Notes from School

The school term has ended and in fitting fashion, this will be the final episode of this season of Notes from School. I'm absolutely thrilled to be joined by two members of the legendary vocal group The King’s Singers. I have loved listening to this group since I was a teenager and it's honestly fascinating to hear all about life in the group. I speak to Chris Bruerton and Jules Gregory all about their journeys into the group all the way through to how important singing is for physical and mental health. The musical harmony is literally supported by the emotional harmony between the six singers. Make sure you listen to the end for the quick fire round of questions. Chris and Jules reveal their favourite countries to perform in, ultimate show closers and their favourite tour snacks! As well as all this, we chat talk about: 👔 Life inside one of the world’s most prestigious a cappella ensembles 🏫 How school music shaped their journeys 🎼 Balancing tradition and innovation in their unique sound 🧠 Music, wellbeing, and mental health on the road 🎵 Why singing still matters—especially in schools today 📣 Find out more about The King’s Singers: https://www.kingssingers.com https://www.instagram.com/kingssingers/ https://www.facebook.com/kingssingers #TheKingsSingers #NotesFromSchool #PrimarySchoolBangers #MusicEducation #SingingInSchools Send a text ~~~ I am on tour all year, across the UK and you can book your tickets at: https://jamesbpartridge.com/ ~~~ Follow me on socials at: Instagram: http://instagram.com/jamesbpartridge Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JamesBPartridgeOfficial/ TikTok: http://tiktok.com/@jamesbpartridge YouTube: http://youtube.com/jamesbpartridge Send me a message: notesfromschoolpodcast@gmail.com ~~~ Find the podcast on all streaming services and leave a review if you've enjoyed it! Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6Ta8ch0BjnuV6GDgGv7BN2?si=5270e69bbb9a431e Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/notes-from-school/id1790674992 Amazon: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/054bf11f-a134-42c7-9114-f1398cc3fbe8/notes-from-school

Fingers on lips! The digital school assembly of Notes from School this week invites in the internet’s favourite Year 2 teacher and creator of the podcast Help Me! I’m a Teacher! : the brilliant Mr Firth . On a very hot school night, I gave Mr Firth a Zoom call which hopefully didn’t trigger too many traumatic memories from the dark days of the online teaching during lockdown. During our nearly hour-long chat we talk about surviving the end of term with humour intact, juggling classroom chaos with content creation and getting the correct rhythm of a classic school assembly banger! Expect laughs, honesty, and a heartfelt chat about life on the front line of primary teaching in 2025. Whether you’re a teacher, ex-teacher, or just someone who wants to know how you can balance being a full time Year 2 teacher and a social media sensation, this is a must listen! Follow Mr Firth online here: 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mister_firth/ 🔗 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mister_firth ❎ X/Twitter: https://x.com/mister_firth If you have enjoyed the episode please feel free to leave a comment or review. All questions and/or requests can be sent to notesfromschoolpodcast@gmail.com . Send a text ~~~ I am on tour all year, across the UK and you can book your tickets at: https://jamesbpartridge.com/ ~~~ Follow me on socials at: Instagram: http://instagram.com/jamesbpartridge Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JamesBPartridgeOfficial/ TikTok: http://tiktok.com/@jamesbpartridge YouTube: http://youtube.com/jamesbpartridge Send me a message: notesfromschoolpodcast@gmail.com ~~~ Find the podcast on all streaming services and leave a review if you've enjoyed it! Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6Ta8ch0BjnuV6GDgGv7BN2?si=5270e69bbb9a431e Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/notes-from-school/id1790674992 Amazon: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/054bf11f-a134-42c7-9114-f1398cc3fbe8/notes-from-school

In this episode of Notes from School, I meet the fantastic Sarah Jeffery. She is a professional recorder player, professor at Royal College of Music and the creator behind the wildly popular YouTube channel Team Recorder. From when I started this podcast, I really wanted to do an episode about the iconic primary school instrument and how it does in fact have a fascinating life beyond those early school days! During our chat we discuss: 👉 How Sarah is changing the way the world sees (and hears!) the recorder 👉 Life as a professional musician and content creator 👉 School music memories, recorder myths, and moments of pure musical joy 👉 Her favourite videos, behind-the-scenes chaos, and advice for aspiring players Whether you can crack out a masterful rendition of Three Blind Mice or just simply curious about the recorder, Sarah gives us an inspiring look at one of music’s most misunderstood instruments. Follow Sarah online here: 🔗 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Team_Recorder 🌐 Website: https://www.sarahjeffery.com 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/team_recorder/ 📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SarahTeamRecorder/ If you have enjoyed the episode please feel free to leave a comment or review. All questions and/or requests can be sent to notesfromschoolpodcast@gmail.com . Send a text ~~~ I am on tour all year, across the UK and you can book your tickets at: https://jamesbpartridge.com/ ~~~ Follow me on socials at: Instagram: http://instagram.com/jamesbpartridge Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JamesBPartridgeOfficial/ TikTok: http://tiktok.com/@jamesbpartridge YouTube: http://youtube.com/jamesbpartridge Send me a message: notesfromschoolpodcast@gmail.com ~~~ Find the podcast on all streaming services and leave a review if you've enjoyed it! Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6Ta8ch0BjnuV6GDgGv7BN2?si=5270e69bbb9a431e Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/notes-from-school/id1790674992 Amazon: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/054bf11f-a134-42c7-9114-f1398cc3fbe8/notes-from-school

