Changing times
Times are changing in music education. MT readers might feel that they've just about got their heads around the National Plan for Music Education, but it only lasts until 2020: England's music teachers will be needing a new one soon. Music education hubs are settling into their role as more open, flexible, entrepreneurial versions of the old music services, and this is leading to opportunities for useful partnerships and lots of new, diverse, inspiring and useful initiatives.
For example, Bristol Music Trust, and the local hub, Bristol Plays Music, are working with a long list of partners to create a National Centre for Inclusive Excellence. At this year's Expo, Bristol-based OpenUp Music will be presenting the latest on what is becoming a national movement: and at the Expo on 23 February, OpenUp Music's musical director Doug Bott will demonstrate how Open Orchestras work with Bristol University's Marina Gall, who will share the findings of her recent research into the musical, educational and social impact of these ensembles.
And in terms of planning past 2020, the Music Education Council is convening a panel on the next ten years of music education, giving delegates the chance to find out how music education policy might take shape after the remit of the national plan expires.
Hearing from teachers
The Expo also provides the chance to find out from actual music teachers, rather than managers and chief executives, what they think and how they work. Expo in general is perfect for establishing new relationships – it's a room full of working music teachers, so you can strike up a conversation with pretty much anybody – but on 22 February a flipped panel of actual teachers (the people in front of the whiteboards, not behind the desks) will talk about their professional lives and discuss how best to engage them.
There will also be the chance to find out how best to advocate for music education sector from the ISM, whose staunch efforts have been behind the high-profile Bacc for the Future campaign: Kevin Rogers of Hampshire Music Service and ISM chief executive Henry Vann will provide the practical strategies, tips and data needed to make the case for music to people at all levels.
And as the new GCSEs bed in, we will have some strategies for the new 1-9 grading system, and a look at the new Edexcel music technology A-level – as well as a number of sessions providing ideas for encouraging creativity and supporting composition, including how to put singing at the heart of A-level lessons.
Behind the resources
This year we will be introducing Creatives’ Corner, which will allow visitors to meet the faces behind the teaching books and resources they use every day: a rolling programme of meet-and-greets with top authors, allowing delegates to ask the questions they always wanted to ask.
Alongside the new Creatives’ Corner there will again be a programme of ‘sharing labs’, bringing teachers and practitioners together to discuss particular areas of practice and pedagogy. And the exhibition will once again be full to the rafters with industry colleagues, all of whom will be only too happy to discuss their products, services and ideas.
Sharing Labs
Sharing labs are an opportunity to meet teachers like you, to discuss particular issues – but really, anything goes! No need to book – just turn up to hear new ideas from colleagues, discuss problems and approaches, and make connections…
Thursday 22 February
Teaching drama to early years and primary students
10.00-10.45 | Drama
Primary music specialists forum
11.00-11.45 | Music
Working with SEND students
12.00-12.45 | Drama
Helping students to apply for post-18 courses
13.00-13.45 | Drama
Schemes of work: bring and share, and brainstorm your best ideas for KS3-5
14.30-15.15 | Drama
Secondary music teachers forum
15.30-16.15 | Music
Friday 23 February
Working with SEND students
10.00-10.45 | Music
Composition clinic
11.00-11.45 | Music Open College of the Arts music programme leader Carla Rees, in conjunction with Harry Whalley, music programme leader at OCA's sister institution, UCA, offer one-to-one advice sessions for composers, providing advice for classroom teachers and portfolio reviews for composition students
Leadership: Moving forward in your career, fostering high quality T&L and working with a limited budget
12.00-12.45 | Drama
Piano teachers’ technique clinic
13.00-13.45 | Music
To BTEC or not to BTEC?
14.00-14.45 | Drama
Getting started as an early years specialist
15.30-16.15 | Music
Creatives' Corner
Always on the look-out for ways to add to the offering at Expo, this year we are introducing Creatives’ Corner, where you will be able to meet the faces behind the teaching books and resources you use every day. In this special new area of the show, a rolling programme of meet and greets with top authors will take place, allowing you to ask the questions you always wanted to ask, have your books signed, and to take a photo opportunity which you can share with an envious teaching world
Thursday 22 February
Hanh Doan & David Guinane | How to teach secondary music: 100 inspiring ideas (Collins Music)
11.30-12.00
Meet Hanh and David – music teachers, MT contributors and authors of award-nominated How to teach Secondary Music: 100 inspiring ideas
Liz Partridge | 4 Strings (Boosey & Hawkes)
13.00-13.30
Meet educational string repertoire specialist Liz Partridge who compiled and edited the hugely popular 4 Strings series
Sarah Watts | Razzamajazz piano series, the Red Hot Recorder (Kevin Mayhew)
13.45-14.15
Meet composer for piano and woodwind Sarah Watts and quiz her on her Razzamajazz and Red Hot Recorder series!
Andrew Higgins | Birds Études–Tableaux for piano (EVC Publications)
14.30-15.00
Andrew Higgins’ longstanding interest in birdlife has led him to create six virtuoso piano studies, each one representing a different creature and offering performers the chance to explore individual characters and technique.
Douglas Coombes | Various choral works (Lindsay Music)
15.15-15.45
Douglas Coombes is a prolific composer, choral clinician and conductor and is the choral consultant for the annual BBC TV Songs of Praise School Choirs of the Year competition.
Christopher Norton | Microjazz (Boosey & Hawkes)
16.00-16.30
Much-loved by students and teachers alike, Christopher Norton is best known for his world-famous Microjazz series.
Friday 23 February
Ben Crosland | Magic Beans jazz piano series (Musica Ferrum)
10.45-11.15
Ben's work for solo piano have been a constant companion to many piano teachers in the UK and overseas, and his works have been included in the ABRSM and Trinity exam syllabuses.
Paul Coles | From Start to Finish guitar series (Universal Edition)
11.30-12.00
Known for his contemporary pieces that are technically interesting but accessible for most players to perform and enjoy, Paul's works range from pieces for the developing musician, to commissioned works performed and premiered by some of the world's leading guitarists.
Katherine Fisher & Dr Julie Knerr | Piano Safari (Alfred Publishing)
13.00-13.30
Meet the creators of Piano Safari, a beginner piano method series which has taken the US piano education scene by storm and is now set to do the same in the UK.
Lin Marsh | Songscape series (Faber)
14.30-15.00
Creator of the hugely successful Songscape and Junior Songscape series, Lin will be on-hand to chat repertoire for young voices and linking singing to the curriculum.
James Rae | Various works for woodwind (Universal Edition)
15.15-15.45
Meet the hugely popular James Rae, one of Europe's most published writers of educational wind music. With over 120 publications to his credit, many of his pieces are to be found on wind examination syllabuses worldwide.
