Music
The Akiva Music curriculum is authentic and challenging; it provides memorable opportunities for our pupils.
At Akiva, we are committed to ensuring every child has an equal opportunity to experience the joy of music during their primary school years, fostering a lifelong love for it.
We encourage children to express themselves musically as individuals and within small and large groups. Through diverse opportunities, we enhance their listening skills and appreciation for music in various styles and from different times and cultures.
Throughout the year, we organize concerts and events that allow children to confidently and creatively use their voices, bodies, and instrumental skills. Music is integrated, where practical, into other aspects of the curriculum, contributing to pupils’ spiritual, moral, social, cultural, and physical development. The music curriculum also supports key skills such as communication, numeracy, IT, teamwork, self-improvement, performance, and problem-solving.
Curriculum Overview
Our music curriculum covers four key elements: Performing, Composing, Listening, and Music History.
- Key Stage 1: Children receive 30 minutes of weekly music instruction from a specialist music teacher.
- Upper Key Stage 2: This increases to 45 minutes per week.
Both key stages learn English and Hebrew songs (including general, Shabbat, Festival, and Torah-linked songs) in collaboration with the J.S. coordinator. These songs are performed weekly during assemblies.
Children also have the chance to explore different instruments each year:
- Reception & Year 1: Percussion instruments
- Year 2: Xylophones
- Year 3: Recorders
- Year 4: Clarinet, Trumpet, or Violin
- Year 5: African Drums
Additional Opportunities
Children can receive peripatetic music tuition in recorder, flute, clarinet, oboe, trumpet, cornet, French horn, violin, viola, piano, guitar, drums, and singing. Over 50% of Key Stage 2 students play an instrument, either at school or home, with many achieving grades 1-6 by the end of primary school.
We are proud to offer three choirs:
- KS1 Choir for any child interested in singing.
- Lower KS2 Choir for any child interested in singing.
- Chamber Choir (Upper KS2) an audition-based group for gifted singers.
In addition to choirs, children can join various musical ensembles, including the Kabbalat Shabbat Band, Pop Bands, Woodwind & Brass Ensembles, Strings Ensembles, and the African Drumming Club.
Enriching Experiences
Children’s appreciation for music is enhanced through memorable experiences, such as live performances. For example, all students actively listen to concerts at the North London Synagogue as part of Intermezzo Concerts.
Our students also perform at numerous events throughout the year, such as:
- Sukkot Concert
- Chanukah Fair
- Concerts at Care Homes
- Akiva’s Got Talent
- Ensembles Concert
- Barnet Music Festival
- Year 6 Show
- Kabbalat Shabbat Performances
- Summer Fair
Building Confidence
At Akiva, we take pride in our rich music curriculum and extracurricular opportunities, enabling students to showcase and refine their musical talents. These experiences help them build confidence in performing while gaining valuable skills and unforgettable memories.
Further Information about Music at Akiva
Geanina Cucu is the Music Subject Leader