​New Zealand program

*We will be returning to NZ in March 2020. Please sign up for our newsletter if you would like more information about dates, locations and to be notified when bookings open*
​Following two very successful first Musical Futures workshop in 2017, 2018 and March 2019, we are expanding our New Zealand workshop program in 2019.

More locations and workshops will follow later in the year - make sure you have signed up to receive our updates so we can let you know when these are open for booking!
​Who are the workshops for?
  • Primary music specialists and primary classroom teachers with a background in music,
  • Secondary music teachers
  • Tertiary music/education educators
  • Tertiary students studying music or music education

Why attend?
Musical Futures believes music learning works best when young people are making music, and when their existing passion for music is reflected and built-upon in the classroom. Musical Futures was established in 2003 and grounded in academic research, is based on the real-world practices of popular and community musicians.

Musical Futures supports teachers around the world with training, networks and resources to deliver practical, engaging, developmental music programs in the classroom. Currently more than 1.5 million students in 71 countries worldwide benefit from their teachers use of the Musical Futures approach. The widespread adoption of Musical Futures in the UK and Australia means that it is now one of the most successful and sustainable  music education initiatives in schools in those countries.

​What's on the program?

Musical Futures offers a number of units that encompass instrumental, vocal and ensemble foundations,  songwriting, composition and improvisation and aural skill development.  Our New Zealand workshops include the following units of work:

  • Just play - is a practical workshop plus a full easy-to-use resource for primary music specialists and secondary music teachers which explores the Just Play, the skills-building Musical Futures approach.
  • Find Your Voice - an inclusive approach for engaging students of all ages with singing through vocal work and the integration of mobile technology.
  • Groove your classroom - models strategies for composing and improvising through classroom workshopping and shows how these can be delivered in practical ways that are both musical and theoretical
  • The Songwriting workshop explores inventive techniques for teaching contemporary songwriting and is supported by materials that engage students with fresh, hands-on approaches, opening them up to exciting possibilities for storytelling and music creation.
  • Informal learning is a model of self-directed learning that aims to enhance student motivation, enjoyment and skill-acquisition in music lessons by tapping into the real-life learning practices of popular musicians. Unpick how this works in practice and discuss the impact a change of approach can have on music teaching in schools

Plus new units and resources including:

  • Hear Listen Play - aural learning approaches and resources
  • MF Studio - collaborative music technology resources that are platform and operating system neutral
  • MS Styles- extending beyond Just Play MF styles aims to provide students with extension activities that focus on developing authentic stylistic approaches to a range of musical genres

Then there are the materials and resources....
  • Each activity includes take home resource packs and lesson plans you can immediately use in the classroom
  • Membership of Musical Futures to includes access to future members-only resources is included, as is 
  • Access to our international teacher network to share ideas with like-minded teachers across the world.

How does Musical Futures help my students and teaching?
  • Improves the transition from junior to secondary music
  • Develop fresh ideas for composing, improvising and songwriting and whole class work shopping for primary and secondary classes
  • Introduce new ideas for inclusive extra – curricular music in school
  • Challenge more advanced instrumental players through new routes to learning music in class
  • Get more students taking up instrumental lessons on a wider range of instruments
  • Increase participation in concerts and performances
  • Improve engagement with classroom music for all ages
  • Increase numbers of students opting to participate in music
  • Supports and connects with New Zealand and IB curriculum​
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In addition to the workshop and resources your workshop fee includes lunches and refreshments.

Workshop leaders
Our team of workshop leaders comes from the UK and Australia.  Combined they lead over 120 workshops across the world each year where they work with around 2,000 teachers.