13:15 – 14:30 | Session 1

Kodály approach in EYFS and KS1 in action
Sarah Marsh and Lucinda Geoghegan

Kodály inspired education is founded on three main stages of learning: Prepare (subconscious learning), Present (making conscious) and Practice (reinforcing the learning). See it all in action and enjoy practical and engaging songs, games and activities that embed an understanding of pitch, pulse and rhythm. This leads seamlessly to the development of early music literacy skills. Discover innovative ways to use art music which reinforces the learning in engaging and exciting ways.

Workshop with a Steinway artist
Hosted by Steinway, with outreach to local schools
Martin Roscoe and Keith Glazebrook

This session outlines the range of support Steinway & Sons are offering to the music education community across the UK, including areas such as national and international student recruitment. As an example of Steinway & Sons support, the session will also include a student masterclass by internationally acclaimed artist and educator Martin Roscoe, and will conclude with audience Q&A

The musician in the KS3 classroom
Simon Toyne and Liz Dunbar

This session explores a simple, logical approach to classroom lessons at KS3 which engages all students as active, thinking musicians. It’s about the teacher as the expert in the room, nurturing students’ musicianship ‘in the moment’ and the craft of formative assessment. This isn’t about what you teach, it’s about a philosophy that challenges us to think deeply about how both students and teachers function as musicians in the classroom.

Arranging for mixed ensembles
Orchestras For All – James Brady

Orchestras for All have been bringing together beginners and grade 8 players with instruments from all musical traditions since 2011. This active session draws on OFA’s experiences in creating bespoke and flexible, large-scale arrangements for our NOFA and Modulo programmes. We will focus on arranging techniques and approaches but will also consider repertoire choice, instrumentation template and the essential connection between musical content and rehearsal techniques.

Performance via music technology for KS4 and KS5 (12 places)
Led by Rob Abba, Loughborough Schools Foundation team

A practical session showing how Music Tech can be used as a performance option for non-instrumentalists at KS4 and 5 using Ableton Live, including a discussion of specifications and mark schemes.

 

15:00 – 16:15 | Session 2

Debate: the pros & cons of group vs individual instrumental tuition
Featuring Dr Kadiatu Kanneh-Mason

Can group instrumental tuition ever be as effective as learning 1-to-1? With cost being a barrier for many to access individual tuition, how can we level the playing field and give every pupil an equal opportunity to succeed? In this lively discussion, our panellists will be looking at the pros and cons of group vs individual music tuition, the challenges and barriers teachers face in both environments, and what best practice we as music educators can follow to support all pupils to reach their potential.

How to take student compositions from good to great
Mark Wilderspin

How do we maximise the potential of our A level pupils when it comes to their composition? How can we best coach them to turn good ideas into fully realised, satisfying pieces? This session will aim to provide some guidance on setting up a composition scheme of work to lay the foundations in year 12, and some coaching tips for your pupils once they get into the business end of year 13.

Conducting masterclass
Bjorn Bantock

“But to bring forth thrilling music from a group of singers or players,  to inspire them (through one’s own personal magnetism) to excel, to train them (through one’s own musicianship) to become more aware musicians themselves, personally to feel the power of the music so deeply that the audience is lifted to new heights emotionally – or greatly persuaded, through music, to forget momentarily the dust of the earth and to spend a little time in another world – yes, this can be called conducting. A superb conductor is first of all a superb musician!”– from Elizabeth Green ‘The Modern Conductor’.

Come and share time with the String Orchestra of Loughborough Schools in this conducting masterclass, exploring new ways to refine your own awareness, perceptions and control of space, and to challenge you to think about what you can change in yourself and your communication style to show the orchestra your musical intentions.

Panel discussion: the future of Level 2 and Level 3 qualifications
Chaired by Don Gillthorpe, with panellists Steven Berryman, Marie Bessant, Dan Francis and Alistair Platt

Amidst many news headlines about the decline in numbers for GCSE and A level Music, what does the future hold for these qualifications?  Vocational qualifications in Music, Music Technology and Performing Arts are gaining popularity; what alternative opportunities do these present for your pupils?  In this panel discussion, MTA President, Don Gillthorpe, will interview representatives from exam boards offering Level 2 and Level 3 qualifications to find out more.

