
Teaching Notes - MTA Podcast
Teaching Notes, the Music Teachers' Association's podcast, covers all aspects of Music Education, both in the UK and beyond. Interviews with Music Teachers sit alongside chats with industry professionals and education experts. Plenty of CPD, discussion, and reports from conferences and Expos. A must-listen for every Music Teacher! Presented and produced by Patrick Johns.
Latest episodes

Jun 5, 2020 • 21min
Teaching Notes - MTA podcast - Ep.12 - Naomi Cook, James Manwaring, Mike Simpson
Send us a textIn Episode no.12, Naomi Cook from Collins Learning tells Patrick about Music Express, an incredible resource for Primary Music, and James Manwaring offers some thought-provoking ideas about the importance of focussed listening, both for teachers and students.Plus, Mike Simpson from Inspire Works UK tells Patrick just what "World Music" means nowadays, and offers some practical tips for getting started with this huge topic, especially when resources are thin on the ground.Presented and produced by Patrick Johns© Music Teachers' Association www.musicteachers.org

May 22, 2020 • 27min
Teaching Notes - MTA podcast - Ep.11 - Chi-Chi Nwanoku, Dan Clark, Tim Garrard, Harry the Piano
Send us a textIn Episode no.11, Chi-Chi Nwanoku talks about the Chineke! Junior Orchestra’s recent success in Britain’s Got Talent, Patrick chats to Dan Clark from Rock School about their increasingly popular qualifications, and Tim Garrard gives an overview of what to expect in this year’s online conference, “MTA at Home”.Plus, one of the stars of conferences past and present – Harry the Piano – talks Jazz, improvisation workshops, and rises to the challenge of Patrick’s classical-Rockney fusion! Presented and produced by Patrick Johns © Music Teachers' Association www.musicteachers.org

May 15, 2020 • 27min
Teaching Notes - MTA podcast - Ep.10 - Lincoln Abbotts, James Manwaring, Peter Craik, Patrick Gazard, Jane Werry
Send us a textIn Episode no.10, Patrick chats to Lincoln Abbotts from the ABRSM about Classical 100, James Manwaring reports on a discussion about composing at home, and plus, in an interview from the Music Expo in early March 2020, Patrick finds out from Peter Craik, from the English Folk Dance and Song Society why we all need folk music in our schools.Plus, Patrick Gazard and Jane Werry, co-authors of “Being a Head of Music – A Survival Guide” explain the book’s genesis, look at the position’s wider role, and give invaluable tips to all aspiring Heads of Music.Presented and produced by Patrick Johns© Music Teachers' Association www.musicteachers.org

May 8, 2020 • 21min
Teaching Notes - MTA podcast - Ep.09 - Daniel Spreadbury, Simon Toyne, Vinota Karunasaagarar, Yogesh Dattani
Send us a textIn this episode, Patrick chats to Daniel Spreadbury from Steinberg, about Dorico, and what it can do for music teachers. Simon Toyne feeds back about how one-to-one tuition is working in schools, including the use of technology and the wider life of the music departments during lockdown. Plus, looking back to the Music Expo in early March 2020, Patrick meets Vinota Karunasaagarar from the ISM, and the head of Ealing Music Service, Yogesh Dattani, revealing the new online Indian classical music resource “Indian Takeaway: Rag and Tal Basics”. Presented and produced by Patrick Johns© Music Teachers' Association www.musicteachers.org

May 1, 2020 • 24min
Teaching Notes - MTA podcast - Ep.08 - Emma Kenny, Joan Lind, James Manwaring
Send us a textIn this episode, Patrick chats to TV Psychologist Emma Kenny about the effect of lockdown on students' and teachers' mental health, and to Joan Lind from Try Booking, about how they can make school concert admin much easier for us all.Plus, James Manwaring offers some excellent advice about the transition from Key Stage 3 to 4, and 4 to 5, for this year's cohort.Presented and produced by Patrick Johns© Music Teachers' Association www.musicteachers.org

Apr 25, 2020 • 21min
Teaching Notes - MTA podcast - Ep.07 - Caitlin Sherring, Kate Davis, Gareth Hemmings, Steven Berryman
Send us a textIn this episode, Caitlin Sherring, Kate Davis and Gareth Hemmings summarise recent Music Teachers’ Association online meetings on the topic of Setting Up The New Term Online.Plus we hear from Dr Steven Berryman about a new Collaborative blog, revisiting a seminal Music Education book. Presented and produced by Patrick Johns© Music Teachers' Association www.musicteachers.org

Apr 18, 2020 • 29min
Teaching Notes - MTA podcast - Ep.06 - Emily Crowhurst, Mark Wilderspin, Julian Whittaker, Catherine Barker
Send us a textIn this episode, Emily Crowhurst and Mark Wilderspin summarise recent Music Teachers’ Association online meetings about KS3–5 remote teaching.And we hear from Julian Whittaker and Catherine Barker about what lessons will be taking place in their schools this term, offering some ideas for Music Teachers everywhere. Presented and produced by Patrick Johns.© Music Teachers' Association www.musicteachers.org

Apr 4, 2020 • 21min
Teaching Notes - MTA podcast - Ep.05 - Simon Toyne, Simon Williamson, Dave Lowe
Send us a textIn this episode, Simon Toyne and Simon Williamson give summaries of recent MTA online meetings, Dave Lowe introduces an overview of his online teaching course and projects, and Patrick looks at the most recent Ofqual announcement regarding Year 11s' and 13s' grades. Presented and produced by Patrick Johns© Music Teachers' Association www.musicteachers.org

Mar 27, 2020 • 16min
Teaching Notes - MTA Podcast - Ep.04 - Richard Payne, James Manwaring
Send us a textAs the music education landscape changes day by day, and with this year's exams cancelled in the wake of Coronavirus, Patrick Johns identifies some websites and resources to help music teachers everywhere, and gives the headlines from the most recent governmental announcement [as of 25.03.20]. Plus, Richard Payne introduces the variety of resources provided by Music First, and James Manwaring offers some inspiring words for us all. Presented and produced by Patrick Johns. © Music Teachers' Association www.musicteachers.org

Mar 1, 2020 • 22min
Teaching Notes - MTA Podcast - Ep.03 - Steven Berryman, Angus Meryon, Chrissy Kinsella
Send us a textIn this third episode of Teaching Notes, Patrick gets some last minute composition tips for KS4 and KS5, from composer and Director of Music, Dr Steven Berryman; hears from Angus Meryon about a fantastic KS3 lesson - Pencil Case Music - for when you have no instruments or computers available; and meets the CEO of the London Music Fund, Chrissy Kinsella, to find out about the LMF's new collaboration with YouTube, entitled Amplify London.Produced and presented by Patrick Johns.© Music Teachers' Association www.musicteachers.org