Music Hub Conference 2023 Programme

Key notes and discussions  

9.10 to 9.55am Austin Pearce Room 1 & 2

The Power of Music to Change Lives: Led by Nate Holder (Professor and International Chair of Music Education at the Royal Northern College of Music) 

An interactive and discursive session where we look at inclusion in the music classroom in all its forms.  This is a session designed for you to make connections with other teachers which you can develop throughout the day, raise questions, and find answers.  

10.00 to 11.00 Austin Pearce Room 1 & 2

Christopher Stevens HMI will give an overview of the key findings from the music research review. He will reflect on what this means for a high-quality music curriculum in England’s schools and what are the key messages for school leaders and teaching staff. There will be an opportunity for delegates to ask questions. 

Summit plenary panel discussion, including Youth Delegate performances 

15.30 to 16.30 Austin Pearce Room 1 & 2

We conclude the conference with performances from our Youth Delegates, showcasing the works they have created through the course of the day, followed by a panel Q and A featuring our Music Hub leaders, head teachers, and workshop leaders, alongside selected youth delegates.   

Whole conference wake-up shake-up 

Wake Up Shake Up 1:  Musical Futures 

9.00 to 9.10am Austin Pearce Room 1 & 2

Join Musical Futures’ Fran Hannan for a high energy session using minimal equipment but maximum participation, in this practical music-making activity designed to develop key musical skills.  Ever tried chair-drumming?  Well now’s your chance! 

Wake Up Shake Up 2:  Esther Jones Vocal Wake Up  

9.55 to 10.00 Austin Pearce Room 1 & 2

Carousel 1 

1a Secondary Forum 

11.20am to 12.20pm Austin Pearce 1&2 

Focused discussion group for secondary school teachers and leaders.  Case studies and burning issues, including discussion focused on career paths for students in music at secondary schools.  

Discussions lead by University of Surrey, Nate Holder, and John Stephens 

1b Royal Opera House – Create & Sing and the Primary Music Curriculum 

11.20am to 12.20pm Rik Medilk 32 MS 01

An inspiring, practical session focused on the benefits of embedding Create & Sing within your curriculum. A Royal Opera House vocal artist and stage director will introduce you to our FREE and award-winning programme for KS1&2, which includes:  

  • Certified training and ongoing support for teachers  
  • High quality digital learning resources  
  • Opportunities to connect primary children with ROH artists through interactive livestreams  
  • Celebratory performance outcomes, either online or in person 

1c Musical Futures Online Workshop 

11.20am to 12.20pm Austin Pearce Room 4

Led by Fran Hannan based on the work of Prof. Lucy Green on ‘How pop musicians learn’ and using online classroom resources (Primary focus but of interest to KS3 teachers) 

Musical Futures Online resources and materials are ideal for supporting whole class music–making at all ages.  Designed for both specialist and non-specialist teachers at both primary and secondary levels, the session will demonstrate how to promote maximum participation in practical music-making activities that can form the basis for developing key musical skills.  

The session will examine approaches to teaching music using Musical Futures Online interactive audio-visual resources.  Delegates will have the opportunity to take part in a practical hands-on session exploring whole class music making, developing musical skills knowledge and how to use the resources in school.   

  • Musical Futures Online, features over 1000 unique interactive musical resources to help teachers of all ages to deliver practical, authentic, and relevant music lessons that effectively engage all pupils in learning music using readily available instruments. 
  • Developed by teachers – for teachers, our resources and materials continue to build on the original tried and tested approaches of the Musical Futures ethos and pedagogy. 
  • Winner of the Outstanding Music Education Resource 2022 at the Music & Drama Education Awards 2022 
  • Teach Co awards 2023: Teach Primary: Remote Learning category – WINNER 
  • Teach Co awards 2023: Teach Secondary: Curriculum Impact – HIGHLY COMMENDED 

All delegates will have the chance to sign up for a no obligation free trial of Musical Futures Online platform. 

1d My Music Department: from the Classroom to the Cloud: James Manwaring, The Windsor Boy’s School (Primary Focus) 
11.20am to 12.20pm Austin Pearce Room 28 (2nd floor) 

Case study from The Windsor Boy’s School about using online resources to support the music curriculum.

This session will provide a snapshot of the opportunities to meet the needs of in-class and distance learning using technology. James Manwaring will explain how he has embedded MusicFirst’s software at The Windsor Boy’s School to broaden the curriculum and offer students tools for creativity and music learning at home and in school.  

Highlights will include the software Soundtrap for Education, Noteflight Learn and Flat for Education to support creativity, as well as Focus on Sound Pro which provides an incredible encyclopaedia and interactive resource that makes learning music come to life for students. 

