Teaching Notes - MTA Podcast - Ep.126 - Mark Aitchison, Dan Ludford-Thomas

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 [email protected] COMPUTERShttps://[email protected]://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

Send us a textIn Episode 118, Patrick chats to composer Rilla Paterson about her compositions for young voices, designed to help children with sight-reading; plus the importance of notation.Julian Whittaker introduces the MTA’s free ‘Mock Interview’ service, for members applying for a new job, to have a practice interview with an experienced Head of Music.Plus, Jack Laidlaw, James Tuck, and Dustin Ragland explain the range of products and services provided by Ableton, including Live, Push, and Move. Presented and produced by Patrick Johns.http://rillapaterson.comhttps://childofthefuture.comhttps://www.musicteachers.orghttps://www.ableton.com #CanDoMusic #GetPlaying #SaveOurSubjects © Music Teachers' Association www.musicteachers.org

Send us a textIn 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/JonathanSavagehttps://www.musicteachers.org/events/mta-conference-2025/#CanDoMusic #GetPlaying #SaveOurSubjects © Music Teachers' Association www.musicteachers.org