Teaching Notes - MTA Podcast

Send us a textIn Episode 128, Patrick meets James B Partridge to talk about his shows, Primary School Bangers and The Big Christmas Assembly, which revivify children’s hymns of the 70s and 80s. James and Patrick reflect on what makes these simple pieces so popular, and what they can still offer us. Publisher and Commercial Director of Music Teacher Magazine, Amy Driscoll, tells Patrick about the inner workings of the magazine, and the forthcoming Music and Drama Expo in February.And composer, vocalist and producer ILĀ discusses AI’s role in modern music, its benefits, and how it can make us more human. Presented and produced by Patrick Johns. https://jamesbpartridge.comhttps://www.musicteachermagazine.co.ukhttps://www.musicanddramaeducationexpo.co.ukhttps://musicdramaedawards.comhttp://www.hausofila.comhttp://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesizeguidetoai#CanDoMusic #GetPlaying #SaveOurSubjects © Music Teachers' Association www.musicteachers.org

Send us a textIn Episode 127, Patrick chats to the Aurora Orchestra’s Creative Director, Jane Mitchell, about their free resources as part of Aurora Classroom, covering Key Stages 1–5. Plus, the launch of their Life-Changing Music Campaign, aiming to raise £500,000 across its 20th anniversary season, to support their work nationwide (01:09).Plus, Executive Director of Music at the David Ross Education Trust (DRET), Simon Toyne, joins Patrick to take a look at the government’s newly-published Curriculum and Assessment Review (17:08).Presented and produced by Patrick Johns.#CanDoMusic #GetPlaying #SaveOurSubjects Aurora Classroom: https://auroraclassroom.co.ukLife-Changing Music Campaign: https://www.auroraorchestra.com/life-changing-music-campaign/Debates in Music Teaching Book Launch: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdH_9zKv8Bw8XeS1X110_ZcwxdiaMUaG9bdUk32hF9Wr9uohw/viewformCurriculum and Assessment Review: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/690b96bbc22e4ed8b051854d/Curriculum_and_Assessment_Review_final_report_-_Building_a_world-class_curriculum_for_all.pdf© Music Teachers' Association www.musicteachers.org

Send us a textIn Episode 126, Patrick chats to Mark Aitchison about Year 8 Music, with potential pitfalls and suggestions, incorporating research from Mark’s recently published paper, ‘A study into musician identity in year 8 students in England’. Plus, The National Children’s Choir of Great Britain’s musical director, Dan Ludford-Thomas, discusses singing amongst young people, and the excellent work that the choir does, with details of forthcoming auditions.Presented and produced by Patrick Johns.#CanDoMusic #GetPlaying #SaveOurSubjects  https://tinyurl.com/MarkAYear8https://www.nccgb.comhttps://www.nccgb.com/people/conductors/https://www.nccgb.com/joining-us/ © Music Teachers' Association www.musicteachers.org

Send us a textIn Episode 125, Patrick meets Jazz pianist, educator, author and Instagram sensation Quentin Walston, to discuss accessible ways into Jazz for non-specialist teachers, from his new book, ‘How to Teach Jazz and Improvisation’ (0:52).Head of Growth and Operations at the MTA, Caroline Robinson introduces many of the speakers for the 2026 MTA conference, as tickets go on sale (24:15).And Dr Delphine Mordey from Cambridge Univeristy highlights two forthcoming open days designed to give our current Year 12s a taster of what studying Music at Cambridge is like (30:51).Presented and produced by Patrick Johns.#CanDoMusic #GetPlaying #SaveOurSubjects https://thisisjazz.com/https://www.instagram.com/quentinwalstonhttps://www.musicteachers.org/events/https://tinyurl.com/CamUniMasterClasshttps://www.undergraduate.study.cam.ac.uk/events/music-subject-masterclasshttps://www.girton.cam.ac.uk/undergraduates/widening-participation-outreach/upcoming-outreach-events© Music Teachers' Association www.musicteachers.org

Send us a textIn Episode 124, Patrick chats to Ed Watkins about his recent article, shining a light on disproportionately low grades for otherwise high-achieving music students at A Level (1:02).Laura Bendy and Julian Whittaker introduce the new Members’ Area of the MTA website, and the first webinar of the academic year (13:38); And Grammy- and Brit-nominated singer-songwriter RuthAnne discusses the song-writing process, including a focus on the psychology of song-writing, and tips to overcome writer’s block, as featured in her book “It’s Not Just A Song” (19:37).Presented and produced by Patrick Johns.#CanDoMusic #GetPlaying #SaveOurSubjects https://elementalmusic.app/blog/music-a-level-gradinghttps://www.musicteachers.org/events/online-events/https://www.fabermusic.com/shop/its-not-just-a-song-p472066https://www.instagram.com/thisisruthanne/?hl=enhttps://www.redlightmanagement.com/artists/ruth-anne/© Music Teachers' Association www.musicteachers.org