After a week’s recovery, Notes from School is back with the return of Dan Partridge to catch up on the madness of the Glastonbury experience! If you’re missing the festival then hopefully you’ll enjoy this catch-up. If you’re sick of hearing about it then this will be the last you hear me chat about it 🤣 If you have enjoyed the episode please feel free to leave a comment or review. All questions and/or requests can be sent to notesfromschoolpodcast@gmail.com . Follow Dan on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/danpartridge_/ See him on tour: https://kinkybootstour.com/ Send a text ~~~ I am on tour all year, across the UK and you can book your tickets at: https://jamesbpartridge.com/ ~~~ Follow me on socials at: Instagram: http://instagram.com/jamesbpartridge Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JamesBPartridgeOfficial/ TikTok: http://tiktok.com/@jamesbpartridge YouTube: http://youtube.com/jamesbpartridge Send me a message: notesfromschoolpodcast@gmail.com ~~~ Find the podcast on all streaming services and leave a review if you've enjoyed it! Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6Ta8ch0BjnuV6GDgGv7BN2?si=5270e69bbb9a431e Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/notes-from-school/id1790674992 Amazon: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/054bf11f-a134-42c7-9114-f1398cc3fbe8/notes-from-school

This week I have invited my brother, and musical theatre star, Dan Partridge onto the Notes from School podcast. We chat about everything Glastonbury Festival, from our favourite acts and areas to the experience of performing there in 2024. I try not to make Dan to sad as he is on tour this summer and can’t make the festival… Apologies also for the lack of episode last week. I recorded a whole special episode tribute to Brian Wilson passing and the Beach Boys but I dropped my hard drive and lost all the files! Maybe I will do it again at some point. In the meantime, I hope you enjoy this and if you’re going to the festival…see you on the farm! If you have enjoyed the episode please feel free to leave a comment or review. All questions and/or requests can be sent to notesfromschoolpodcast@gmail.com . Follow Dan on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/danpartridge_/ See him on tour: https://kinkybootstour.com/ Send a text ~~~ I am on tour all year, across the UK and you can book your tickets at: https://jamesbpartridge.com/ ~~~ Follow me on socials at: Instagram: http://instagram.com/jamesbpartridge Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JamesBPartridgeOfficial/ TikTok: http://tiktok.com/@jamesbpartridge YouTube: http://youtube.com/jamesbpartridge Send me a message: notesfromschoolpodcast@gmail.com ~~~ Find the podcast on all streaming services and leave a review if you've enjoyed it! Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6Ta8ch0BjnuV6GDgGv7BN2?si=5270e69bbb9a431e Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/notes-from-school/id1790674992 Amazon: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/054bf11f-a134-42c7-9114-f1398cc3fbe8/notes-from-school

What do "Ring a Ring o’ Roses" and "Three Blind Mice" have in common? They're MUCH darker than you remember. In this episode of Notes from School, I take a look at the surprising (and occasionally horrifying) history behind classic nursery rhymes. Expect plague, beheadings, and wool-based tax policy, the perfect themes to get kids singing! If you have enjoyed the episode please feel free to leave a comment or review. Timestamps below if you want to skip to any bit in particular. All questions and/or requests can be sent to notesfromschoolpodcast@gmail.com . Timestamps: 0:00: Introduction to the episode 1:36: Weekly Catch up 6:44: Nostalgic memory on the emails 10:12: My nursery rhymes book collection 13:54: RING A RING O' ROSES 16:56: MARY, MARY, QUITE CONTRARY 18:36: THREE BLIND MICE 20:24: BAA, BAA, BLACK SHEEP 23:28: HUMPTY DUMPTY 24:40: JACK AND JILL 26:46: ORANGES AND LEMONS 28:51: GOOSEY GOOSEY GANDER 32:48: ROCK-A-BYE BABY 33:50: LONDON BRIDGE IS FALLING DOWN 31:10: Round up and goodbyes Send a text ~~~ I am on tour all year, across the UK and you can book your tickets at: https://jamesbpartridge.com/ ~~~ Follow me on socials at: Instagram: http://instagram.com/jamesbpartridge Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JamesBPartridgeOfficial/ TikTok: http://tiktok.com/@jamesbpartridge YouTube: http://youtube.com/jamesbpartridge Send me a message: notesfromschoolpodcast@gmail.com ~~~ Find the podcast on all streaming services and leave a review if you've enjoyed it! Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6Ta8ch0BjnuV6GDgGv7BN2?si=5270e69bbb9a431e Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/notes-from-school/id1790674992 Amazon: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/054bf11f-a134-42c7-9114-f1398cc3fbe8/notes-from-school

