How can singing in a choir from a young age boost your self confidence? In this week’s assembly we have a special guest! Rachel Staunton is the co-founder and artistic director of London Youth Choir and she joins me on the podcast this week to talk about LYC and the amazing ways it helps support young singers in the London area. She gives tips for using song at all ages and how self-confidence can be built through choir singing.

For this week’s song, it’s time for a Valentine’s Day theme as Malvina Reynolds’ Magic Penny is lined up for a singalong. It’s a simple song that carries a message that giving love and kindness doesn’t diminish what you have; instead, it returns it to you many times over.

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 and wedding hymns

8:44: Weekly Catch Up!

12:28 Link to self-confidence in music

17:00: GUEST CHAT - Rachel Staunton from London Youth Choir

18:54: Cambiata and changing voices

21:27: How young to start choir singing?

24:02: Getting over being told “you can’t sing!”

26:23: Was Rachel always confident?

28:18: Her favourite school song

30:06: Magic Penny background

33:41: Singalong of Magic Penny

35:19: Roundup and goodbyes!

Send us 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 might be February but this week’s assembly is taking us to wedding season. After a big response of answers online, I have put together the Top 20 of hymns sung at weddings in the UK. Some of the tunes might be surprising, some of them absolute classics and some just big tunes from the school hall. Listen to the end to find out which three I had! For some reason I gave three of them Number 20 but hopefully you get what I mean…

In the catchup this week, I announce some new shows with a Soho Theatre residency coming up plus a couple of festival gigs. The question section leads us into the top wedding hymn segment and a few honourable mentions that didn’t quite make the Top 20. Thanks to everyone that sent in their wedding hymns and memories. I had nearly 500 submissions!

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 and alternate lyrics

3:45: When to start learning piano catchup

8:08: Weekly Catch Up!

12:23 Q&A Pt. 1: Little Boxes and Inch Worm

17:57: Q&A Pt 2: If I had a Hammer and Vicar of Dibley

20:54: Q&A Pt 3: Wedding hymn, 80s classic or football chant?

24:38: Top 20 wedding hymns intro plus bonus 5

25:37: 20-11 top wedding hymns

29:19: 10-2 top wedding hymns

36:28 What 3 songs did I have at my wedding?

37:49: Number 1 UK wedding hymn!

41:00: Singalong of Number 1

41:49: Roundup and goodbyes!

Send us a text

~~~

Follow me on socials at:

Instagram: http://instagram.com/jamesbpartridge

TikTok: http://tiktok.com/@jamesbpartridge

Email me: notesfromschoolpodcast@gmail.com

YouTube: http://youtube.com/jamesbpartridge

~~~

I am on tour all year, across the UK and you can book your tickets at: https://jamesbpartridge.com/

~~~

Find the podcast on all streaming services too.

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

Welcome back to the school hall for a trip back in time to 18th Century Scotland. This week’s assembly takes a historical twist as I dive into some classic Scottish folk tunes that would have been sung in schools across the UK. Discover the link between Loch Lomond, Charlie is my Darling, the Skye Boat Song and My Bonnie lies over the ocean.

In the catchup, I talk about AI in schools and the sad music news from Cardiff University. Plus, do you go to see shows alone? I had some amazing comments from those of you that do solo shows. This week’s Q&A session ranges from Dairylee lunchables, advice for young pianists and my primary school’s best feature.

I hope you enjoy a slightly different singalong section where the history department takes over and introduces tales of Jacobite rebellion and the songs that came from it. A lot of these songs were sung as part of the national Singing Together programme. Let me know if you sang them at school, I’m sure most of us will recognise these timeless tunes but do you know the back story behind them?

Thanks again for listening and please do send me a comment, send in a question or leave a review if you’ve enjoyed it!

0:00: Intro

1:45: AI in schools and Cardiff closures

5:11: Weekly Catch Up!

7:11: Do you see shows alone?

12:23 Q&A Pt. 1: Packed lunches, lyrics and piano playing advice

17:44: Q&A Pt 2: Manx tunes, school orchard and potential guests?

22:30: Singing Together and folk tunes

24:47: My Bonnie lies over the ocean

26:00: A Scottish tale

30:45: Charlie is my darling

31:48: Skye Boat Song

33:16: Loch Lomond

35:41: Roundup and goodbyes!

Send us a text

~~~

Follow me on socials at:

Instagram: http://instagram.com/jamesbpartridge

TikTok: http://tiktok.com/@jamesbpartridge

Email me: notesfromschoolpodcast@gmail.com

YouTube: http://youtube.com/jamesbpartridge

~~~

I am on tour all year, across the UK and you can book your tickets at: https://jamesbpartridge.com/

~~~

Find the podcast on all streaming services too.

