Send us a text In Episode 117, Patrick chats to Dr Jonathan Savage about significant changes in the world of Music Education, the relationship of Music Hubs with schools, and new BBC Bitesize resources. And the MTA’s Head of Growth and Operations, Caroline Robinson introduces the 2025 MTA conference, including the CPD sessions, the mentoring and training, the keynote speakers, and details of tickets. Presented and produced by Patrick Johns. https://www.ucanplay.org.uk/ https://tinyurl.com/JonathanSavage https://www.musicteachers.org/events/mta-conference-2025/ #CanDoMusic #GetPlaying #SaveOur ..read more

Send us a text In Episode 116, Patrick is joined by Maria Thomas from The Music Workshop Company, to find out about their range of schools workshops, including historical music, and a very interesting workshop using cutlery! Editor of Gramophone Magazine, Martin Cullingford, tells Patrick all about the Survey ‘Growing Musicians, Shaping Lives’, aiming to find out about music teachers’ day-to-day lives in the profession. And Mark Aitchison tells Patrick all about the European Day of Music in Schools, which enables teachers to watch videos of music-making from schools all over Europe. Presented ..read more

Send us a text ~ 2025 MUSC & DRAMA EXPO SPECIAL ~ In Episode 115, Patrick visits the 2025 Music & Drama Expo, to attend CDP sessions, and chat to exhibitors about new Music Education products.  Ifeanyichukwu Ezinmadu introduces SymphoMe, which uses AI to help give students detailed feedback on their performances in between lessons. (1:08) Award-winning Jazz pianist, composer and educator Nikki Yeoh shares some of her steps to teaching improvisation, and to help students (and teachers!) overcome the fear! (5:28) Dr June Fileti, MD of the International School of Musicians, chats abo ..read more

Send us a text In Episode 114, Patrick chats to Music Teacher Dylan McCaig about being a recent ECT, and about Early Music both within the curriculum, and as part of co-curricular activities. MTA Operations Manager Laura Bendy shares details of her new role at the MTA, as well as an important announcement. And looking towards the Music and Drama Education Expo, Patrick meets Thomas Gregory, to find out why we all need more chaos in our classrooms! Presented and produced by Patrick Johns. www.instagram.com/dylanmccaigmusic https://www.musicteachers.org/events/mta-conference-2025/ http://tho ..read more

Send us a text In Episode 113, Patrick catches up with ‘That Music Improv Teacher’, Mike Wright, to find out about Mike’s on-going work to promote improvisation as a standard part of music teaching (01:01). Professor Derek Aviss OBE discusses the psychology of performance, including overriding the brain’s natural reaction to the fear and stress of performance, with details of a forthcoming webinar from the Royal Society of Musicians (20:28). And MTA President Catherine Barker explains the huge amount of work that the MTA does for music educators everywhere, including much behind the scenes ..read more

Send us a text In Episode 112, Patrick meets singer, teacher, and vocal health expert, Dr Jenevora Williams, to discuss ways to recognise, manage, and prevent any issues with students’ – or teachers’ – vocal health (0:34). Plus, conductor Nic Chalmers introduces ways of engaging young people with opera, including some of his work with the Royal Opera House, and chats about his marathon Christmas Carolling at the Royal Albert Hall with the National Youth Choir (12:11). Presented and produced by Patrick Johns. https://www.nicholaschalmers.com https://jenevorawilliams.com https://linktr.ee/jen ..read more

Send us a text In Episode 111, Patrick chats to Alex Aitken about GCSE and A Level composition and set works, including ways to teach them, their place within a course, and the barriers faced by teachers and students (00:53). Editor of Music Teacher magazine, Phil Croydon introduces the forthcoming Music & Drama Education Expo and Awards, to be held in January 2025 (17:19). And singer, song-writer and New England fiddler Lissa Schneckenburger discusses the importance of aural awareness, ways to teach it, and her online course ‘Learning By Ear’ (29:06). Presented and produced by Patrick ..read more

Send us a text In Episode 110, Patrick chats to Aileen Douthwaite from the Music Publishers’ Association, about the Every Copy Counts campaign, highlighting the legality of photocopying music in copyright, and logging it to help publishers, authors and composers (00:45). Alex Parsons and Liz Dunbar offer some Composition Hacks for students struggling to get going with a new piece, in extracts from their recent MTA webinar (11:35). And choral conductor and singer Edward Caswell chats to Patrick about rounds and canons, and SingCircle, a new book containing 111 of these perfect miniatures, whi ..read more

Send us a text In Episode 82, Patrick talks to Niels Bastrup and Hans Jakobsen from aural training app Ear Master, about a new feature designed to help students with the aural tests in ABRSM exams and beyond; Mark Aitchison shares his planning for the next academic year, taken from a recent MTA ECT webinar; And Dr Rebecca Berkley, Associate Professor in Music Education, at the Institute of Education, at the University of Reading, discusses music training for primary school teachers, looking at specific problems and possible solutions, including training courses. Presented and produced by Pa ..read more

Send us a text MTA CONFERENCE SPECIAL In Episode 78, Patrick reports from the 2023 MTA Conference, held in the Loughborough Schools Foundation. Greg Coughlin discusses non-traditional routes to GCSE Music, Lisa Coley introduces the range of microphones available from Sontronics, Rebecca Arnold chats about her experiences at her first MTA Conference, and Charles Price explains how to demystify the composition process, especially at Key Stage 4. Finally, outgoing president Don Gillthorpe reflects on the last two years, and incoming president Catherine Barker looks ahead to the ..read more