An interactive music programme combining jazz, Caribbean musical traditions and storytelling.
About the show
Each school visit begins with a live performance by a small ensemble of four players, including project leader Marlon Hibbert, introducing pupils to steel pan, accompanied by other instrumentation, including percussion, brass and woodwind instruments.
Pupils are introduced to songs they will later learn, alongside recognisable pop and reggae repertoire to encourage participation. The performance is designed to be fun, accessible and enjoyable to students and teachers across all musical tastes and levels of experience.
Key Stage / Year Groups:
- Reception, Key Stage 1, Key Stage 2 and SEND
SEND Show Adaptations:
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Shorter, quieter performances and adapting instrumentation.
Relevant areas of the National Curriculum:
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Music
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English
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History
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Geography
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PSHE
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Speaking and listening
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Creative learning.
About the pupil workshops
Workshops are practical, inclusive, and structured as follows:
- Introduction to Caribbean music, stories, and cultural context
- Demonstration of the steel pan and how sound is produced
- Warm-up rhythm and listening exercises
- Basic playing techniques (holding sticks, striking, simple rolling)
- Learning Caribbean nursery rhymes and folk songs
- Group music-making, building a shared performance piece
- Reflection on learning through discussion.
Workshop SEND adaptations:
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Use clear structure and repetition to support understanding, break activities into manageable steps, provide non-verbal participation options (e.g. percussion, movement), adapt instruments and roles to ensure all pupils can take part meaningfully. Shorter duration.
Teacher twilight CPD
In our CPD session, teachers will be introduced to the history and cultural context of Caribbean music and steel pan, learning basic instrumental techniques and rhythm activities. We will also share simple, adaptable classroom exercises linked to the workshop content.
The session includes guided demonstrations and opportunities for teachers to try activities themselves, ensuring they feel confident replicating them in the classroom. Through this session, teachers will gain practical tools for teaching rhythm, listening, and musical creativity, strategies to support speaking, listening, and collaborative learning, and approaches to embedding music across the curriculum (e.g. linking to history, geography, and storytelling).
This CPD can accommodate from 1 to 25 members of staff.
About Serious Trust
Serious produce outstanding cultural events, including festivals, tours and concerts, including the EFG London Jazz Festival that takes place each November. The Serious Trust is our charitable arm, raising funds to support talent development, creative engagement and new commission projects.