We’ve hit the 20th episode milestone! To celebrate, this week is a bumper crop of song requests, as well as a short Q&A section. If you have any song requests for future episodes or suggestions for topics to cover then feel free to comment or write in. Hope you enjoy the songs today! If you have enjoyed the episode please feel free to leave a comment or review. Timestamps below if you want to skip to any bit in particular. All questions and/or requests can be sent to notesfromschoolpodcast@gmail.com . Timestamps: 0:00: Introduction to the episode 1:38: Weekly Catch up 3:08: Glastonbury times and show news 6:36: Lord of the Rings messages and comments 11:55: Songs for anxious adults message 13:48: Q&A - Are Panda Pops “woke”? 16:13: Q&A - How is the book project going? 17:10: Q&A - Favourite tour venue? 18:17: Mega song request special 19:15: O Jesus I have promised 20:16: Water of Life 21:46: You Raise Me Up 23:05: BINGO 24:20: The Bell of Creation 25:05: Matchstalk Men and Matchstalk Cats and Dogs 27:05: He Who Would Valiant Be 27:55: The School Rules Song 28:46: Football Crazy 29:59: Jimmy Eat World - The Middle 31:10: Round up and goodbyes Send a text ~~~ I am on tour all year, across the UK and you can book your tickets at: https://jamesbpartridge.com/ ~~~ Follow me on socials at: Instagram: http://instagram.com/jamesbpartridge Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JamesBPartridgeOfficial/ TikTok: http://tiktok.com/@jamesbpartridge YouTube: http://youtube.com/jamesbpartridge Send me a message: notesfromschoolpodcast@gmail.com ~~~ Find the podcast on all streaming services and leave a review if you've enjoyed it! Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6Ta8ch0BjnuV6GDgGv7BN2?si=5270e69bbb9a431e Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/notes-from-school/id1790674992 Amazon: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/054bf11f-a134-42c7-9114-f1398cc3fbe8/notes-from-school

What do Hobbits hum and Elves sing? Join me for this week’s assembly as Tolkien’s poetry meets Donald Swann’s piano in a musical walk through Middle-Earth. In this week’s episode of Notes from School , I explore “ The Road Goes Ever On” , the enchanting song cycle that sets Tolkien’s poetry to music. Forget the classic LOTR soundtrack briefly and discover how Tolkien would have actually HEARD these songs. I’ll sing you some of each tune from the song cycle and you’ll hear how Donald Swann gave voice to the songs of the Shire, Lothlórien, and beyond. If you have enjoyed the episode please feel free to leave a comment or review. Timestamps below if you want to skip to any bit in particular. All questions and/or requests can be sent to notesfromschoolpodcast@gmail.com . Send a text ~~~ I am on tour all year, across the UK and you can book your tickets at: https://jamesbpartridge.com/ ~~~ Follow me on socials at: Instagram: http://instagram.com/jamesbpartridge Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JamesBPartridgeOfficial/ TikTok: http://tiktok.com/@jamesbpartridge YouTube: http://youtube.com/jamesbpartridge Send me a message: notesfromschoolpodcast@gmail.com ~~~ Find the podcast on all streaming services and leave a review if you've enjoyed it! Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6Ta8ch0BjnuV6GDgGv7BN2?si=5270e69bbb9a431e Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/notes-from-school/id1790674992 Amazon: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/054bf11f-a134-42c7-9114-f1398cc3fbe8/notes-from-school

Following on from last week’s episode, today’s assembly is focussed on the classic tune: I Vow to Thee, My Country . I’ll be exploring the history and tension behind one of Britain’s most emotional hymns. If you have enjoyed the episode please feel free to leave a comment or review. Timestamps below if you want to skip to any bit in particular. All questions and/or requests can be sent to notesfromschoolpodcast@gmail.com . Timestamps: 0:00: Intro to the topics today 2:20: Catch up 5:19: Obscure question on email 7:00: I Vow to Thee intro 11:30: How did this hymn come about? 12:35: Who wrote the words? 15:31: Poem reading plus extra verse! 18:08: History of lyricist Cecil Spring Rice 21:06: Link to Gustav Holst 25:10: Second tune by Ralph Vaughan Williams “Abinger” 29:00: The controversial patriotism of I Vow to Thee 35:30: Links between Holst and Parry 36:15: Rugby anthem and World in Union 38:30: I Vow to Thee, My Country SINGALONG 41:20: Teaser for next week’s episode Send a text ~~~ I am on tour all year, across the UK and you can book your tickets at: https://jamesbpartridge.com/ ~~~ Follow me on socials at: Instagram: http://instagram.com/jamesbpartridge Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JamesBPartridgeOfficial/ TikTok: http://tiktok.com/@jamesbpartridge YouTube: http://youtube.com/jamesbpartridge Send me a message: notesfromschoolpodcast@gmail.com ~~~ Find the podcast on all streaming services and leave a review if you've enjoyed it! Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6Ta8ch0BjnuV6GDgGv7BN2?si=5270e69bbb9a431e Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/notes-from-school/id1790674992 Amazon: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/054bf11f-a134-42c7-9114-f1398cc3fbe8/notes-from-school

