I am writing this from Music Teacher's new home, having finally moved into the MA Group's office in Herne Hill. I have waved goodbye to Bloomsbury, its noise, its smog, and its beautiful gardens and I have fully embraced the splendour of Brockwell Park. With the clocks having just gone forward (for me), it's the perfect time of the year for lunchtime strolls in the park – and an after-work run if I'm feeling brave!
It's also incredibly exciting to be so close to Brixton, with its reputation for being a brilliant hub for new music and a place where genres and styles come together. While the magazine has been part of the MA Group since December of last year, it's great to finally be inside the same building as a number of amazing music and education titles.
While new things are happening at MT HQ, the rest of the world carries on regardless. We're now in May and whether you're a classroom teacher or a peri, you're likely feeling the impact of end of year exams. The way they come to dominate the lives of young people is not conducive to creativity, which means that it is especially important to take time to remind yourself and your students why you enjoy music. There may be some importance attached to exams but they are not why anyone gets into teaching.
A good balm for the soul can be found at the very end of this magazine, where you can read a lovely interview with this year's winner of our lifetime achievement award, John Davie. In his acceptance speech, he reflected on his decades of service to music education and told us what he'd been up to on the Friday before the awards: ‘There I was, after 60 years in music, sorting music stands and stacking chairs’. I take comfort in the fact that he still enjoys passing on his love of music and his acceptance of all the little jobs that come with it. Long may it all continue.
Technology is the focus of this issue and we'll be looking at exciting new instruments (page 16), how it can benefit disabled students (page 21), and ways that it can make your life easier (pages 31 to 36). The future is now!
