Instruments

Resources for popular classroom instruments

Access interactive resources for all popular classroom instruments, courses and units. All are designed to extend learning and can be used as part of your music curriculum or as enrichment activities.

Charanga’s Instruments section includes First Notes to First Band, a collection for 26 popular instruments supporting beginners, solo and ensemble playing, and large-group music tuition; three one-term courses for younger children; and interactive Rockschool Method Books helping teachers support young drummers and electric guitar, bass, ukulele and piano players new to their instruments.

Heather Ward’s Blown Away Recorder Books 1 and 2 are suitable for children throughout the primary phase. Two recorder books, Guinea Pig Gig and Fairground Fiesta, accompany the series. With its extra repertoire, Jane Sebba’s Recorder Course is perfect for the younger beginner.

Kay Tucker’s progressive Stringbabies series caters for beginner cello and violin players, helping them to compose their own melodies, develop their singing, rhythmic and aural skills, and sight-read. Fiddle Time remains one of the UK’s most popular violin teaching methods, with 30 pieces suited to whole-class violin teaching.

The Beginner Guitarist is ideal for small groups and after-school clubs, while the Ukulele Course is aimed at older primary-aged children and contains interactive resources and detailed lesson plans.

Courses

A range of courses will enrich, enhance and extend your curriculum delivery. They include a video-based Samba Course for older children, produced by Beat Goes On, a percussion workshop company specialising in STOMP-style body and Afro-Brazilian percussion, and Charanga’s Djembe Course, with simple plans for 12 lessons.

Two Glockenspiel Stages introduce children to the language of music and give them the opportunity to develop their playing skills. A Beginner Keyboard Course offers an excellent introduction to the keyboard.