Free Urdd Eisteddfod 2027 rehearsal resources available to every school in Wales

Schools across Wales can now access free rehearsal resources to help children and young people prepare for selected competitions at the 2027 Urdd Eisteddfod.

For the fourth successive year, National Music Service Wales and Charanga are working with the Urdd to support participation in the festival and help make rehearsal materials accessible to pupils and teachers across Wales.

Backing tracks are available for a selected range of choir and party pieces, solos and duets through Charanga Cymru. The bilingual music education platform is funded by the Welsh Government through National Music Service Wales, enabling schools across Wales to access it free of charge.

For 2027, wind instruments have been used to represent the vocal parts within the rehearsal tracks. This helps pupils hear more clearly the length and shape of individual notes, supporting rehearsals with teachers as well as independent practice at home.

Young people entering the Urdd Eisteddfod’s Composing Music categories can also use YuStudio, the digital audio workstation available through Charanga Cymru, to develop and create their entries.

The partnership is extremely important to us as we work to ensure that every child has the opportunity to participate in the arts and compete at the Eisteddfod. You can find accompaniment tracks and melodies for this year’s Urdd set pieces. Supporting practice resources are available on Charanga free of charge, but please remember to visit your local bookshop to purchase copies of the pieces, where you can find the full lyrics and music, and support the Welsh music publishing industry. Go for it, and we look forward to seeing you soon on the Urdd Eisteddfod stage!

Mari Lloyd Pritchard, Coordinator of National Music Service Wales, said:

Equitable access to music education is at the heart of the National Music Service. We are proud to be building on our partnership with the Urdd by providing free access to this engaging, digital platform, offering support to thousands of children and young people in communities across the whole of Wales. Just as importantly, Charanga Cymru is a bespoke, bilingual tool that enables more opportunities for young people to experience, enjoy and participate in music through the medium of Welsh.

Accessing Charanga Cymru and the new resources

Schools can access the 2027 resources by clicking the Urdd Eisteddfod tab next time they log in to Charanga Cymru.

Schools that still need to sign up for their free Charanga Cymru access can do so here: gwasanaethcerdd.cymru/site/charanga-cymru-ymunwch-am-ddim/

For teachers who are new to Charanga or the Urdd backing tracks, there are two online introduction sessions on 19 and 20 October:

Defnyddio Traciau Cefndir Charanga ar gyfer yr Urdd (Cymraeg) eventbrite.com/e/defnyddio-traciau-cefndir-charanga-ar-gyfer-yr-urdd-cymraeg-tickets-2002220425190?aff=oddtdtcreator

Using Charanga Urdd Backing Tracks (English) eventbrite.com/e/using-charanga-urdd-backing-tracks-english-tickets-2002219202533?aff=oddtdtcreator

About NMS Wales

NMS Wales is responsible for implementing the National Plan for Music Education for Wales. The Welsh Government established it in May 2022.

NMS Wales aims to ensure children and young people can access musical education and opportunities. It works with local music services and national and community musical organisations to provide more opportunities for children and young people, opening up diverse and beneficial musical avenues.

gwasanaethcerdd.cymru/site/

About Charanga Cymru

Charanga Cymru is a digital music teaching and learning platform launched in October 2022. All Welsh schools can access it for free, thanks to investment from the Welsh Government through NMS Wales.

More than 1,200 schools are now using the Charanga Cymru platform to support their music teaching.

gwasanaethcerdd.cymru/site/charanga-cymru/

About the Urdd Eisteddfod

The Urdd was established in 1922 to give children and young people in Wales opportunities to learn and socialise in Welsh. It provides a wide range of activities for its members across Wales, from sport and the arts to competitions, adventures and socialising.

The Urdd Eisteddfod will take place in Gwent between 29 May and 4 June 2027.

urdd.cymru/cy/