After the thrill of Christmas and a much-needed break for teachers, January can be a strange time in the cycle of the academic year. Alongside the chatter about new year's resolutions, it is also a moment to take stock, re-evaluate what we bring to our lessons, and think about how we approach topics with students. No doubt, this can be a daunting prospect, but I urge you not to be dissuaded by the idea of goal setting and instead view this as a chance to gain a new perspective on the multifaceted needs of your students as we enter a new term. And of course, be sure to give yourself a moment of rest – hopefully with the last of the mince pies and a hot drink.
To help you through January, this issue has a Recording focus, filled as always with helpful suggestions for your practice. We hear a teacher's take on ‘future-proofing’ students by training them using traditional technology. If you are looking for tips and tricks for that pesky A Level Music Tech recording task, look no further than Ian Wilson's article , and discover a fantastic scheme in Lewisham that is training the next generation of young producers.
Elsewhere we cover the length and breadth of the UK and Ireland. The Royal Irish Academy has diversified its offering with its adult division, while St Mary's Music School has reaped rewards with a project inspired by the Scottish Seven Hills. Outside the UK, one educator tells us what she took from spending time in Rajasthan and being immersed in the musical practices of Northern India.
Meet one speaker from this year's Music & Drama Education Expo, hear from the Music House for Children in our mental health and wellbeing column, plus A is for Aretha author, Leslie Kwan, tells MT how the book came about.
In this issue I was lucky enough to meet a podcast host from Things Musicians Don’t Talk About to discuss the pressures young people may experience when starting out in the industry.
Finally, it has been brilliant to guide MT through this issue as we transition from one editor to another. Just as the new year can be a time to reflect on our teaching methods, it is also a brilliant moment for the magazine to reflect on what it offers to its readership. As ever, if you'd like to send us any feedback in the form of a letter to the editor, you can contact me and the team at music.teacher@markallengroup.com.
A very happy new year to you all!
Hattie Fisk, acting editor
