oracy

Oracy is the ability to articulate ideas, develop understanding and engage with others through spoken language. In Music, oracy is a powerful tool for learning. We ensure oracy is developed across all key stages to ensure students have the ability to communicate effectively in all musical scenarios.

SEND

At Oyster park Primary Academy, we are aware of, and respond to, pupils’ diverse learning needs, including those with special educational needs. All children have access to Music. Therefore, work and activities will be adapted accordingly to ensure that children of all abilities participate to their full potential. We aim for children to be able to take control of their own learning where they have responsibility and ownership to challenge themselves. This supports children to develop skills they need to become life-long learners, who have both an understanding and a positive relationship with music.