Music

Handsworth’s Musical Heritage
Handsworth boasts a vibrant musical legacy that continues to inspire our school community. The area has been home to renowned artists such as Steel Pulse—whose iconic debut album Handsworth Revolution proudly bears the area’s name—alongside Joan Armatrading, Benjamin Zephaniah, Pato Banton, Apache Indian, Ruby Turner, Bhangra pioneers B21, and Swami. It’s also the birthplace of legendary musicians like Black Sabbath’s Tony Iommi, Steve Winwood, Carl Palmer, and pop star Jamelia. This rich cultural backdrop fuels our ambition to ignite every child’s passion for music and help them find their own creative voice

Our Intent
Located in the vibrant heart of Handsworth, St. Michael’s celebrates the rich cultural heritage of our pupils—and this appreciation is central to our music curriculum. From steel pans to djembe drums, the instruments our children play reflect the sounds and traditions of their community. We aim to deepen pupils’ understanding of the cultural significance of music and inspire a genuine love for learning and performing it.

Beyond cultural appreciation, our curriculum ensures that children explore a diverse range of instruments and musical styles. By developing an awareness of the different instrument families and how they produce sound, pupils build a strong foundation in musical knowledge. Through singing, playing, listening, evaluating, analysing, and composing, children engage with music from a broad spectrum of historical periods, styles, traditions, and genres.

We also teach our pupils to recognise the power of their voice as an instrument—one that can express feeling, tell stories, and unite people.

Key Features of Our Music Curriculum

• Weekly music lessons for all pupils
• EYFS and Year 1 follow the Charanga music programme
• Years 2 to 6 are taught by skilled peripatetic teachers from Birmingham Music Service
• Whole-school singing assemblies every week

Instruments Taught Include:

• Djembe drums
• Steel pans
• Flutes
• Recorders
• Glockenspiels

How We Implement Our Vision
Music education at St. Michael’s is delivered in creative and meaningful ways:

• In whole-school assemblies, pupils encounter music from renowned composers and diverse traditions, listening with focus and offering thoughtful critiques.
• In partnership with Birmingham Music Service and Charanga, children are taught to read, compose, and perform music, gaining confidence in their musical abilities and creativity.

Early Years
Young children experience music through play, nursery rhymes, and exploratory singing—using their voices expressively from the very beginning.

Year 1
Pupils develop vocal and instrumental skills by performing songs, chants, and rhymes. With Charanga, they begin composing and combining sounds, learning about pitch, rhythm, and dynamics in engaging, interactive ways.

Years 2–6
With specialist support, older pupils:

• Play and perform in solo and group settings with growing fluency and expression
• Compose and improvise for various purposes
• Learn to read musical notation and recall sounds with increasing accuracy
• Appreciate music from diverse cultures, traditions, and historical periods
• Explore the history and evolution of music

Impact and Outcomes
Our music curriculum ensures children:

• Feel confident as performers, composers, and listeners
• Develop lasting respect and appreciation for music across cultures and eras
• Express their enthusiasm and creativity through music
• Gain the skills and knowledge to meet—and often exceed—the expectations of the National Curriculum by the end of each key stage

Music at St. Michael’s is not just a subject—it’s a celebration of culture, creativity, and connection.