Jerusalem. It has been one of the most recognisable and iconic English tunes of the past 100 years. But is it as universally loved as we remember and can it even be called a hymn? How has a story about Jesus taking a road trip to Glastonbury led to a First World War patriotic anthem, through the lens of a Georgian revolutionary poet. In this week’s assembly, I do a deep dive into Jerusalem, talking about its history, the association with the WI and even how it can signify the English musically. I really hope you enjoy this episode and I would love to know any memories of singing it plus any comments or thoughts about what I have to say! If you have enjoyed the episode please feel free to leave a comment or review. Timestamps below if you want to skip to any bit in particular. All questions and/or requests can be sent to notesfromschoolpodcast@gmail.com . Timestamps: 0:00: Jerusalem poem reading 0:50: Catch up 4:10: Education and positive music news 7:20: Intro to Jerusalem 10:03: A vicar’s PM about Jerusalem 11:58: How did the hymn Jerusalem come about? William Blake, Robert Bridges and Hubert Parry 17:23: What makes the Jerusalem introduction so stirring? 22:02: Why Jerusalem is musically English 25:14: How the hymn became the anthem of the Women’s Institute 27:16: Becoming used by political movements 29:24: Is Jerusalem even a hymn? 33:16: Memories from social media 37:21: Jerusalem singalong 38:50: Final thoughts and wrap up Send a text ~~~ I am on tour all year, across the UK and you can book your tickets at: https://jamesbpartridge.com/ ~~~ Follow me on socials at: Instagram: http://instagram.com/jamesbpartridge Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JamesBPartridgeOfficial/ TikTok: http://tiktok.com/@jamesbpartridge YouTube: http://youtube.com/jamesbpartridge Send me a message: notesfromschoolpodcast@gmail.com ~~~ Find the podcast on all streaming services and leave a review if you've enjoyed it! Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6Ta8ch0BjnuV6GDgGv7BN2?si=5270e69bbb9a431e Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/notes-from-school/id1790674992 Amazon: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/054bf11f-a134-42c7-9114-f1398cc3fbe8/notes-from-school

After a few weeks of some great interviews, I thought I would take it back to the assembly hall with a mega episode of singalongs. This week I go through the entire Apusskidu songbook from 1975 which is packed full of tunes for children to sing at school. Some of these are very famous, some are obscure folk melodies, we have some nursery classics, plenty of animal tunes and even a song about aliens. Hope you enjoy the play through, I am sight-reading some of them so apologies for any mistakes 😅 hope they bring back some happy memories, either way. If you have enjoyed the episode please feel free to leave a comment or review. Timestamps below if you want to skip to any bit in particular. All questions and/or requests can be sent to notesfromschoolpodcast@gmail.com . Timestamps: 0:00: Introduction, emails and catch up! 05:19: If you’re happy (and you know it) 06:14: I’d like to teach the world to sing 07:17: I whistle a happy tune 08:24: Yellow submarine 09:04: Sing a rainbow 09:53: The super-supper march 11:08: My ship sailed from China 12:28: Daisy Bell 13:31: The bonny blue-eyed sailor 14:23: Li’l Liza Jane 14:49: Clementine 16:01: Sparrow Twitters 16:33: Little brown jug 17:02: I’m Henery the eighth 18:23: There’s a hole in my bucket 18:42: There was an old witch 19:05: Ten in a bed 19:13: Lily the pink 20:14: Bananas in pyjamas 20:49: The great meat pie 21:57: Michael Finnegan 22:13: The train is a-coming 22:44: Wheels keep turning 23:33: Morningtown ride 24:30: She’ll be coming round the mountain 25:17: The Wombling song 25:45: Shoot! Shoot! Shoot! 26:52: Battle song of the Zartians 27:20: The wind blow east 27:54: One potato, two potato 28:47: The guard song 29:23: The fireman 29:42: When Father papered the parlour 30:11: The animals went in two by two 30:38: Going to the zoo 31:06: The hippopotamus song 31:40: Tiger, Tiger, orange and black 32:12: Where, oh where has my little dog gone? 32:39: Daddy wouldn’t buy me a bow-wow 33:04: Five little frogs 33:24: Frog went a-courtin’ 33:50: Down in Demerara 34:19: Ferdinando, the donkey 34:49: Apusski dusky 35:50: Gobbolino, the witch‘s cat 36:35: A windmill in old Amsterdam 37:45: Maggon, the bad-tempered dragon 38:22: Risha, rasha, rusha 38:50: Final thoughts and wrap up Send a text ~~~ I am on tour all year, across the UK and you can book your tickets at: https://jamesbpartridge.com/ ~~~ Follow me on socials at: Instagram: http://instagram.com/jamesbpartridge Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JamesBPartridgeOfficial/ TikTok: http://tiktok.com/@jamesbpartridge YouTube: http://youtube.com/jamesbpartridge Send me a message: notesfromschoolpodcast@gmail.com ~~~ Find the podcast on all streaming services and leave a review if you've enjoyed it! Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6Ta8ch0BjnuV6GDgGv7BN2?si=5270e69bbb9a431e Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/notes-from-school/id1790674992 Amazon: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/054bf11f-a134-42c7-9114-f1398cc3fbe8/notes-from-school

