Music
The TKAT Primary Music Curriculum
At Royal Park, we understand the profound impact that Music has on children. Music ignites all areas of child development and skills for school readiness, including intellectual, social-emotional, motor, language, and overall literacy.
At TKAT, our aim is to enable and inspire every child to become a musician; to actively engage with fun and diverse musical experiences. We believe that being a musician requires the self-confidence to be creative and take risks. Children build their knowledge and understanding of the elements of music and develop proficiency, as they nurture their love of and an appreciation of music, and achieve personal musical success.
The National Curriculum states that: “As pupils progress, they should develop a critical engagement with music, allowing them to compose, and to listen with discrimination to the best in the musical canon.” Therefore, the foundations of the TKAT music curriculum are underpinned by the technical, constructive, and expressive pillars of musicianship, taught through the key concepts of pulse, rhythm, pitch, structure, and notation. Children progressively build their understanding of these concepts in order to listen, compose, and perform with growing precision and proficiency. Through this, children will make more music, think more musically, and become more musical.
The TKAT music curriculum is designed on the principle of a spiralised curriculum, allowing space for exposure, experience, and preparation; direct teaching of substantive musical knowledge; mindful practice; and meaningful application as children move their understanding from their conscious to unconscious mind. This, in turn, develops the qualities and characteristics of a rounded musician, ready to continue their musical journey into the next phase of their learning.
Beyond The Classroom
Singing Assemblies: The Heartbeat of Our School
At Royal Park, singing assemblies are much more than just a weekly routine; they are a vital expression of our school community. We believe that collective singing is a powerful tool for unity and belonging. When our pupils raise their voices together, it creates a shared sense of identity and pride that resonates throughout the hallways.
These assemblies allow our children to:
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Explore Diversity: Listen to and perform a vast range of genres, from classical masterpieces to modern pop and folk traditions from around the world.
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Enhance Well-being: Singing is scientifically proven to reduce stress and increase "feel-good" endorphins. It provides a mindful break in the school day where children can find joy and emotional release.
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Develop Literacy & Memory: Learning complex lyrics enhances vocabulary and linguistic rhythm, supporting their wider academic development in a fun, low-pressure environment.
The Young Voices School Choir
At Royal Park, we offer our children further opportunities to broaden their love for music through our dedicated school choir. From Year 4 onwards, all pupils are encouraged to join the Royal Park School Choir, led by Mrs. McGuiness and Mrs. Walsh.
The highlight of our choral calendar is the Young Voices Choir experience. This isn't just a rehearsal; it is a life-changing opportunity for our Key Stage 2 pupils to become part of the largest school choir concerts in the world. After months of dedicated practice, our pupils travel to the UK’s most iconic professional arenas (such as the O2) to perform alongside thousands of other children and world-class professional musicians.
To ensure the whole community shares in this magic, we provide several ways for our choir to shine:
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Community Outreach: We take our choir to local care homes, where pupils showcase their talents and bring the joy of music to the elderly, fostering empathy and community spirit.
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Young Voices Celebration Assembly: At the end of the school year, we invite parents and carers into school for a special Young Voices Assembly. This is a wonderful opportunity for our choir to showcase their amazing talents and perform the incredible repertoire they have mastered.
iRock: Building Modern Icons
This collaboration is a fantastic opportunity for our pupils to build confidence and teamwork while expressing their creativity through contemporary music. Rather than individual lessons, children are grouped into real rock bands where they choose to be a vocalist, drummer, keyboard player, or electric guitarist.
The programme is open to all children from Reception to Year 6, regardless of prior experience. By playing their favourite contemporary hits, pupils develop vital life skills such as collaborative problem solving and stage presence
Collaboration & Professional Excellence
We are committed to providing the highest quality music education through strategic partnerships and continuous development:
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Bexley Music: We work closely with Bexley Music and have proudly participated in the Fairfield Halls Music Choir, giving our pupils a taste of local prestigious performance spaces.
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Music Masters CPD: As part of The Kemnal Academy Trust, our music leaders work alongside experts from the Music Masters organisation. This high-level professional development ensures that our staff are at the cutting edge of music pedagogy, bringing world-class expertise directly into our classrooms.
Curriculum Overview & Skills Map: > Our detailed Progression of Skills Map ensures that musical concepts are revisited and deepened each year, ensuring no child is left behind and every child is challenged and meets the national curriculum objectives.