Music

Welcome to Music at Lakelands Primary School

Welcome to the Music Learning Area at Lakelands Primary School. Music is an exciting and engaging part of our curriculum that provides every student with opportunities to develop creativity, confidence, collaboration and self-expression. Through singing, playing instruments, listening, composing and performing, students build valuable musical skills while developing perseverance, teamwork and an appreciation of music from a wide range of cultures and styles. Our aim is to foster a lifelong love of music in an inclusive and supportive learning environment where every child can experience success.

Our Music Program

All students participate in weekly specialist Music lessons that are aligned with the Western Australian Curriculum. As students’ progress through the primary years, they develop increasingly sophisticated musical knowledge and practical skills while exploring the three curriculum strands of Creating, Performing and Responding.

In the early years, students develop a strong sense of beat through singing, movement, musical games and the exploration of percussion instruments. As they move through the school, students learn to read and write rhythmic and melodic notation, compose their own music, perform individually and in groups, and develop confidence using a variety of classroom instruments. Older students have the opportunity to learn ukulele, keyboards and more advanced musical concepts while continuing to build performance and ensemble skills.

Learning Through Music

Students receive explicit instruction in every Music lesson, building their knowledge and skills through carefully sequenced learning experiences aligned with the Western Australian Curriculum. Alongside this direct teaching, students develop as creative thinkers, confident performers and thoughtful listeners.

Throughout their primary years, students create their own rhythmic and melodic compositions, improvise using a variety of musical ideas and collaborate with their classmates to develop original performances.

Performance is an important part of our program, with students regularly singing, playing instruments and participating in classroom and school performances. Students develop confidence by performing individually and as part of an ensemble while learning the importance of cooperation, rehearsal techniques and musical expression.

Students also develop listening skills by exploring music from different cultures, historical periods and musical genres. They learn to identify musical elements such as beat, rhythm, pitch, tempo and dynamics while discussing how music communicates ideas, emotions and stories.

Instruments and Resources

Students have access to a wide range of instruments throughout their music education. Younger students explore a variety of tuned and untuned percussion instruments, while older students learn to play ukuleles and keyboards as part of their classroom program. Instruments such as xylophones, Boomwhackers, chime bars and percussion are used regularly to reinforce musical concepts in practical and engaging ways. Technology is also incorporated into lessons where appropriate to support composition, notation and music appreciation activities.

Instrumental Music School Services (IMSS)

Lakelands Primary School is proud to participate in the Department of Education’s Instrumental Music School Services (IMSS) program. Students currently have the opportunity to learn either guitar or brass through this specialised instrumental program.

In Term 3 all Year 4 students complete an aptitude assessment designed to identify musical potential. Based on the results of this assessment, selected students are invited to join the IMSS program for years 5 & 6. Successful students receive free weekly small-group tuition from a specialist IMSS instrumental teacher, allowing them to develop their instrumental skills alongside their regular classroom music lessons.

One of the unique benefits of the IMSS program is the opportunity for students to continue their instrumental tuition throughout secondary school, provided they attend a Western Australian government high school. This enables students to build their musical skills over many years and experience a progressive pathway in instrumental music education.

Students enrolled in the IMSS program also enjoy performance opportunities throughout the year. These include performing at the Festival of Stars concert in Term 3. These experiences help students develop confidence, teamwork and musicianship while creating lasting memories through performance.

Performance Opportunities

Students are provided with a variety of opportunities to share their musical learning throughout the year. Classroom performances, assemblies and special school events allow students to demonstrate their developing skills and celebrate their achievements with the school community.

Students in Years 3 to 6 also have the opportunity to join the Lakelands Primary School Performance Choir. The choir performs at school events and represents our school at the annual One Big Voice concert held at RAC Arena. Participation in the choir encourages commitment, teamwork, resilience and confidence while providing students with the exciting experience of performing alongside thousands of other students from across Western Australia.

Celebrating Student Achievement

We are proud of the musical achievements of our students and enjoy celebrating their success throughout the year. Whether students are performing in assemblies, participating in choir performances, composing original music or demonstrating personal growth in the classroom, every achievement is recognised and valued. We also celebrate students who participate in instrumental music programs or achieve success in musical activities outside of school.

Western Australian Curriculum

The Music program at Lakelands Primary School follows the Western Australian Curriculum: The Arts – Music. Through the curriculum strands of Creating, Performing and Responding, students develop the knowledge, skills and understanding needed to become confident musicians, creative thinkers and informed audiences. Learning experiences are carefully sequenced to ensure students build on their skills and understanding as they progress through each year level.