Over the past couple of weeks in April I’ve been in the States on holiday. Clearly, I’m not very good at fully relaxing so I teamed up with Anthony Garone from the YouTube channel Make Weird Music for a great conversation. We discuss topics such as being a content creator on YouTube, music education in the States vs the UK, creative mindsets, confidence and even some of the best British exports to the US. You can find Anthony’s channel here and all it’s weird goodness: https://www.youtube.com/@MakeWeirdMusic If you have enjoyed the episode please feel free to leave a comment or review. Timestamps below if you want to skip to any bit in particular. All questions and/or requests can be sent to notesfromschoolpodcast@gmail.com . Timestamps: 0:00: Introducing Anthony and the start of Make Weird Music 3:00: Eccentricity in British music and the school assembly in UK and US 9:55: Music in US schools and the universal language of the piano 23:20: The importance of improvisation vs exams 32:20: Can we get weirdness into the classroom? 37:10: Advice on starting out as a content creator 45:15: British vs American mindsets 54:00: Anthony’s best of British culture and the start of Primary School Bangers 01:05:50: Final thoughts and wrap up Send a text ~~~ I am on tour all year, across the UK and you can book your tickets at: https://jamesbpartridge.com/ ~~~ Follow me on socials at: Instagram: http://instagram.com/jamesbpartridge Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JamesBPartridgeOfficial/ TikTok: http://tiktok.com/@jamesbpartridge YouTube: http://youtube.com/jamesbpartridge Send me a message: notesfromschoolpodcast@gmail.com ~~~ Find the podcast on all streaming services and leave a review if you've enjoyed it! Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6Ta8ch0BjnuV6GDgGv7BN2?si=5270e69bbb9a431e Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/notes-from-school/id1790674992 Amazon: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/054bf11f-a134-42c7-9114-f1398cc3fbe8/notes-from-school

To celebrate St. George’s Day today, I have Tom Carradine in the assembly hall. He is the mastermind behind the Cockney singalong and has a deep and immersive knowledge of British song from the Victorian music hall to war-time tunes and even obscure classics from the school assembly songbooks. He also is the best dressed and moustachioed musician in the UK. Feel free to check it out on YouTube too. During this epic chat, I hand over the piano keys to Tom so he can dip in and out of musical examples throughout our hour-long conversation. We discover his epic renditions of Shine Jesus Shine from his school days, how the Cockney singalong began and enjoying the heritage of British songs. Also, he reveals the one song that everyone around the world knows! If you have enjoyed the episode please feel free to leave a comment or review. Timestamps below if you want to skip to any bit in particular. All questions and/or requests can be sent to notesfromschoolpodcast@gmail.com . Timestamps: 0:00: Introducing Tom Carradine 02:00: Tom’s route from biochemistry to Cockney singalong via Musical Theatre 10:00: Does Tom include Musical Theatre tunes in his singalong? Mary Poppins link to Cockney songs 12:35: Playing piano in assembly and Any Dream Will Do 16:15: Mr Fogg’s and international audience members 18:15: The one song that everyone knows around the world! 19:55: The Great American songbook vs Cockney tunes 23:40: Pearly Kings and Queens and domestic piano playing 27:00: Cockney humour and My Old Man Said Follow the Van 30:17: Tom’s singalongs and newer singalong classics 36:20: Why did Tom decide on the Cockney tradition as he’s NOT a Cockney! 38:07: Ta-ra-ra-boom-de-ay school songbook 39:50: I lift up my finger. Forgotten school assembly tune 41:38: Why Cockneys “have a banana”, rhyming slang and Wilton’s Music Hall 50:47: Celebrating St George’s Day and bringing a positive spin to the English song tradition 55:18: Is singing national songs appropriate? Jerusalem and sea shanties 01:00:00: Changing the show for children and the benefits of a singalong 01:07:30: Tom’s favourite school assembly tune Streets of London singalong 01:10:20: Streets of London singalong 01:12:20: Final thoughts and wrap up Find Tom Carradine online: https://www.tomcarradine.com/ Send a text ~~~ I am on tour all year, across the UK and you can book your tickets at: https://jamesbpartridge.com/ ~~~ Follow me on socials at: Instagram: http://instagram.com/jamesbpartridge Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JamesBPartridgeOfficial/ TikTok: http://tiktok.com/@jamesbpartridge YouTube: http://youtube.com/jamesbpartridge Send me a message: notesfromschoolpodcast@gmail.com ~~~ Find the podcast on all streaming services and leave a review if you've enjoyed it! Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6Ta8ch0BjnuV6GDgGv7BN2?si=5270e69bbb9a431e Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/notes-from-school/id1790674992 Amazon: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/054bf11f-a134-42c7-9114-f1398cc3fbe8/notes-from-school

