Performing Arts

Each week, students attend a 50 minute Performing Arts lesson with a trained Specialist.  The program is a sequential, developmental program in which students experience the Performing Arts through creating, composing, critiquing, exploring and responding to music.

Students in the younger years learn the fundamentals of music through activities based around beat, rhythm, pitch, dynamics and tempo. They learn to perform in front of a familiar audience and they explore, experience and respond to music in a range of styles. The students learn to sing a wide variety of songs and play a range of tuned and un-tuned instruments. 

In Years 1 and 2 students learn about music notation and use this knowledge to play a variety of tuned instruments.  These instruments include, Xylophones, Boom Whackers, Chorus Bells and Tone Blocks. In Years 3 and 4, the students read music and learn to play the recorder in class.  In Years 5 and 6, the students begin to learn chords as they learn to play the Ukulele in class. Singing, composing, performing and critiquing remain important components of the program. Students learn about a range of instruments, and begin to communicate experiences, ideas, concepts, observations and emotions through the Performing Arts.  Students across all year levels develop skills in STEAM.  They explore how to read music and develop composition skills using Soundbops, Osmo’s, Dash and Dots and Makey Makey’s. 

Contemporary Dance and choreography are the focus of the Dance Program.  Students use STEAM in dancing using music they have created to create a dance using dance elements: Body, Action, Space, Time and Energy. Students move and respond to a range of musical styles and genres. They become aware of how to move their bodies in space and learn popular and traditional dances.  

The Drama Program develops confidence, teamwork, creativity, improvisation, script work to create characters and stage craft.  Students use STEAM to create films using iMovie.  They explore how to use the program while developing acting skills.  The students learn about how drama can represent the world and that they can make drama to represent their ideas about the world.  Students begin learning scripts and stage craft as they develop confidence, teamwork and improvisation skills.  They make and respond to drama independently and collaboratively with their classmates and teachers. This is done through improvisation, collaborative group work, drama games and script work.  In the older years, the students study different musical styles and genres.

Choir  

Students from Years 3-4 are encouraged to join the School Choir. Our choir has performed at a range of venues and events, from Oakleigh Central to Monash Carols by Candlelight and the annual Oakleigh Carols in the Park.               

Glee Club

Students in Years 5-6 can choose to participate in our Glee Club.  Students combine singing and dancing for each song and perform them at a range of events.  Glee Club joins together with Choir during the Christmas season and performs at Monash Carols by Candlelight, Carols in the Park and the school Carols evening. 

Instrumental Music Tuition  

At Oakleigh Primary school you may wish to take advantage of our Music Tutors Program.  Private tuition (user pays) is offered during school hours for the following instruments: piano / keyboard, drums, guitar, violin, woodwind and recorder. A concert at the end of the year showcases the student’s achievements.

Productions  

Productions are wonderful at building skills in a variety of areas not just for the stage.  Many students find that the theatre helps them develop confidence and they learn how to speak clearly and thoughtfully.  You have to problem solve, working out if someone forgets a line and use improvisation. Taking pride in your achievements for some students it is difficult to come onto the stage, but it should be celebrated that they are standing there.  There is a huge commitment and motivation that comes from doing a production this helps the students have a positive attitude to difficult tasks.  Working together as a team, showing good behaviour, and using a “we can” attitude helps create team spirt. The theatre allows students to work independently to create characters, learn lines, songs, and dances.  Students have had to learn about being prompts and respecting dealings, needing to learn lines, and come to rehearsals on time to improve or know what to do on the stage.   Each performer has had to learn to respect each other to create successful performance.  They have had to adapt and be flexible with new concepts and ideas as well as dealing with time management.  The audition process gave students the ability to accept disappointment and the ability to bounce back. Using concentration, is one of the hardest things to do on stage but is one that every student has had to become more focused on.  Students have had to become leaders, showing respect for each other and gain new friendships. 

Oakleigh Primary School run yearly alternate productions. Year one is an individual Prep, Year 1, Year 2 and Year 3/4 Production (total of 4 productions). Year two is a Production from our Year 5 and Year 6 levels only (total of 1 production). All students are involved in year level musicals.  Past productions have include Aladdin Jr, Beauty and the Beast Jr., Freddie the Frog and the Giant Metergnome and the Tooth the Whole Tooth and Nothing but the Tooth.

Welcome Dance 

Each year during Term 1 students participate in the Welcome Dance.  Each year we change the style of dance. Choices have been: Australian Bush Dance, Rock ‘n’ Roll Dance, 80’s Dance, Battle of the Bands Dance and Broadway’s Back.  This is a lovely afternoon/evening that invites the community to the school to join in and dance.

Foo Foo Concert

The Foo Foo Concert is a long standing tradition at Oakleigh Primary School. Beginning in the 1990’s, this talent show was devised to raise money to repair Foo Foo, our school giraffe. The Foo Foo Concert is held during the last week of the school year and although it is no longer a fundraiser, the tradition continues until this day.

House Music Showtime

In Year’s 3-6, students are able to develop either a dance, choir or create an instrumental group with students in the same House as them.  This program is student run; they pick the songs, choreograph the dances, conduct the choir or instrumental group.  This is a competition between Houses.  The winning House has wins a shield for their House. 

Year 5 & 6 production of Alladin jnr

YEAR 2 Winnie the Pooh Kids

welcome dance