Send us a textIn Episode 123, Patrick chats to Dr Kirsty Devaney and Dr Ed McKeon about the project Time Loops, run by the Science Museum Group, using old music technology in new and innovative ways, with Key Stage 3 resources to bring it into the classroom (0:57).Alys Wilding introduces a new ECT Secondary Music Network, being set up by Birmingham City University, to support ECTs nationwide (17:13).And Elliot Broadbent-Jones and David Kirtlan give an overview of the range of resources and support provided by Albion Computers, including an iPad Student Band (27:33).Presented and produced by Patrick Johns.#CanDoMusic #GetPlaying #SaveOurSubjects TIME LOOPShttps://blog.sciencemuseumgroup.org.uk/time-loops/https://www.sciencemuseumgroup.org.uk/projects/time-loopsTime Loops KS3-4 Resources: https://sciencemuseumgroup.iro.bl.uk/uv/uv.html#?manifest=https://sciencemuseumgroup.iro.bl.uk/concern/generic_works/4567c9bc-e049-46ca-a7e4-228cce8b2c47/manifest&config=https://sciencemuseumgroup.iro.bl.uk/uv/uv-config.jsonECT SECONDARY MUSIC NETWORKECTMusic@bcu.ac.ukALBION COMPUTERShttps://www.albion.co.uke.broadbent-jones@albion.co.ukhttp://elsiumeducation.com/david-kirtlan/© Music Teachers' Association www.musicteachers.org

Send us a textIn Episode 122, Patrick meets Dr Elizabeth Stafford and Dan Francis, to talk about their new book, 'The Secondary Music Leader's Handbook' (0:48).Classic FM presenter Ritula Shah introduces the Classic FM Music Teacher of the Year Awards (deadline for entries is 20th July 2025!) (15:54).And Jazz musician, author and educator Buster Birch chats about methods of teaching improvisation, why he doesn't use lead sheets, and his incredible online resource, 'Learn 2 Play Jazz' (24:40).Presented and produced by Patrick Johns.#CanDoMusic #GetPlaying #SaveOurSubjects https://collins.co.uk/products/9780008759834classicfm.com/music-teacher-of-the-year-2025https://www.ritulashah.com/https://www.learn2playjazz.com/https://www.busterbirch.co.uk/© Music Teachers' Association www.musicteachers.org

Send us a textIn Episode 121, Patrick meets Leanna O’Brien, from the Soaring Scarves Academy in California, who teaches music using movement and scarves, to help students really internalise great works by Tchaikovsky and Grieg, amongst others (0:43)We also meet the new MTA President, James Manwaring, to find out about him as a musician and teacher, and to see what he hopes to achieve in his tenure as MTA President (19:56). And outgoing MTA President Catherine Barker has a message for all music teachers (35:40).Presented and produced by Patrick Johns.https://soaringscarvesacademy.comhttps://manwaringmusic.blog/about-me/#CanDoMusic #GetPlaying #SaveOurSubjects © Music Teachers' Association www.musicteachers.org

Send us a text2025 MTA CONFERENCE SPECIALIn Episode 120, Patrick visits the 2025 MTA Conference, held at Trinity Academy, Bristol. He meets ABRSM Chief Examiner and Jazz trumpeter Mark Armstrong, to find out more about Mark’s CPD session, ‘Jazz in the Classroom’ (04:31), and chats to Founder and President of MusicFirst, Dr Jim Frankel, about his Key Note speech, ‘The Impact of AI on Music Making and Learning’ (22:12).Plus, Patrick chats to various exhibitors at the Trade Fair, including representatives from Aspire Organs, Sing Up!, Coach House Pianos, Trinity College London, and Viscount Organs.Presented and produced by Patrick Johns.Mark Armstrong: https://www.rcm.ac.uk/research/people/details/?id=02730Dr Jim Frankel: https://www.musictechhelper.com/about-mewww.aspireorgans.co.ukwww.singup.orgwww.coachhousepianos.co.ukwww.trinitycollege.comhttps://viscountorgans.nethttps://www.musicteachers.org/events/mta-conference-2025/ #CanDoMusic #GetPlaying #SaveOurSubjects © Music Teachers' Association www.musicteachers.org

Send us a text2025 MTA CONFERENCE PREVIEW In Episode 119, Patrick chats to Liz Dunbar and Asha Bishop about the crucial balancing of creativity and academic rigour at Key Stage 3 (1:08).And composer, arranger, singer, conductor and jazz musician Alexander L’Estrange discusses ways to get your choir to swing (15:46)!Presented and produced by Patrick Johns.https://musicdepartmentresources.comhttps://www.alexanderlestrange.comhttps://www.musicteachers.org/events/mta-conference-2025/ #CanDoMusic #GetPlaying #SaveOurSubjects © Music Teachers' Association www.musicteachers.org