Composition via music technology for KS4 and KS5 (12 places)
Led by Rob Connolley, Loughborough Schools Foundation team

A practical session focussing on music technology composition skills through Ableton Live.

09:30 – 10:45 | Session 3

The Kodály approach at KS2 and KS3
Sarah Marsh and Lucinda Geoghegan

Kodaly musicianship is not limited to the Early Years.  In this session we will share songs and criteria for choosing age-appropriate repertoire to suit beginners and those who’ve been learning this way for some time.  Be ready to play some great games which support and embed learning, and find out how this approach can assist in teaching musical literacy, harmony and even composition.

Invisible women: how to raise awareness and inspire in order to change the future of the music industry
Gabriella di Laccio 

As a performer and leader of the Donne Foundation, Gabriella has been a close witness on how inequality and lack of diversity are still very present in the music industry, continuing to create barriers to women and people from the global majority. In this session, Gabriella will share her personal journey on addressing her own lack of knowledge, the importance of bringing inspiring stories and music to  the classroom, where to find resources and how each of us should be doing something to contribute to change.

Curriculum tuning
Emily Crowhurst

During this interactive session we will be running a live curriculum project/scheme tuning session, offering participants the opportunity to experience and get to grips with an effective, time efficient way of planning, developing ideas and getting helpful feedback on their curriculum projects/scheme plans. We’ll be explaining the purpose and value of building this into your planning routine and a tuning protocol template will also be made available to use within your own department, school or education setting. We would love to live tune a couple of exciting project/scheme proposals by teachers at the conference. If you are interested in presenting a project/scheme idea you are working on for next year, in order to get some specialist feedback as part of the tuning session please contact Emily Crowhurst via ecrowhurst@school21.org.uk by Tuesday 2nd May in order to discuss further.

Developing improvisation in the KS3 classroom
Patrick Johns & Mike Wright

Improvisation is one of the most useful tools in the musician’s tool-kit, yet so many teachers freeze at the very idea of it. In this interactive session, Patrick and Mike lead discussions about improvisation: how to approach it as a performer and teacher, some tips to transform improv-by-numbers into something really musical, and a discussion about its wider and longer-term benefits. You are encouraged to bring instruments!

Performance via music technology for KS4 and KS5
Led by Rob Abba Loughborough Schools Foundation team

A session to discuss how Music Tech can be used as a gateway into performance for non-instrumentalists using both Ableton Live and free/low-cost software.

11:15 – 12:30 | Session 4

How is decolonising diversifying music education going?
Professor Nate Holder

In this session Prof. Nate Holder ask if decolonisation is really something we want to do? In what ways has the word ‘diversity’ become a surrogate for decolonisation? Do we really understand the ramifications and learning that would need to take place to move towards these ideas?

De-mystifying the composition process; everyone’s a composer!
Nicky Bouckley and Charles Price

Mindsets and methods to de-mystify the composition process for pupil and teacher. In this session, Nicky Bouckley and Charles Price will share their approach to enabling all pupils at upper KS3 and KS4 to enjoy composing and create convincing and successful pieces of music.

Interactive Tabla workshop (20 places)
Bhindarjit Neer

This is an exciting opportunity to learn Tabla phraseology combining both left and right hands by learning a simple but effective fixed rhythmic composition with a poetic theme. Delegates will learn how these syllables are used to make extended rhythmic patterns and work towards an ensemble piece that can be used for school performances.

Panel discussion: the National Plan for Music Education
Chaired by Catherine Barker

What impact is the new National Plan for Music Education having in schools? How are schools approaching the creation of a development plan? How does this fit into the national picture? We will hear from teacher members from a range of school settings who will share their experiences.

Composition via music technology for KS4 and KS5 (12 places)
Led by Rob Connolley from the Loughborough Schools Foundation team

A practical session focussing on music technology composition skills through Ableton Live.

 

15:00 – 16:00 | Session 5

Training general primary teachers’ classroom musicianship skills
Dr Rebecca Berkley

Music is compulsory in the National Curriculum, and all classroom teachers are recommended to teach an hour a week of music lessons, ideally delivered in daily short sessions in KS1 as recommended by the Model Music Curriculum. However, current figures suggest only around 10% of primary classroom teachers feel confident to teach classroom music. Teachers feel ill-equipped to lead practical music making in the classroom, especially leading singing, rhythm and movement work with the children, and so do not include music in their teaching. This practical session presents findings from research into teaching general primary classroom teachers that demonstrates how focused training helps these colleagues develop their musical skills and confidence to teach music, giving suggestions for how to integrate this training into the school year. This session will be of interest to anyone responsible for leading training for teaching music in primary schools, or colleagues starting out as classroom music teachers.

