Music teachers can now access free lesson plans developed by exam board ABRSM, partner organisations and teachers for 200 pieces of music.
Having released Classical 100 in 2015, ABRSM has now published Classroom 200, which incorporates the classical music from the old resource with 100 pieces from different genres of music including pop, folk, rap, jazz, and TV and film.
The new classroom tool also includes full lesson plans for all 200 pieces of music, building on the simple activities provided with Classical 100.
Designed to be used by specialist and generalist teachers with five- to 14-year-olds, Classroom 200 is a collaboration between ABRSM, Universal Music Group and Classic FM, with support from the English Folk Dance and Song Society, NYJO, NYO, Berlioz 150, Trac Cymru and Bristol Beacon.
The resource has been tested by teachers, music services and music education services, and the tool is searchable using a range of filters and tags.
Speaking to MT in a recent Q&A, ABRSM’s executive director Lincoln Abbotts said: ‘Classroom 200 is 200 great pieces of music that are connected to the music that's recommended and referenced in the Model Music Curriculum (MMC).
‘The resource will give students free access to recordings, as we believe it is important to ensure that there are no access barriers here. Every single piece has got a lesson plan and a series of resources connected to it; it is created for teachers by our network of classroom-based practitioners and teachers.
‘Essentially, it is an online resource that takes a piece of music, puts it at the centre, and allows you to go on a journey of exploring it with your class.’
ABRSM’s chief executive Chris Cobb said: ‘We know from our own evidence that an incredible 86 per cent of children are actively making music today, and that’s fantastic.
‘However, we also know that many teachers lack the confidence, budgets and time to properly support or inspire children to keep learning music – and that just a third of 14-year-olds are involved in classroom music lessons today. There is also a marked decline in children playing instruments as they get older.
‘Classroom 200 builds on our unrivalled legacy of working with classical music to help address these issues. It gives teachers free, ready-made lesson plans and content and is designed to inspire pupils by connecting key learning and other musical genres to the kind of stuff that they already listen to.’
In order to access the resource, teachers must first register at www.classroom200.org, even if they previously used Classical 100.
