Welsh schools given free access to bilingual Charanga music platform

Every school in Wales has been given free access to a bilingual version of Charanga’s digital music platform following the publication of the National Plan for Music Education in Wales. 

Designed to be ‘bespoke to Wales’, Charanga Cymru is a new version of the popular subscription music platform already used to deliver classroom music in more than 12,500 schools internationally.

In a partnership between the Welsh government, Charanga, and the Welsh Local Government Association (WLGA), the bilingual platform has been created to offer children ‘culturally-rich content’.

Wales’ National Plan for Music Education and new National Music Service were announced in May, along with the promise of a £13.5m investment. 

Charanga's primary 'Musical School' programme costs up to £295 a year, and £195 on average, depending on the number of students at the school, and whether the local music hub or service contributes to that fee. 

‘Special to us in Wales’

Mari Lloyd Pritchard, coordinator of the new National Music Service for Wales, said: ‘It is important to emphasise that this is a digital platform that is special to us in Wales.’ She added that it is ‘not simply a translation’ of the platform in England and Scotland. 

‘There is content that is completely Welsh and that shows the wealth of experience and fresh talents we have here,’ she added. 

The initial offering will be a six-week package of lessons to cover the Expressive Arts Area in the new Curriculum for Wales, but it is promised that the resources will grow as more Welsh artists and contributors come on board.

Access to the digital platform will also provide teachers with training and professional development - this will be particularly important for primary classroom teachers not trained in music. 

In her comment on the announcement, Lloyd Pritchard said that ‘not everyone has the confidence and musical expertise to be able to teach music in class’, but added that ‘Charanga is suitable for everyone’. ‘Our hope is that this, coupled with the invaluable support of local music services, will become an integral part of the school's musical life.’

As of tomorrow (27 October), schools in Wales can register for and access Charanga Cymru free of charge.

‘Just the start’ of government offering

Minister for education and the Welsh language Jeremy Miles said: ‘Charanga is recognised internationally as a fantastic digital music education resource. I’m delighted we’re able to build on this success with a fully bilingual version that is bespoke to Wales, which includes culturally-rich content and contributions from Welsh musicians.’

He added that this provision is ‘the latest step’ in Wales’ implementation of its National Plan for Music Education and an ‘important way’ of improving access to music education for all. 

WLGA spokesperson for education councillor Ian Roberts said: ‘As the new National Music service for Wales is rolled out, this is just the start of what we will have to offer children, young people and communities across Wales over the next three years as part of the National Music Plan.’

Founder of Charanga Mark Burke said that providing access to the platform will ‘greatly support’ the government’s investment in CPD for teachers and its ‘ambitious plan’ to offer every child the opportunity to learn an instrument. 

Having invested £1.5m per year as a baseline funding for music services and ensembles support since 2018/19, through the new Plan the Welsh government has committed to an additional £3m per year. The overall funding for music education each year will be £4.5m for the next three years.

The National Plan for Music Education in England was published in June, with news of £25m additional investment for musical instruments and equipment, although no decisions have been announced about how the funds will be allocated.

Teachers in Wales can sign up at www.musicservice.wales/site or www.gwasanaethcerdd.cymru.