Oakington Manor Primary School

Intent

Music is an integral part of Oakington Manor Primary School and we provide a high-quality musical education to all our pupils. Our teaching of Music enables our children to relate and interact with their environment. It has a long established extensive provision under the direction of a specialist teacher and with the support of peripatetic specialists, develop our pupils’ Knowledge, Skills and Understanding of this subject. Singing is a particular strength in our school which is showcased through our students participate in local competitions, recitals, showcase musicals and creative talents in assemblies and other events building their self-confidence and sense of achievement. They also benefit from a national music partnership. Through music, our children undertake an enriching journey through many cultures, languages and genres thus building a wider understanding of music. The opportunities that Music presents to or children enables their fledgling thoughts and ideas to be scaffolded and so, empowering their use of music as a means of communication and understanding that this art allows. We empower our pupils by equipping them with the rudiments and key skills to foster their progression necessary to allow them to consolidate a deeper knowledge, understanding and appreciation of music and for the next step in their journey through life. 

Implementation

At Oakington, we plan to ensure all children can access the music curriculum, as we believe that each child can offer and receive value from music in each lesson.

A fluent foundation:

We believe that the developmental success in music is underpinned by a secure and fluent knowledge of theoretical and practical procedures. These allow pupils to increase the efficiency of their music making, thereby freeing up their thinking for deeper theoretical connection-making and greater depth of music making as the demand for more challenging creation and playing and singing of music is called for.

Focused planning:
We use an innovative approach to planning which aims to reduce teacher workload while simultaneously increasing the quality of the learning experience. Our planning revolves around two main areas in music, Theory and Practical, of which, Rhythm, Tempo, Pitch, Dynamics, Timbre, operational techniques, Rehearsal, Recording (written and electronically created and recorded music) and Performance are used with instruments and voice to consolidate knowledge and experience. These key elements are statutes embedded in planning for a successful music lesson.

• Objectives are taught coherently and concepts are sequenced logically, allowing pupils to build upon previous learning.
• Lessons are structured so as to provide a full and enriching musical experience within which pupils are able to move forward by consolidating concepts and deepening their understanding with theoretical and practical activities.
• Lessons are planned to provide opportunities to consolidate understanding of musical concepts and language through the use of variation of tasks. Tasks are designed to progressively allow pupils to make greater connections between theoretical and practical concepts through the exploration of instruments and voice.
• Pupils are also given opportunities to develop essential thinking and reasoning skills through carefully selected key questioning, opportunities to exemplar work and homework activities.
• Opportunities to exemplar key vocabulary and reasoning are carefully planned for during lessons and performance.

A commitment to the Specialist teachers’ music expertise:

• Working in partnership with Brent Music Service, sharing expertise in Borough network meetings
• We provide robust training through Brent Schools Teaching Alliance for NQTs and training for support staff and teacher CPDs.
• We support our staff through CPDs, shared practice and a range of up-to-date music technology resources
• We have a National Partnership with a school in the east Midlands where expertise is exchanged and children work and network with other children from the school
• Support to other schools in Brent on an ad hoc basis
• Regular musical discussions, seminars and performances at the music specialists level to ensure a continuum of musical development to remain abreast of musical development

Impact

• Pupils enjoy music
• Pupils are more confident to perform instrumental and vocal music

• The quality of Pupil/Whole school performance is evident in performances, and shows
• Pupils are able to identify genres and know the use of appropriate of music
• Pupils use musical terminology and language with increasing confidence and accuracy
• Pupils are fluent in recalling essential facts of musical rudiments.
• Pupils access and are successful in external examinations
• Pupils use their enhanced learning and experience to access Borough orchestra, choir or bands
• Pupils can apply their curriculum learning to private music tuition (Peripatetic or external)
• Pupils are able to reason confidently using musical vocabulary