You may know that every Year 3 child in Wales has had the chance to play the pBuzz. But did you know that there is also a whole world of pBuzz resources available to deliver whole-class lessons?
The Charanga pBuzz resources are designed in harmony with pBone Music, designed to give instrument teachers and even educators with zero musical experience the chance to deliver pBuzz lessons.
The Charanga Cymru resources for pBuzz Music World are available in both Welsh and English editions and take children and their teachers on a learning adventure through the innovative adaptable resources from Charanga. The buzz is spreading too as educators in England, New Zealand, and beyond are building their lessons around this magical musical tour.
To find out more about the pBuzz resources, we caught up with Madeleine Casson, Education Director at Charanga.
pBuzz Resources for Primary Teachers
Composed for the valleys of Wales, the Charanga Cymru pBuzz resources are available in both Welsh and English. "The bilingual version is only available in Wales," says Casson. "We have also released it on the English side, on our English platform. And it's also available to our international schools, and in places like Australia and New Zealand as well."
At the heart of the Charanga pBuzz offering is a suite of materials that can be used by musical novices and seasoned peripatetic music educators. Casson explains the package: a progression document laying out a 10-week learning symphony, a teacher guide, and a video explanation of what to find with your class set of pBuzzes. "Although we created it really for classroom teachers, we are finding that many of the instrumental teachers are thinking this is a lovely way to present materials, so they're using it as well," adds Casson.
pBuzz Resources for Progression
The slick and accessible presentation from Charanga is not just a hit with primary teachers and music leaders: it's designed with pupils in mind.
"The pBuzz Music World Resources are very easily shared with students. At the top of the resource you can 'assign to group'”, says Casson. "You could set up a student group with a quick click and give your students access to all of the resources. They could also go home and practice the same pieces and everything else featured between lessons."
Charanga's gamified platform introduces learners to musical adventures in settings like 'Bongo Beach' and 'Gluttonberry Festival.' This approach, Casson shares, stops students from "rushing ahead," ensuring a paced and immersive learning experience. "They can even choose their avatars and make everything personal to them."
Teachers can use the colourful map view, or when things are feeling a bit more practical, the ten-week plan can be viewed in list mode.
Each resource can be customised to suit the needs of the teacher and their students. The songs can be slowed down and sped up, visuals can show the pBuzz slide positions, and as pupils progress, notation.
Feedback from teachers using the program strikes a chord of unanimous approval. "If you're running a training session and you want to excite teachers, you've just got to put this on the screen. Everybody loves it. And particularly the teachers in Wales are loving it because, of course, they've all got the pBuzzes and it's great to have something that they feel is really specific to the pBuzz itself."
The Charanga pBuzz resources are available to all classroom teachers in Wales, with free access until 2026, thanks to government funding. This commitment extends to CPD sessions, ensuring that educators are well-versed in orchestrating these resources.
For educators outside of Wales, a Charanga Musical School subscription is all you need to get started. Teachers can even take advantage of a 30-day free trial to take a tour of what is on offer. And the fun doesn't stop at pBuzz. There are lots more fun instruments to try, and primary teachers looking to lead whole class music can move from pBuzz to other worlds with the recorder and glockenspiel.
The pBuzz is the accessible tool for the modern music classroom. Paired with the Charanga pBuzz Music World Resources, music leaders and primary teachers can help even more children start their musical journey.
- Ready to explore the world of Charanga pBuzz resources? Click here to visit the Charanga website and start your learning journey!
- If you are a teacher in Wales and looking to access the free Charanga Cymru, head to the National Music Service Wales login page.
- Want to find out where a year of primary pBuzz can take you? Educators in Swansea have done just that and celebrated with a special pBuzz concert.