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

Welcome back to the school hall for this week’s assembly! Settle down and let’s have fingers on lips while I catch you up on my first gigs of the year, playing at a tech conference and going to the press night of the amazing Kinky Boots featuring my younger brother as the lead.

In this week’s Q&A session I uncover a forgotten classic from the Alleluya! song book, teach you some tongue-twisters (give them a go!), recommend some NEW assembly bangers (Conkers, Spring Chicken etc) and discuss the bizarre and slightly disturbing merits of the Stretch Armstrong children’s toy.

Today’s singalong is one of the ultimate primary school assembly classics. It is…Give Me Oil in my Lamp! Or Sing Hosanna depending on your book. You can learn some harmonies or play along with percussion. I’ll briefly explain the song’s origins in African-American spirituals and think about how our singing in school is almost a new folk tradition of its own.

Thanks again for listening and please do send me a comment, send in a question or leave a review if you’ve enjoyed it!

0:00: Intro

2:22: Correction Section

5:08: Weekly Catch Up!

11:37: Q&A Pt. 1: New assembly bangers and learning tongue twisters

17:39: Q&A Pt 2: Show merch and Stretch Armstrong

20:35: Deep dive request: A Better World (from Alleluya!)

24:24: Song of the week: Give Me Oil in My Lamp

36:08: Full singalong!

37:49: Roundup and goodbyes

Send us a text

~~~

Follow me on socials at:

Instagram: http://instagram.com/jamesbpartridge

TikTok: http://tiktok.com/@jamesbpartridge

Email me: notesfromschoolpodcast@gmail.com

YouTube: http://youtube.com/jamesbpartridge

~~~

I am on tour all year, across the UK and you can book your tickets at: https://jamesbpartridge.com/

~~~

Find the podcast on all streaming services too.

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

How does an online music teacher end up performing nostalgic school assembly songs around the UK at hundreds of shows? Join me, James B Partridge, as I recount my unexpected journey from virtual music lessons to viral TikTok success in the debut episode of "Notes from School." Discover how a simple suggestion to post on TikTok led to an exciting musical adventure that brought the joy of singalongs from the screen to the stage.

In a light-hearted Q&A session, I dive into my DREAM festival gig (it involves Cradle of Filth) while sharing future plans of a Christmas-themed album. We all need a new Little Donkey recording. As music education takes centre stage, I offer insights into the best instruments for children to start with, advocating for the piano as a gateway to a lifelong love of music. Plus, how do we get secondary school pupils singing?!

This week's song is the timeless classic: "One More Step Along the World I Go". I can't wait to learn the Palais Glide. Come join the assembly, and let's keep the spirit of school assemblies alive, one note at a time.

0:00: Intro

3:26: How did Primary School Bangers begin?

16:55: Q&A Pt. 1: Download Fest dreams, Little Donkey and cheese toasties

24:09: Q&A Pt 2: Piano Practice and Secondary School Singing

31:22: Song of the week: One More Step

41:09: Singalong!

43:13: Roundup and goodbyes

Send us a text

~~~

Follow me on socials at:

Instagram: http://instagram.com/jamesbpartridge

TikTok: http://tiktok.com/@jamesbpartridge

Email me: notesfromschoolpodcast@gmail.com

YouTube: http://youtube.com/jamesbpartridge

~~~

I am on tour all year, across the UK and you can book your tickets at: https://jamesbpartridge.com/

~~~

Find the podcast on all streaming services too.

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

Sit up straight and get ready to sing! Introducing...Notes from School. A weekly assembly with James B Partridge (or Mr Partridge to the naughty Year 6s on the back benches!) where we take a deep dive into the songs and stories from your school days.

I'd love to hear your favourite memories, song requests or questions. Send them in to notesfromschoolpodcast@gmail.com. Follow me at @jamesbpartridge. Don’t forget to follow and subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts. Give a little review. Unless you didn’t like it.

Send us a text

~~~

Follow me on socials at:

Instagram: http://instagram.com/jamesbpartridge

TikTok: http://tiktok.com/@jamesbpartridge

Email me: notesfromschoolpodcast@gmail.com

YouTube: http://youtube.com/jamesbpartridge

~~~

I am on tour all year, across the UK and you can book your tickets at: https://jamesbpartridge.com/

~~~

Find the podcast on all streaming services too.

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