Blues and Roots Ensemble primary school workshops offer young pupils their first experiences of jazz in a fun and creative way - using the music of Charles Mingus and other significant jazz composers to demonstrate the historical and social importance of the music.

All workshops are planned to tie in with the year group's National Curriculum, with crossover links to literacy, maths, science, history and geography. All elements of the National Curriculum for Music are covered within a day's workshop, with extension exercises are provided for teachers to continue to explore these themes after the workshops have finished.

Pupils are taught about jazz methods such as swing feel, blues form and improvisation. 

Pupils are encouraged to perform and play alongside the professional musicians from the band using instruments, hand held percussion, body percussion and singing. 

There is a focus on the music being shaped by the pupils themselves with the professional musicians/educators acting as musical guides. Pupils are encouraged to use their new knowledge to compose/arrange jazz music of their own and are given the opportunity to perform their music at the end of a workshop day.

Interactive school assemblies are also offered for both KS1 and KS2 with the whole band giving an hour's performance and demonstration of jazz and it's history, including plenty of pupil engagement through teaching songs and rhythmic patterns to clap along to the music. This can be followed by a set of workshops to a designated year group.