Music Curriculum Journey

Intent

At Oakwood Junior School, we have designed our curriculum with the intent that our children will become, resilient, independent, well rounded learners that will have the building blocks to become successful, moral adults, live healthy lifestyles, and take opportunities beyond their horizons.

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

• Perform, listen to, review and evaluate music

• Be taught to sing, create and compose music

• Understand and explore how music is created, produced and communicated

• Find enjoyment in a range of different music genres, cultures and eras

• Are confident in expressing their musical talents

At Oakwood Junior School, the intention is that children gain a firm understanding of what music is through listening, singing, playing, evaluating, analysing, and composing across a wide variety of historical periods, styles, traditions, and musical genres.

Our objective at Oakwood Junior School is to develop a passion and enjoyment of the subject, as well as an understanding and acceptance of the validity and importance of all types of music, and an unbiased respect for the role that music may plays in different cultures. We are committed to ensuring children understand the value and importance of music in the wider community.

Implementation

The curriculum is led and overseen by the curriculum lead. Subject leaders play an important part in the success of the curriculum by leading a regular programme of monitoring, evaluation and review and the celebration of good practice contributes to the ongoing commitment to evolve and improve further. 

At Oakwood Junior School, we follow the Charanga Musical School Scheme which is in line with the curriculum for music. This Scheme moves away from the previous levels and learning objective/outcome concepts to an integrated, practical, exploratory and child-led approach to musical learning. The interrelated dimensions of music weave through the units to encourage the development of musical skills as the learning progresses through listening and appraising, differing musical activities (including creating and exploring) and performing.

This is embedded in the classroom activities as well as singing assemblies and performances, the learning of instruments, and the joining of one of our many musical ensembles.

In the classroom, students have the opportunity to play different instruments, including glockenspiels, percussion instruments and the recorder. In doing so, they understand the different principles of each method of creating notes, as well as how to read basic music notation.

Impact 

At Oakwood Junior School, children have the opportunity to discover areas of musical strength, as well as areas they might like to explore and grow in confidence.

Music will aim to develop an understanding of culture and history, both in relation to students individually, as well as cultures from across the world.

Children will be encouraged to enjoy music, in a variety of ways across the key stage - either as listener, creator or performer.

• They can dissect music and comprehend its parts.

• They can sing and feel a pulse.

• They can gain an understanding of how to further develop skills that are less known to them, should they ever develop an interest in their lives.