Harmony at KS5: a practical strategy
Hanh Doan

This session will bring harmony at KS5 to life for you and your students, with a practical way for getting students to begin to internalise and contextualise four-part harmony. The session is also gives students of all abilities and backgrounds a way into harmony. Please bring a pencil or pen and be prepared to sing with your colleagues!

Social model music making: rethinking our approach to inclusive music education
Kris Halpin

In this session, Kris Halpin will discuss his journey as a Disabled musician and how a Social Model approach to Music Making enabled a successful artistic career. Drawing alongside years of experience in inclusive practice alongside his artistic career, Kris will discuss Disability Inclusion for young people, and how the Social Model of Disability can empower teachers to better support young people. This discussion lead session will cover tips and strategies and other advice that teachers can implement in their music sessions to make them more inclusive.

Interactive Tabla workshop (20 places)
Bhindarjit Neer

This is an exciting opportunity to learn Tabla phraseology combining both left and right hands by learning a simple but effective fixed rhythmic composition with a poetic theme. Delegates will learn how these syllables are used to make extended rhythmic patterns and work towards an ensemble piece that can be used for school performances.

Music Administrators’ Forum
Keith Ayling

Forum chaired by Keith Ayling: Every music department has to think about how it structures what it delivers for the students. Instrumental lessons need timetabling, music needs printing, copyrights need checking, safeguarding needs to be up to date and in an ideal world, everything is coordinated! We’ll be discussing these areas and more, looking at the resources available.

16:30 – 17:30 | Session 6

What can I do with my music trolley?
Mike Simpson from Inspire-Works

Using Inspire-Works’ model of workshop facilitating as a starting point, participants will have the opportunity to:

Learn:

• how to play and combine instrument groups in the classroom percussion trolley to create diverse music inspired by different culture around the world
• new facilitation skills for whole-class percussion teaching
• how to use differentiation in a whole-class environment with different age groups in a percussion scheme of work
• how to repair or recycle classroom percussion instruments

Engage:

• in practical music-making activities to help enhance your own whole-class percussion teaching
• in discussions with other like-minded facilitators/teachers

Develop:

• techniques for aural teaching within a whole-class percussion context
• an understanding of appropriate percussion music and pedagogy for different age groups
• creative assessment techniques for whole-class percussion teaching environments

Non-traditional routes to GCSE
Greg Coughlin

What is the typical route to GCSE Music success for students at your school? How does it compare to other subjects? In this session Greg Coughlin will explore what it takes to build a truly inclusive music curriculum where every student is empowered to take and succeed in music GCSE regardless of their prior experience. The session will provide you with practical ideas for boosting the numbers of students willing and able to take and succeed in music GCSE at your school.

Singing repertoire session
Stuart Overington

This session will introduce participants to a selection of music suitable for use with choirs or classroom singing. It will feature music from a variety of music cultures which are easy to teach and fun to sing.

Panel discussion: leading a department, for aspiring heads of department or those new in their position
Chaired by Don Gillthorpe, with panellists including Nicky Bouckley and Lewis Edney

Ready for the next step? Perhaps you have just begun your journey as a new Head of Department?  With many years’ experience across a wide range of school settings, the participants in this panel discussion, chaired by MTA President, Don Gillthorpe, will seek to answer your questions, allay your fears, and dispel the myths around middle leadership.  Above all, we will seek to support and encourage you as you step into the most important job in any school.

Performance via music technology for KS4 and KS5 (12 places)
Led by Rob Abba Loughborough Schools Foundation team

A practical session showing how Music Tech can be used as a performance option for non-instrumentalists at KS4 and 5 using Ableton Live, including a discussion of specifications and mark schemes.

 

10:00 – 11:30 | Session 7

Samba Workshop
Kieron O’Riordan

Start your Sunday morning with a Samba session!  Designed to blow off the cobwebs, this hands-on workshop is suitable for all skill levels.  Get your brain and body ready for the day and help us to close the conference with a bang.