Aurora Orchestra reveals ‘Discover Beethoven’, the third unit of work for digital learning platform for Primary Schools,
Aurora Classroom

Aurora Orchestra today launches Discover Beethoven, the third unit of work on the orchestra’s digital learning platform, Aurora Classroom. Launched in 2022 in response to the much-publicised decline in music education in schools, the platform builds on over a decade of developing high-quality cross-art form performances for young children. Written by Aurora’s award-winning creative team and education experts, Aurora Classroom provides teachers with the resources and support they need to deliver inspiring music education in the classroom. The launch of Discover Beethoven means that Aurora Classroom now covers the whole of primary-school-aged learning.

 

Building on the two existing units for EYFS, KS1 and SEND settings - Aurora and the Magical Toy Box and Meet the Instruments - this new unit is written specifically for mainstream KS2 settings and older SEND learners, meeting all aspects of the national curriculum and Model Music Curriculum. 

 

With opportunities to sing, play classroom instruments, compose, and develop understanding of the interrelated dimensions of music, Unit 3 of Aurora Classroom provides an opportunity to develop instrumental playing through five specifically-composed arrangements by Iain Farrington of Beethoven’s Sixth Symphony written for ‘whole class’ instrumental learning. A newly commissioned story by Kate Wakeling, A Day Like This, has been animated with illustrations by Annalisa Salis and threads Beethoven’s music through a charming story about Nate and his dog Luna as he navigates the emotions and experiences of a pre-teen boy. 

 

Teachers can choose to use the resource as a continuous ten-week project using fully-planned schemes of work, or as a resource to develop their own schemes, using the activity and audio libraries to source appropriate musical activities for children in their classrooms. Those working in specialist-SEND settings can use the bespoke scheme-builder to create 10-week units of work for their classes, taking into account the individual needs of learners. The resources offer activities that develop pupils’ literacy, movement and motor skills, and creativity, and teachers are supported in delivering the resource by a wide variety of supporting documents and free online termly CPD sessions.

  • Unit 1 – Aurora and the Magical Toy Box (for EYFS, KS1 and SEND settings)

Featuring music from Tchaikovsky’s ballet The Nutcracker and an original story by children’s poet Kate Wakeling. Children are invited to step into a magical world of music and imagination through exploring characters and storytelling through music, singing, using classroom instruments, preparing their own performances and watching a performance by Aurora Orchestra. 

 

  • Unit 2 - Meet the Instruments (for EYFS, KS1 and SEND settings)

Led by presenters Lara and Zara, pupils meet players of Aurora Orchestra as well as multi-instrumentalists Sidiki Dembélé and Aboubacar Donate who introduce children to the djembe and dundun.  They are introduced to the instruments through specially-commissioned stories and songs by Kate Wakeling and internationally-acclaimed composer Iain Farrington. The activities extend beyond teaching musical skills and knowledge by also developing children’s wider literacy, movement and motor skills, and creativity.

 

Aurora Classroom is designed to support teachers with widely varying levels of experience, from expert practitioners to those with no background in music.  The unique online platform provides built-in routes for non-specialists to build confidence and skills in teaching music, with options to use films to present activities, or to lead themselves accompanied by audio tracks. The platform offers teachers a detailed music curriculum, audio clips, support with putting on performances and a programme of teacher training aimed at providing support and creative ideas for leading music in the classroom, as well as establishing a network for practitioners to share their experiences, insights and suggestions.  

 

Mapped against national targets
All three Aurora Classroom units have been created in conjunction with teachers and meet and exceed the requirements of the national curriculum, Model Music Curriculum, EYFS statutory framework, and Ofsted’s Education Inspection Framework. 

 

Growing teacher confidence
Teachers have the choice to lead activities themselves, using written guides and audio tracks, or simply play the fully presented films. Teachers are further supported with free termly online CPD (Continuous Professional Development) sessions, delivered by Aurora Orchestra education professionals. 

 

World-class quality, affordable prices
Aurora Classroom is an annual subscription digital platform. Schools pay between £180 and £270 (depending on their size) for 12 months of access from the point of purchase. Bespoke packages are available for Music Education Hubs or groups of schools.

 

Adapting live concerts for the classroom 

Aurora Classroom builds on the success of Aurora’s award-winning live children’s concert series, Far, Far Away, which has delighted young children and their families for over a decade. Setting the music of individual composers to stories written by children’s author Kate Wakeling, the concerts are playful, immersive and imaginative, and include performances such as Tchaikovsky and the Magical Toy Box, Beethoven and the Dinosaurs, Mozart in the Garden and Mendelssohn and the Moving Machines, which next takes place at Kings Place on Saturday 29 June, Sunday 30 June, Saturday 6 July and Sunday 7 July. 

By adapting the concept for an EdTech platform, thousands more children across the UK can access the world-class quality of Aurora's music-making. 

Jane Mitchell, Creative Director, Aurora Orchestra, says: ‘We are delighted to be launching our first unit for children in Key Stage 2, and this will now mean that Aurora Classroom provides resources for every year group in Early Years and Primary School settings.  It has been a joy to create this unit, and we are particularly proud of the creation of A Day Like this, which brings together music education expertise as well as creative writing, illustration and music.  We believe this story will provide a unique and creative way for children to access Beethoven’s 6th Symphony and explore emotional responses as well as its music.  Similarly we are excited to be releasing the song ‘Oh Beethoven’ as part of this unit, which gives a very funny (and yet accurate!) portrayal of Beethoven and his music.  Recording this song with Finchley Children’s Music Group was a highlight for our players and we can’t wait to hear other groups of children sing it.’