Music

Statement – Our Commitment to Music

Oasis Academy Henderson Avenue is a school deeply committed to the development of musical knowledge and fostering of talent among all pupils. In addition to high quality statutory music provision, the Academy runs a number of extra-curricular and additional activities to develop children’s enthusiasm, enjoyment and creativity within Music.

All children have access to singing opportunities; within daily lessons, during fortnightly hymn singing or in the weekly choir groups, which run openly for all children across KS1 and KS2. In addition, the Academy runs a weekly orchestra, guitar group and recorder club.

We have recently employed a Specialist Music Teacher to deliver high quality, fully interactive Music lessons for pupils in Years 3-6. Included in the curriculum, is the opportunity for all pupils to learn to play the ukulele and to take part in a samba band. Low-income families, including vulnerable and/or ‘looked after’ children, are able to learn to play a musical instrument, free of charge. This academic year, we have a large number of pupils learning to play a wide variety of instruments, drawing on the expertise of staff within school and from the North Lincolnshire Music Education Hub.

Our overarching aim is to increase the number of children learning at or above age related expectations in Music, relative to their age. We strive to ensure that music is an enjoyable and exciting subject for children to take part in, contributing to their social, moral and cultural development. Opportunities such as the BBC’s 10 Pieces Project, Sinfonia Viva, Taiko Drumming demonstrations and live performances within school have and continue to play a significant role in the delivery of music within our Academy.

Music is delivered as a fully inclusive discipline at Oasis Academy Henderson Avenue, enabling all children to develop a thirst for Music education. We welcome the opportunity to develop our practice so to further raise the outcomes in music across our Academy.

Scunthorpe Music Festival 2016

Oasis Academy Henderson Avenue contributed to the Scunthorpe Music Festival last year. Please see below a letter written by our Music Teacher, C Dawson.

Oasis Academy Henderson Avenue certainly made itself known at Scunthorpe Music Festival this year, we had over 300 children taking part, from soloists to folk groups.

All of Year 4 took part in the Samba class, with 4D coming first. All three classes played exceptionally well, with each class playing a different samba rhythm.

Tuesday continued with the recorder and guitar ensembles who both gained first places. The recorder ensemble also won the festival shield again.

In the afternoon 19 pupils took part in three different string classes gaining a host of first, second and third places. Ruchira Kapurabandra and Sajinth Sakthithran also came first and second in the guitar class.

Wednesday, saw the whole of Year 5 take part in the ukulele classes. This time 5M came first, but again all the children played and sang extremely well.

In the afternoon our penny whistle group wowed the adjudicator with a rendition of ‘My Heart Will Go On’, by Celine Dion. (No other school in North Lincolnshire has a penny whistle group).

Thursday was the choir competition. In the morning the main choir competed against five other choirs and sang their hearts out. In the afternoon the signing choir gained first place with a fabulous performance of ‘Proud.’ Well done Mrs Cryer!

Our success continued with the orchestra gaining first place and then the most exciting part of the festival was when the folk group beat St Lawrence Academy in an ensemble class.

Ruchira Kapurubandra also gained the prize for the most promising musician in the festival. This was awarded to Safia Jackson last year, so two years in a row for Oasis Academy.

The festival was, a huge success for our school, for weeks before the festival most of the musicians gave up breaks and lunch times. I am very proud of our children who all put in extra practice and rehearsals.

I must also thank the parents of the musicians who also brought them on Friday evenings for extra tuition, and even provided cake!

Without the support of parents and our fantastic staff at school, entering this festival would not be possible. So I would like to take this opportunity to say a massive thank you to everyone.

I can’t wait for next year.