Our ever-popular training for music teachers and practitioners returns on Saturday 21st March, 2020.

Come and develop your knowledge of creating a more inclusive music classroom. Whether you work in a mainstream setting, as a private teacher, in a specialist environment, or any other music-making context, you’ll learn how to realise your pupil’s potential.

You’ll be using ideas from BBC Ten Pieces to create some mind-bending compositions. Figurenotes is SQA approved, so you can use ideas like this in your composition modules.

We’ll get your blood pumping with some group rhythm work. Learn how to develop a sense of pulse and use Figurenotes to build rhythmic complexity quickly and confidently.

The most fun session of every MTT is our big play-together. We get you playing an array of instruments, including some accessible tech (such as iPads), using Figurenotes. You’ll get tips and tricks on how to introduce Figurenotes on different instruments and how to build an ensemble in no time! We’ve got some cracking new tunes for this session and can’t wait to play them with you.

This is just the start of what you can learn from one of our training days. We tailor each day to our participants, so the earlier you book, the more we can cater to what you want to learn.

Edinburgh, EH16 4NT

10am – 4pm

£69.99 – Resource Base members can use RB2020 at checkout for 10% off

Find out more on our ‘Current Training’ page

“I’ve been using Figurenotes with ASN pupil since earlier this year & love it. Was great to hear a bit more from Drake Music Scotland at #sameconf23. Will now expand my use of this excellent resource with pupils to stop ASN being a barrier to learning & participating in music.”

It’s statements like this one that makes the 6am starts worthwhile. We got off to a sleepy start on Thursday and headed off to Stirling University for the 23rd annual SAME Conference (Scottish Association of Music Educators). What a joy to be surrounded by esteemed colleagues in the exhibitor hall and to meet so many current and new Figurenotes users over the two day conference. We even dusted out the old floor piano for a bit of fun with the delegates.

Whilst Rebecca and Emma were mingling behind the Figurenotes stall in the exhibitors lounge, Pete was leading a session on Figurenotes and other inclusive techniques called Everybody Plays – Inclusion Ideas for the Classroom.

Events like these are such a great way to reconnect with colleagues and share good practice. Teachers can often experience isolation and just having the opportunity to bounce ideas off each other and refresh really can help inform your practice. We collected some great stories from Teachers using Figurenotes and how it has helped them in the classroom.

Would you like to share your Figurenotes story with us? Join the group Figurenotes – Let’s Make Music or email us at figurenotes@drakemusicscotland.org

We would like to thank the organisers, all the delegates and exhibitors for taking the time to chat with us. We look forward to the next SAME Conference in 2020.

“Great course, thank you! So many ideas for new functional musical activities.”

“Could we have more please!!!”

What a day!

Big thanks to everyone that came along to our Music Teachers Toolbox training event on Saturday at Drake Music Scotland.

We could not be more delighted by the feedback from our participants. Quotes like these really make all the hard work worthwhile. Just seeing these fantastic teachers and practitioners enjoying themselves, playing music together using Figurenotes and swapping creative ideas is what CPD is all about. But don’t just take our word for it, check out what some of our participants had to say.

Our sessions focused on First Figurenotes and how best to introduce Figurenotes to new users. We held creative composition sessions inspired by BBC Ten Pieces, using pieces of modern art as stimuli.  We played games and told an interactive story about Mr. Whale. All of this fun culminated in a huge Play Together session where we paid tribute to the Ben E. King classic ‘Stand By Me’.

Thanks again to everyone involved and we cannot wait to do it all over again on the 23rd of November 2019! Keep an eye on the Figurenotes website for more information and updates on the next Music Teachers Toolbox. You can also sign up to our mailing list to get regular updates on all things Figurenotes.

We understand how isolating it can be as a teacher or practitioner and hope these events help to form new ideas for using Figurenotes and facilitating music making in general.

If you are looking for somewhere to share your ideas, check out the Facebook page Figurenotes – Let’s Make Music where you can chat to colleagues and get general advice from other Figurenotes users.

Alternatively, drop me an email at figurenotes@drakemusicscotland.org or rebeccadirollo@drakemusicscotland.org with any Figurenotes queries.

Rebecca

“Today’s training has been a fantastic experience. Fantastic course and people! Thank you very much!”

“Music Teacher’s Toolbox has given me a new way to approach teaching, making music easier to understand and play. Everything was fantastic! I got a very comprehensive understanding of Figurenotes. I’ll be back for the next one!”

“Really brilliant! I learned a lot and had a good time. Keep it up!”

You can see why we love running our Figurenotes training days. We consistently get this feedback and it is brilliant to see people ending the day brimming with enthusiasm and inspiration.

Our next Music Teacher’s Toolbox will be announced after Christmas, when our new Figurenotes Officer starts their role. Make sure you sign up to the mailing list for updates. In the meantime, join our Facebook group, ‘Figurenotes – Let’s Make Music’, to network with other teachers and musicians. Let us know what you’d like to see at the next training day by posting within the group.

The group of trainees were brilliantly enthusiastic and got stuck in with all the activities. We worked on building pulse, rhythm, matching skills (inspired by UNO!), and ensemble skills. With Thumbjam solos on the iPad within our Figurenotes band, everyone got stuck into some Blondie at the end of the day.

Thank you to everyone that came for such a fun-filled day. We can’t wait for the next one!

Sign up to the mailing list here to be the first to know about the next Music Teacher’s Toolbox.

“I feel sorry for those people that couldn’t make the training today, as I think they’ve missed out on something great!”

It is always wonderful to get a glowing review from our training sessions. Over two days, this one combined both Figurenotes and demonstrations of the technology that Drake Music Scotland use in their work. If you are interested in booking a bespoke training session or workshop, you can find more details and contact information on our website. 

Last week, we packed up our kit bags and headed off to the University of Aberdeen to train students and recent graduates. The group was wonderfully enthusiastic and full of questions, which we love! We did tonnes of rhythm games, from body percussion to vocal work. Some really interesting pieces were created from modern artworks, all with audience participation! There were brilliant improvisations using the technology, but the sound effect switches were a particular hit. Squealing pigs, anyone?

Working with people who are totally new to Figurenotes is particularly rewarding, especially current students and new teachers. The enthusiasm and imagination that the group brought to the sessions gives a lot of hope for the future of music education.

If you’d like to receive some training in Figurenotes, you can either book a training day for your organisation, or come to one of our Music Teacher’s Toolbox days. The next Music Teacher’s Toolbox takes place on Saturday 24th November, 2018. As usual, it will take place at our space in Edinburgh.

Linking Figurenotes and iPads in a band

Our award-winning training is back!

Due to a flurry of recent training enquiries, we thought we should open booking for November’s Music Teacher’s Toolbox. This time around, Resource Base members get exclusive access to pre-sale booking. Only a limited amount of places will be released, so make sure you grab yours early.

All members of the Resource Base will be sent an email on 25th May containing a link to the online booking form. Complete this form to reserve your training place. Payments can be made when places go on general release on 1st June. Contact Lauren if you don’t receive an email and feel you should have; please remember to check your junk folders first.

You can also use your Resource Base members’ discount code, RB2017, to get 10% off.

The programme is still being finalised, so if there is anything you’d like to see then please let us know in the booking form. We love to tailor these days to the people coming along, so get in early to get the most out of this award-winning CPD.

Not a Resource Base member? You can sign up here, getting access to our library of downloadable resources, discounts, and access to pre-sale booking.

We can’t wait to see you for some more Figurenotes fun!