Musician

Being a Musician at Filton Avenue 

Our intent

At Filton Avenue, our intent in Music is to inspire every student to discover their creative voice, develop their musical skills, and gain the confidence to express themselves through sound. We believe music is a powerful force for connection, community, wellbeing, and personal growth, and we aim to provide an inclusive and culturally relevant curriculum that celebrates a wide range of musical traditions, genres, and cultures.

Through practical music-making, performance opportunities, and thoughtful listening, students learn to collaborate, think critically, and communicate their musical thoughts and opinions. We nurture curiosity by encouraging students to explore instruments and composition, helping them build both technical skill and artistic imagination.

Our goal is for every learner to leave with a lifelong connection and appreciation of music, a strong understanding of the interrelated dimensions of music and the knowledge that their creativity has value.

Implementation

We achieve this through the careful implementation of the Oak National Academy’s music curriculum. We transitioned to this curriculum in September 2025 because we firmly believe it reflects the latest research. It has been developed in partnership with the local Bristol Beacon musical experts alongside musicians and professionals within our own trust. At the heart of an evidence-informed approach is the rigorous application of research outcomes, best practice, and the science of learning. It is a cyclic curriculum that revisits and builds on knowledge and skills across six common threads:

· Developing our singing voice

· Playing together in an ensemble

· Practising and preparing for a performance

· Creating, composing and improvising

· Notating and sharing music

· Music over time and in different places

In EYFS, music is taught through the use of Musical Moments again developed by Bristol Beacon. This resource provides short, accessible musical activities designed to build musical skills, confidence, and creativity in the classroom. These Short, structured musical activities can be used at any point in a lesson and include simple, repeatable tasks that help children develop rhythm, listening, singing and instrumental skills. The

goal is to allow children to experience music in a low-pressure, manageable way which ensures their readiness for the Oak National Curriculum which starts in KS1.

In addition to this, some aspects of the music national curriculum are further covered in some of our Enquiries.

Year 2: How are artists inspired by nature?

Year 4: What is sound?

Singing

Singing is at the heart of the Oak National Curriculum and we love that! We believe that singing together regularly has enormous positive impact both physically and mentally; it unites us and gives us a sense of belonging and community as well as providing numerous physical benefits for our wellbeing.

Alongside the delivery of this rich and diverse curriculum at Filton Avenue, we hold weekly singing assemblies in all phases. Our children become confident singers learning a wide variety of songs in unison, parts, rounds, echo, call-and-response. By the time our children leave our school, they will be familiar with singing harmonies and performing these in front of audiences. Our singing assemblies are a further opportunity to revisit the interrelated dimensions of music and experience listening to a wide range of genres of music supporting the music curriculum delivered in classes.

Choir

We have two choirs: one for Reception / KS1 and one for KS2. The children sing a wide range of exciting songs and have opportunities to perform both to their peers and parents. Our KS2 choir perform twice a year at Bristol Beacon for an audience of over one thousand people alongside other primary schools in our local area. The choir also performs at smaller events such as our ‘We Belong’ event at school, fairs and our local care home. The KS2 choir runs all year round and our KS1 choir runs for two terms per year.

Peripatetic lessons

For children from Years 3-6, we offer lessons 1:1 and small-group lessons in piano, violin, guitar and piano delivered by Bristol Beacon and independent tutors. Children can showcase their learning in Singing Assemblies and at school events such as our ‘We Belong’ event and schools fairs.

Rocksteady

We also offer Rocksteady ensemble tuition. Sessions allow a band of up to nine children to be formed, who receive weekly tuition and perform for others. Children have the opportunity to play electric guitar, drums, keyboard, bass guitar and sing with microphones experiencing ensemble playing and performance.

Visiting Musicians

We are committed to creating uplifting and aspirational performance experiences for our children. From folk flute/violin duos to acapella groups, Rocksteady bands to our very own staff band, we want children to experience as much live music as possible.

Performance

All children have the opportunity to perform in front of audiences at our Harvest and Christmas performances as well as in front of each other as part of music lessons.

Impact

Our children demonstrate:

· A strong passion for music, expressed with confidence and enthusiasm.

· Accurate and confident use of precise musical vocabulary and terminology.

· The ability to speak thoughtfully about their identity and development as musicians.

· A clear understanding of how to apply their musical knowledge within their learning.

· Genuine excitement for performance opportunities, paired with confidence in their ability to perform and participate.

· A readiness to engage actively with check questions throughout each lesson.

If you want to be a Musician at home, try looking at these websites: · https://www.bbc.co.uk/teach/bring-the-noise/five-ways-to-spark-childrens-interest-in-music/zb878xs Free, time-saving teacher resources | Oak National Academy