Following the success of last year’s inaugural Manchester outing, the Music & Drama Education Expo will be back in the city later this year in a larger venue, Old Trafford’s Manchester Suite.
The free-to-attend conference will present a range of best-practice approaches from across the UK, with an emphasis on showcasing the best of Manchester and the North West.
Highlights for drama teachers
Internationally renowned theatre company Frantic Assembly will give a taster of their school workshops for students aged 14+, at a keynote session for drama teachers.
Mark Ruddick, Head Instructor at Squire Stage Combat, will demonstrate how to confidently bring stage combat into the classroom at an interactive workshop.
If you’re looking for imaginative ways to introduce children to Shakespeare, North West Drama’s Peter Kennedy and Sue Harding will be on hand to offer advice.
There will also be sessions exploring approaches to assessment at KS3; the secrets to understanding characters and text for those with learning and development needs; and instant impact movement ideas for boosting engagement, attainment and concentration levels in the classroom.
Highlights for music teachers
Theatrical Teaching Artists from Disney’s Aladdin will lead a vocal workshop, using well-known songs from the hit musical to introduce techniques for singing in three and four part harmony.
Representatives from the major exam boards – chaired by record producer Max Wheeler – will consider how best to engage the 21st-century musician, exploring new learning styles and approaches to increase uptake at GCSE.
ABRSM will be launching their brand-new Group Loops resource at the conference, demonstrating how it can be used to generate parts for mixed ability ensembles, and offer teachers creative ways to inspire and develop performing, ensemble and communication skills.
The team behind the award-winning Singing Schools project will show you how to create a culture of singing in your school, using the joy and accelerated learning opportunities afforded by singing to secure better musical, educational and personal outcomes for primary students.
The Leeds-based Yorkshire Association for Music and Special Educational Needs will explore teaching techniques, instruments and room layouts to suit children with various additional needs. And Manchester Metropolitan University’s Jonathan Savage will aim to start a debate on ‘Fixing Music Education’, presenting the findings of the MU’s latest Education Report and aiming to open a positive dialogue about how we can make music education better for everyone.
Other sessions will explore strategies for handling performance anxiety; using music from other cultures in the classroom; and the benefits of cloud-based technology.
Teaching resources from 60 leading arts organisations
You’ll also have the chance to meet fellow teachers, connect with suppliers, and try out hundreds of the latest education resources at an exhibition.
Over 60 brands in the performing arts will be represented, with stands from exam boards and publishers, instrument manufacturers and retailers, professional associations and services.
Music & Drama Education Expo | Manchester takes place on 11 October 2018 at Old Trafford’s Manchester Suite. Book free tickets here.