This week we invite James Sills into the assembly hall for a great conversation. We chat about the links between football and singing which have combined in his awesome new project called Bantam of the Opera for BBC Sounds. This is a project bringing together Bradford City fans for the year of the city of culture in Bradford. James, Lesley Garett and Chris Kamara are linking up to get the football fans singing! James talks also about the work he did online with Sofa singers plus his journey into leading choirs. Before we get to the chat, I have a forgotten school assembly classic as this week’s singalong. It is called I watch the sunrise. Let me know if you know this one or if you have any requests for future singalongs. If you have enjoyed the episode please feel free to leave a comment or review. Timestamps below if you want to skip to any bit in particular. All questions and/or requests can be sent to notesfromschoolpodcast@gmail.com . Timestamps: 0:00: Intro and catch up 02:51: ‘I watch the sunrise’ singalong 05:40: James Sills interview 10:10: Bradford as city of culture and intro to Bantam of the Opera 13:55: James’s journey into leading choirs 18:35: Links with football 23:30: Singing as a safe space and corporates 28:40: James’s book ‘Do Sing’ 29:55: Sofa singers and virtual choirs 34:13: Recognition for work in music 37:55: Bantam of the Opera 45:23: Singing as therapy and music in schools 50:10: Power of communal singing 52:10: James’s favourite school assembly song 55:15: Conclusion to interview 58:24: Round-up and goodbyes Send a text ~~~ I am on tour all year, across the UK and you can book your tickets at: https://jamesbpartridge.com/ ~~~ Follow me on socials at: Instagram: http://instagram.com/jamesbpartridge Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JamesBPartridgeOfficial/ TikTok: http://tiktok.com/@jamesbpartridge YouTube: http://youtube.com/jamesbpartridge Send me a message: notesfromschoolpodcast@gmail.com ~~~ Find the podcast on all streaming services and leave a review if you've enjoyed it! Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6Ta8ch0BjnuV6GDgGv7BN2?si=5270e69bbb9a431e Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/notes-from-school/id1790674992 Amazon: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/054bf11f-a134-42c7-9114-f1398cc3fbe8/notes-from-school

It’s the Easter holidays! Or it nearly is, depending on what school you’re at. That means it is time to decide on the best ever Easter singalongs, whether we look at some traditional classic hymns or some newer school assembly tunes. Thanks to those that voted for their favourites and let me know if your choice was left off the list! Either way, most of these songs will be stuck in your head. Before we get to the Easter singalongs, there are some great questions and emails which even include a Calon Lân singalong in Welsh. Hopefully I got most of the pronunciation correct. If you have enjoyed the episode please feel free to leave a comment or review. Timestamps below if you want to skip to any bit in particular. All questions and/or requests can be sent to notesfromschoolpodcast@gmail.com . Timestamps: 0:00: Intro, catch up and what’s to come 05:22: I’m writing a book! 07:17: Email about Welsh singing 09:40: Calon Lan singalong 11:05: Q&A section 18:04: Best Easter songs honorary mentions 25:01: Easter bangers intro 26:53: Top 10 Easter bangers! 32:58: Round-up and goodbyes Send a text ~~~ I am on tour all year, across the UK and you can book your tickets at: https://jamesbpartridge.com/ ~~~ Follow me on socials at: Instagram: http://instagram.com/jamesbpartridge Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JamesBPartridgeOfficial/ TikTok: http://tiktok.com/@jamesbpartridge YouTube: http://youtube.com/jamesbpartridge Send me a message: notesfromschoolpodcast@gmail.com ~~~ Find the podcast on all streaming services and leave a review if you've enjoyed it! Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6Ta8ch0BjnuV6GDgGv7BN2?si=5270e69bbb9a431e Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/notes-from-school/id1790674992 Amazon: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/054bf11f-a134-42c7-9114-f1398cc3fbe8/notes-from-school

