MUSIC
Oakfield Music Department
At Oakfield learners are able to explore and appreciate music through a range of experiences, which assist in developing communication, confidence, self-esteem and problem solving and thinking skills.
Our music classroom has a wide range of percussion instruments and technical equipment including Mac computers, keyboards and microphones.
In Key Stage 3 learners follow the National Curriculum for Music, which focuses on performing, creating and reflecting.
We offer many opportunities to get involved with music at Oakfield including school and college lunch clubs, performances, music tuition and wider opportunities which are delivered through Wigan Music Service.
Music at KS3
At Oakfield we follow the National Curriculum for music at KS3, where learners develop knowledge and skills in music through performing, creating and reflecting.
Learners improve their skills and knowledge in vocal and instrumental technique, through solo and ensemble work. Learners explore a range of topics in KS3 that allow learners to learn and understand the historical and cultural aspects of music.
Topics studied in Y7 include; This Train, Frere Jacques, The Haunted House, Chinese Music and Indian Music.
In Y8 learners take part in Wider Opportunities, which is delivered through Wigan Music Service. Learners are able to explore a range of percussion instruments working as an ensemble to produce a piece for performance. Topics include Glockenspiels, Samba and African Drumming.
In Y9 Learners are given the opportunity to explore music technology where learners discover the use of Mac computers and Garageband to compose music. Topics studied include; Ground bass, Reggae, Garageband, Film Music and Caribbean Music.
School Choir Club
At Oakfield we have a School Choir which meet every Tuesday lunch for practise. Learners are able to develop their vocal skills whilst meeting new people, developing friendships and their self-confidence.
Learners are given the opportunity to select their own songs and work together as an ensemble to improve their performance. Some brave singers also perform solo on the microphones.
At Christmas the choir practised Christmas songs and performed them at the IntEnt Festival. Learners also took part in World Music Day where they performed a song to the whole school and college.
College Music Club
At Oakfield we have a College Music Club which meet every Friday lunch. Students are able to develop their musical skills whether it be singing, playing, writing, rapping or creating whilst meeting new people, developing friendships and their self-confidence.
Students are given the opportunity to select their own songs and either work individually or together as an ensemble to improve their skills. Some brave performers even perform solo on the microphones or present their work.
At Christmas the College Music Club integrated with the School Choir to practise and perform Christmas songs at the IntEnt Festival. Some members of the college music club also performed on World Music Day in front of the whole school and college.
Performances
At Oakfield we value and acknowledge the importance of performance for learners social and emotional well-being whether they be part of the performance or part of the audience.
We have had music performances at Oakfield and we have visited music shows too. Some of these shows include; ‘The Wanted Direction’, ‘Lauren Warburton’, ‘True Colours’ the ‘Wigan Jazz Festival’, and the ‘Wigan Music Service’.
Learners have also had the opportunity to be involved in performances including IntEnt Week where the choir performed in front of learners and visitors at the Christmas festival. Y8 wider opportunities perform each term in front of the whole school celebrating their achievement as an ensemble group and mastering different percussion instruments. The Performance IntEnt group performed at Landgate School for the Christmas carol concert and included some wonderful solo performances. Y8 performed an Indian song at the Wigan School’s Curriculum Showcase at Celebration Hall in July 2015 to celebrate our link with our partner school in Sri Lanka. Our Y9 learners collaborated with Music Unlimited at St Mary’s High School to create a music piece which was performed at the Curriculum Showcase in 2017.
Useful links
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/national-curriculum-in-england-music-programmes-of-study
http://www.wigan.gov.uk/Resident/Education/Wigan-Music-Service/index.aspx
http://www.wiganyouthzone.org/welcome/