Music Curriculum Development Day

 

JOIN US ON WEDNESDAY APRIL 2, 2025 AT THE CONEYGRE ARTS CENTRE IN TIPTON

REGISTER HERE

Coneygre Arts Centre, Tipton

The is ample free parking available and lunch/refreshments will be provided.

 

PRICE: £45

This year’s Music Curriculum Development Day will take place on Wednesday April 2, 2025 from 9:30am-4:00pm at the Coneygre Community Centre in Tipton. 

The day is designed to support music leads, non-specialist teachers and staff to take part in practical music making workshops, hear from speakers specialising in music education, network with other educators from around Sandwell and the Black Country. 

There will be a chance to learn more about the exciting new Black Country Music Hub from its Head, Chris Jones. 

Nationally renowned ‘Beat Goes On’ will be demonstrating invigorating ideas on using body percussion in delivering music curriculum, Dr. Rosie Rushton will once again be inspiring inclusive music making and sharing practical tips and advice on supporting SEND, along with other workshops designed to add to a useful ‘toolkit’ of ideas and resources to help lead music making in the classroom- from music technology to using instruments and the voice at all keys stages. 

Presenters and Workshop Leaders

Ollie is the founder and director of Beat Goes On. He is a former cast member of the hit show STOMP and its sister show, ‘The Lost & Found Orchestra’. He is also a qualified secondary music teacher and combines these experiences to deliver fun, engaging and memorable workshops which draw on participants’ own ideas, as well as developing skills and knowledge. Ollie also promotes the use of music as a means of encouraging well-being, for both individuals and teaching communities.

His Amazon bestselling body percussion tutorial ‘Body Beats’ has been incorporated into curricula internationally.

Dr. Rosie Rushton from Big Top Musical Adventures

Rosie is a specialist in music provision for individuals with additional needs. Collaborating in projects with numerous schools, charities and local communities throughout the Midlands alongside organisations including, Manchester Camerata, MENCAP, Action for Children and Autism Concern. 

Rosie graduated from The University of Birmingham with a Masters of Education in Severe, Profound and Multiple Learning Difficulties and Birmingham Conservatoire with a BMus (Hons) in Performance. Shortlisted for the National Association of Special Educational Needs (NASEN) Inspirational Teacher of the Year Award (2018), Rosie recently completed her PhD studies which focused on Music, Play and Learning Difficulties.

Bradley Smith: Music Technology for Education Specialist

Bradley Smith is a Music Technology for Education specialist with over 17 years of experience in the sector. Based near Leicester, he holds a BA in Music Technology and Innovation and a Primary PGCE with a Music Specialism. Bradley has taught and coordinated music in a range of settings, including primary schools, a Pupil Referral Unit (PRU), and a mainstream primary with an integrated SEND unit. He later joined Leicestershire Music (the Hub Lead Organisation for Leicestershire), first as Lead for Music Technology and later as Assistant Head of Service.
During this time, Bradley developed innovative music technology schemes for Whole Class Instrumental Tuition (WCIT), with his Turntablism WCITs being the most popular. His ‘low anxiety’ approach and engaging resources led to widespread adoption across hundreds of schools and tens of thousands of pupils across the county.

His schemes of work have since been taken up by ten other music services nationwide and referenced in the DfE’s latest National Plan for Music Education case studies. Now working as a freelance consultant, Bradley supports Music Services, Schools, and the Music Industry with strategic and delivery projects, embedding music technology in the classroom and helping students engage with music in ways that reflect both the present and future of the music landscape.

The Black Country Music Hub is a collaboration between music services in the Black Country that provides music education for children and young people. The hub is part of a national program organized by Arts Council England. 

What does the Black Country Music Hub do?
  • Supports schools and other education settings to provide high-quality music education 
  • Helps young people develop their musical interests and talent 
  • Helps children and young people engage with a range of musical opportunities 
  • Invests in new musical instruments, equipment, and technology 
  • Supports individual and group music lessons in schools 
  • Provides opportunities for children and young people to play in bands and orchestras 

Who are the partners in the Black Country Music Hub? 

  • Dudley Metropolitan Borough CouncilThe lead organization for the hub
  • Wolverhampton Music ServiceA partner in the hub
  • Dudley Performing Arts ServiceA partner in the hub
  • SIPS Music ServiceA partner in the hub
  • Walsall Music Education ServiceA partner in the hub

Tonya Shaikh from SIPS Music & Arts

Tonya is currently the Curriculum Lead for the Sandwell music service, teaching in schools using tuned percussion, recorders, Djembe and Samba drumming and leading the CPD programme for Sandwell schools. She is passionate to help non-specialists gain confidence in leading quality music making activities for their students.

Her experience in music education has inspired her programme of curriculum based music lessons, Making Music Together, for non-specialist teachers- inspired by the pedagogies of Kodaly, Orff and Dalcroze-and adapting these to fit in our modern and diverse global society.

In her personal time, she is learning to play the Tabla.