Why is it so important to introduce children to music from an early age? This week I had a slightly different performing experience to usual as my Sunday morning was spent doing my show with a twist: the audience were mostly under the age of 5! Afterwards I had a great chat and interview with Polly Ives who runs Concerteenies which provides live music experiences for parents and young children. In the chat we touch on the importance of early years music experiences and also the future of music education. Even if you don’t have children yourself, or if you don’t work in education then I’m sure you will really enjoy the chat we have. If you have enjoyed the episode please feel free to leave a comment or review. Timestamps below if you want to skip to any bit in particular. All questions and/or requests can be sent to notesfromschoolpodcast@gmail.com . Timestamps: 0:00: Intro and gig catch up 07:02: Interview and intro to Polly Ives 08:55: The acts that perform with Concerteenies 10:45: Any unexpected reactions from the children? 11:55: Did online sessions work? 14:50: How does music impact early childhood development? 17:27: The benefits for parents of providing live music to children 19:39: How parents can incorporate music into the daily life of their children 20:45: The misconceptions of Early Years music 23:20: What are the next plans for Concerteenies? 27:45: Pitching to adults as well as children 28:55: Polly’s favourite school banger 31:20: Round-up and goodbyes! Send a text ~~~ I am on tour all year, across the UK and you can book your tickets at: https://jamesbpartridge.com/ ~~~ Follow me on socials at: Instagram: http://instagram.com/jamesbpartridge Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JamesBPartridgeOfficial/ TikTok: http://tiktok.com/@jamesbpartridge YouTube: http://youtube.com/jamesbpartridge Send me a message: notesfromschoolpodcast@gmail.com ~~~ Find the podcast on all streaming services and leave a review if you've enjoyed it! Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6Ta8ch0BjnuV6GDgGv7BN2?si=5270e69bbb9a431e Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/notes-from-school/id1790674992 Amazon: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/054bf11f-a134-42c7-9114-f1398cc3fbe8/notes-from-school

The questions were thrown open this week on my socials. I had some great obscure song requests come in alongside a prompt to explore the best British advert jingles. I even get some AI opinions on this before I do a deeply educational analysis of the iconic Toys R Us theme which is an “an all-out banger” according the YouTube comments. I had to figure out WHY it is so good! Let me know what your favourite advert jingle was, growing up! If you have enjoyed the episode please feel free to leave a comment or review. Timestamps below if you want to skip to any bit in particular. All questions and/or requests can be sent to notesfromschoolpodcast@gmail.com . Timestamps: 0:00: Intro, school exams and catch up 07:15: Upcoming gigs shoutout 12:40: Emails and obscure song requests 16:30: There was a princess long ago 18:05: At half past 3 we go home to tea 19:45: Question and Answers 26:03: What’s the best advert tune? 27:40: Chat GPT’s Top 10 advert jingles 37:09: TOYS R US DEEP DIVE 45:12: Goodbyes! Send a text ~~~ I am on tour all year, across the UK and you can book your tickets at: https://jamesbpartridge.com/ ~~~ Follow me on socials at: Instagram: http://instagram.com/jamesbpartridge Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JamesBPartridgeOfficial/ TikTok: http://tiktok.com/@jamesbpartridge YouTube: http://youtube.com/jamesbpartridge Send me a message: notesfromschoolpodcast@gmail.com ~~~ Find the podcast on all streaming services and leave a review if you've enjoyed it! Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6Ta8ch0BjnuV6GDgGv7BN2?si=5270e69bbb9a431e Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/notes-from-school/id1790674992 Amazon: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/054bf11f-a134-42c7-9114-f1398cc3fbe8/notes-from-school

It was an absolute delight to spend nearly an hour talking to Graham Kendrick about his songwriting craft, the connection of worship music and of course the ultimate school assembly banger: Shine Jesus Shine! In the timestamps below you can see the topics we discuss and make sure you listen ALL the way to the end as there is a special one-off performance of Shine Jesus Shine live at the Tunbridge Wells Assembly Hall on 16th March. I’d love to know your thoughts on the conversation and let me know any comments or questions you may have. If you have enjoyed the episode please feel free to leave a comment or review. Timestamps below if you want to skip to any bit in particular. All questions and/or requests can be sent to notesfromschoolpodcast@gmail.com . Timestamps: 0:00: Introduction to Graham Kendrick and what’s coming up 01:37: Graham Kendrick interview begins 03:10: How does he feel about Shine Jesus Shine being an assembly banger? 05:27: How did Shine Jesus Shine get into schools around the UK? 07:41: Did Graham know it would be a hit? 12:48: Taking Shine Jesus Shine to Spring Harvest 17:13: What was the songwriting transition to writing for worship? 18:15: Was there much push-back against rock instruments? 20:45: Graham’s new songwriting and new album 24:00: Graham’s Dad and the healing joy of communal singing 30:20: Singing Shine Jesus Shine at Glastonbury 31:00: The pop and rock musicians that influenced Graham 34:35: School songs as a new folk tradition 37:05: Finding the ‘heart songs’ with songwriters from other countries 40:35: Has Graham worked in the States? 42:05: The change in school assembly singing and Harvest songs 45:58: Where did the claps in Shine Jesus Shine come from?! 47:35: What else should people listen to? 48:30: Balancing the love of church music with issues with religion 51:40: Graham’s memories of school singing 53:12: Conclusion of the interview 53:42: SHINE JESUS SHINE LIVE PERFORMANCE! Send a text ~~~ I am on tour all year, across the UK and you can book your tickets at: https://jamesbpartridge.com/ ~~~ Follow me on socials at: Instagram: http://instagram.com/jamesbpartridge Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JamesBPartridgeOfficial/ TikTok: http://tiktok.com/@jamesbpartridge YouTube: http://youtube.com/jamesbpartridge Send me a message: notesfromschoolpodcast@gmail.com ~~~ Find the podcast on all streaming services and leave a review if you've enjoyed it! Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6Ta8ch0BjnuV6GDgGv7BN2?si=5270e69bbb9a431e Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/notes-from-school/id1790674992 Amazon: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/054bf11f-a134-42c7-9114-f1398cc3fbe8/notes-from-school

