Music Teachers Association

I am a proud member of Music Teachers Association and soon will take over as President. Having been a member for a number of years, I know the true benefits of being involved. It is more than networking, zooms and resources. It is connection, people and support. I firmly believe that every music teacher needs all the help they can get. It has been a tough time for so many teachers, and in both the state and private sector we face so many challenges.

State & Private

For colleagues in the private sector we have seen the impact of changes in VAT. This has been a huge issue for so many schools and something we all need to be aware of. All music teachers have also suffered with changes in budgets, the impact of the EBacc and the covid pandemic. With falling numbers at GCSE & A-Level, staff have lost jobs, changed roles suddenly and faced an uncertain future. The need for unity in our sector is massive.

And yet in the midst of all this, music teaching remains an amazing job. We get to work with students in so many settings, both in and out of the classroom. We see the joy of students learning instruments, composing music and performing concerts. Music teachers make a difference every day, and Music Teachers Association captures some of this in its termly publications and weekly podcasts. I am always amazed by the stories of how music is changing lives up and down the country.

Highs and lows

I am in a position that means I am entirely aware of the highs and lows. I speak to teachers regularly and always aim to support them. Some are working in isolation, others are in large departments. There are teachers facing huge changes, and others just looking for advice. I am heartbroken when I hear stories of music being cut in schools – and there is little I can do but offer a listening ear. Whilst I have experience of music teaching, there are some things that I simply cannot solve. But listening is important and I always like to listen and see if I can help.

AI

There are also wider issues that we face in the modern world, AI being a main one. How will we navigate the ever changing world of Chat GPT? Will there be jobs for musicians, and how can we adapt to the 21st century world! But maybe jobs will be created for our students, but jobs that don’t yet exist. All of these kind of issues are covered by MTA and we always strive to look at the key issues we all face.

My motivation

So why am I writing all this stuff? What possible motivation can I have for sharing these thoughts with you?

I guess the answer is simple – I love my job, see the true value of music education and want to do all I can to support the sector. I don’t have all the answers, make lots of mistakes in my own practice – but I care deeply. If you have ever met me you will know that I sometimes care too much, and that can have a negative effect on me.

What I want to do with this blog is encourage you to not suffer in silence. If you are struggling, then reach out for support. But I also want to encourage you to shout from the rooftops about the power of music in schools. I know that we need to avoid toxic positivity (trust me I know). But we mustn’t avoid showing others that music is important. Where we have success, let’s share it. Where we have struggles, let’s talk about it. Where we can unite, let’s unite.

Music Teachers Association

As you can imagine I am going to firstly suggest that you join MTA. We are doing all we can to support the sector and we want to see our membership and impact grow. The next step is then for you to come to our conference in May. If you are looking for advice, support and new connections, then please join us. I have managed to get a great deal for my blog readers and you can get a whopping 17.5% off the cost of the conference. You will come with questions, problems and issues, but you will leave with answers, friends and solutions.

Next steps

Here are some next steps for you!

• Get in touch with me if you fancy a chat or need support. I will try and get back to you! But I am happy to read an email if you need to vent (james@musicteachers.org)
• Join Music Teachers Association, you won’t look back and it is really not expensive at all. You need to be a member to come to conference.
• Come to the MTA conference and save 17.5% with this code – Manwaring175
• Don’t suffer in silence and don’t hold back the positives.

I hope you have a great day! I love my job, but it isn’t easy at times. I wouldn’t cope without the friends I have made along the way and the support I get from so many people. Music Teachers Association has been a lifeline and I hope that you might join us! I would love to see you in Bristol!