James will provide you with practical ideas that you can take away and use immediately.  

Carousel 2

2a Primary Network 

1.05 to 2.05 Austin Pearce 1&2 

A focused discussion and networking group for primary music leads led by the Surrey Primary Music Advisory and Alex Bondonno (Surrey Arts Primary Lead Teacher)  

2b Engaging Teenage and Pre-Teen Singers: Tips and Tricks 

1.05 to 2.05pm Rik Medilk 32 MS 01

A session which looks at different ways to keep young singers engaged with singing including vocal improvisation, building vocal confidence, vocal percussion, song arrangements, and routes into song writing. 

Led By Esther Jones

2c Forum:  Music in special schools and alternate settings 

1.05 to 2.05pm Austin Pearce Room 4

A network and discussion group for all music leaders from alternate settings, or with SEND specialism.  

2d Music First: My Music Department: from the Classroom to the Cloud:  
James Manwaring, The Windsor Boy’s School (Secondary focus)

1.05 to 2.05pm Austin Pearce Room 28 (second floor)

Case study from The Windsor Boy’s School about using online resources to support the music curriculum.  This session is focused on usage in secondary settings.  

This session will provide a snapshot of the opportunities out there for Primary and Secondary schools to meet the needs of in-class and distance learning using technology. James will explain how he has embedded MusicFirst’s software at The Windsor Boy’s School to broaden the curriculum and offer students tools for creativity and music learning at home and in school.  

Highlights will include the software Soundtrap for Education, Noteflight Learn and Flat for Education to support creativity, as well as Focus on Sound Pro which provides an incredible encyclopaedia and interactive resource that makes learning music come to life for students. 

James will provide you with practical ideas that you can take away and use immediately. 

Carousel 3 

3a Inclusive School Ensembles:  Tim Palmer 

14.10 – 15.10 Austin Pearce 1&2

Tim Palmer will lead this session to explore a range of open improvisatory devising activities suitable for a mixed-ability ensemble. Including pitched and percussion instruments, voices and movement, the seminar will model the types of activities that can be used to develop student-focused music-making that folds in theory and practice.

Delegates should bring a pitched musical instrument to use at this session.  (We will provide instruments for those without) 

Delegates should bring a pitched musical instrument to use at this session.  (We will provide instruments for those without) 

3b Music and Displaced Children and Young People 

2.10 to 3.10pm Rik Medilk 32 MS 01

As part of Refugee Week, we are pleased to offer a session that focusses on the role of music to support newly arrived children and young people. 

During the training you will gain an understanding of the current demographics of newly arrived communities in Surrey, what they may have experienced and how we, as music practitioners, can use our skills and knowledge to support them through music making. We will also look at some specific musical approaches and the use of language and non-verbal communication within our work.  

This training is designed to support any music teachers who work with displaced children and young people in school or in out-of-school settings. 

The session is co-led by Jim Pinchen (Surrey Arts) and Kayte Cable (Big Leaf Foundation) 

3c Royal Opera House – Transition from Y6 – Y7 with Create & Sing 

2.10 to 3.10pm Austin Pearce Room 4

An inspiring practical session introducing the FREE and award winning ROH National Schools Programmes. With a focus on implementing Create & Sing flexibly in your setting as a transition project in line with the Model Music Curriculum, an ROH vocal artist and stage director will introduce the pedagogy of Create & Sing, which is delivered through:   

  • Certified training and ongoing support for teachers  
  • High quality digital learning resources  
  • Opportunities to connect young people with ROH artists through interactive livestreams for increased cultural capital and exposure to creative career pathways  
  • Celebratory performance outcomes, either online or in person 

3d Simple & Effective Audio Recording Techniques for the Classroom 

2.10 to 3.10pm Teaching Block, Room 18  

Recording music in schools (whether for assessing performances, documenting progress, or as mementos of events) has many unique challenges. This workshop will take participants through a set of practical considerations to help make these recordings as successful as possible. There will be plenty of time for questions to help you to get the most out of the session for your particular situation. 

Presenters: Russell Mason and Rupert Flindt 

Youth Delegate Workshops 

Musical Futures Online Workshop for Youth Delegates 

This session is all about making music together as a band and having fun – whatever your level of experience! We’ll learn some well-known popular songs and get you playing using a variety of different instruments – already for a performance later in the day! 

Trade Stands 

  • ABRSM 
  • IRock 
  • Surgeries 
  • Surrey Arts Area Managers 
  • H R Taylor Trust 
  • Cheryl King Trust 

Other Activities 

University of Surrey Music Department Tour 

Coffee 

Lunch 

Performances