Can you really smash glass with singing?! How do you even find out you can sing opera? Find out the stories behind becoming an opera singer, the state of singing in Wales and much more with today’s chat with Eleri Gwilym. She is currently playing Queen of the Night in the Magic Flute by Mozart and has some fascinating insights into the life of being an opera singer. Thanks for the submitted questions, I hope this podcast clears up some preconceptions about opera and opera singers! Also, wait for the only use of the word ‘undulations’ in a podcast. If you have enjoyed the episode please feel free to leave a comment or review. Timestamps below if you want to skip to any bit in particular. All questions and/or requests can be sent to notesfromschoolpodcast@gmail.com . Timestamps: 0:00: Intro and welcome to Eleri Gwilym 03:20: How old were you when you started learning opera? 04:11: Do they learn the language in general or just learn the songs for the Opera? 05:16: Best primary school hymn to sing In opera style? 05:45: Memories of singing in Swansea 07:19: Can you really smash glass with singing?!! 08:23: How do you even find out you can opera sing?! 09:14: How did you know your voice was suitable for opera? 11:02: What made you get into Opera and not any other music genre? 12:02: What's the most annoying 'opera singer stereotype' you've come across? 16:24: What happens to opera sets after productions? 18:34: How do they look after their voice? 20:04: Any go-to warm ups? 22:00: Singing in Welsh schools and how to encourage singing 25:20: Any way to make opera more accessible? 30:14: Thoughts on Cardiff Uni dropping the Music course 31:40: Studying law over music 33:30: Y Deryn Pur intro and chat 34:56 Y Deryn Pur PERFORMANCE 36:05: Roundup and goodbyes! Send a text ~~~ I am on tour all year, across the UK and you can book your tickets at: https://jamesbpartridge.com/ ~~~ Follow me on socials at: Instagram: http://instagram.com/jamesbpartridge Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JamesBPartridgeOfficial/ TikTok: http://tiktok.com/@jamesbpartridge YouTube: http://youtube.com/jamesbpartridge Send me a message: notesfromschoolpodcast@gmail.com ~~~ Find the podcast on all streaming services and leave a review if you've enjoyed it! Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6Ta8ch0BjnuV6GDgGv7BN2?si=5270e69bbb9a431e Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/notes-from-school/id1790674992 Amazon: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/054bf11f-a134-42c7-9114-f1398cc3fbe8/notes-from-school

Cecil Frances Alexander cracked out some absolute belters in her time. Today’s episode dives into one of her most iconic hymns. It’s one that we all know and love: All Things Bright and Beautiful. I look at all the different versions of the melody, explore the lyrics and even have a cameo Radio 1 message about her by Greg James. Which version of the hymn tune is your favourite? If you have any song requests for future episodes, please do send me a comment, email or message! Timestamps below if you want to skip to any bit in particular. 0:00: Intro 03:00: Weekly Catch Up and small venue appreciation 08:10: Song request chats 10:41: The Golden Cockerel singalong 13:40: Cecil Frances Alexander 15:55: CFA on Radio 1?! 17:35: Tune 1 from Come & Praise (Royal Oak) 19:08: Tune 2 from Come & Praise by Graham Westcott 20:24: Tune by WH Monk 20:42: Tune by John Rutter 21:30: Controversial third verse 22:38: Purple headed mountains 25:15: All Things Bright and Beautiful SINGALONG 27:17: Roundup and goodbyes! Send a text ~~~ I am on tour all year, across the UK and you can book your tickets at: https://jamesbpartridge.com/ ~~~ Follow me on socials at: Instagram: http://instagram.com/jamesbpartridge Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JamesBPartridgeOfficial/ TikTok: http://tiktok.com/@jamesbpartridge YouTube: http://youtube.com/jamesbpartridge Send me a message: notesfromschoolpodcast@gmail.com ~~~ Find the podcast on all streaming services and leave a review if you've enjoyed it! Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6Ta8ch0BjnuV6GDgGv7BN2?si=5270e69bbb9a431e Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/notes-from-school/id1790674992 Amazon: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/054bf11f-a134-42c7-9114-f1398cc3fbe8/notes-from-school