Inspire: A CPD Conference for Music Educators Conference Speakers

Enhancing practice, enriching learning, strengthening impact

Herefordshire and Worcestershire Conference Speakers

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Keynote Speaker - Darren Abrahams

Safe to Sing: Breaking Barriers With Music 

As music educators, you already hold one of the most powerful tools for creating Safety, Belonging and Purpose across the entire school community.

Drawing on his practice as a trauma therapist and three decades as a community musician working in schools, refugee camps and fractured communities across the world, Darren reveals how music affects us biologically. psychologically and socially to rebuild trust and safety and open up the potential for human flourishing. Get ready to view your practice in a very different light!

Singer, mentor, trauma therapist, trainer and project leader Darren is a Regenerative Change Maker and arts facilitator working with individuals, organisations and communities. Darren is co-founder of The Human Hive and of the One World Orchestra, an associate artist and Board member of Opera Circus and trainer and Wellbeing Adviser for Musicians Without Borders. He co-presents the Conscious Creative Leadership podcast with Nadine Benjamin MBE, and publishes Spiralling Home, a weekly Substack on sustainable Change Making following the Wheel of the Year. He is co-author of Trauma Attuned Arts: A  Framework for Creative Care, published in English and Ukrainian. Darren is an expert at helping people feel safe while bringing communities together to heal.

Breakout sessions

David Gray – Let’s Play!

Suitable for: Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2

Let's play! - This workshop explores the play along videos David has created for his Youtube channel, and how they can be used in the classroom. During the workshop you'll play a variety of typical primary school instruments, culminating in a performance of one of the Band pieces. The play alongs are designed to get children learning to read music (notation and TAB) independently. 

David Gray is a full time primary music teacher at Lift Barton Hill in Devon and creator of the Youtube Channel, MusicwithMrGray. The Youtube channel consists of play alongs for typical primary school instruments including Ukulele, Recorder, Boomwhacker, Tuned Percussion and Guitar. David loves to create resources and wrote over 30 lessons for ABRSM's Classroom200 Resource and content for the ABRSM’s teacher training program. He has also worked with iCanCompose (creating a composition topic specifically for KS2), is an associate for Octopus Ukulele and regularly works with and composes music for the Devon Music HUB. 

Darren Abrahams

Suitable for: All

Practical Tools for the Music Educator - Through hands-on musical activities and real classroom scenarios, you'll learn simple nervous system techniques to shift students from dysregulation to calm, recognise when a student has moved from safety to threat, and use your voice, instruments and presence to co-regulate challenging moments. Experience how small changes to your sessions can break down barriers to learning across your school. Leave with practical activities you can use immediately - not to add more to your workload, but to transform how you use the musical skills you already have to create genuinely inclusive spaces where all learners can flourish.

David Gray – EYFS songs

Suitable for: EYFS

EYFS songs - This workshop will explore a variety of songs written for EYFS/KS1 using props such as scarves, stretchy bands and parachutes. The songs are a great way to get children consciously and unconsciously feeling the beat/pulse, singing in time with each other, taking turns and developing their memory and understanding of structure. 

Jeffrey Hole – Edexcel and Btec

Suitable for: Key Stage 4 and Key Stage 5

Key Stage 4 Music: Reform changes and what we know so far

This session offers an update for music teachers on the reforms to Key Stage 4 Music, with a particular focus on any updates around content and requirements.

The session will begin by outlining the latest developments in proposed changes to music specifications, providing clear and practical insight into what is currently known and how these reforms may shape the future of Key Stage 4 Music.

The session will conclude with an open Q&A, giving attendees the opportunity to raise questions, seek clarification on both reforms and current practice, and engage in professional discussion with a subject specialist.

Jeffery Hole is Subject Advisor for Music and Music Technology at Pearson. He has extensive experience in the development and delivery of both GCSE, A level and vocational music qualifications, working closely with teachers, senior leaders and regulators to support high-quality teaching and assessment. Jeffery plays a key role in shaping qualification reform, contributing to research, policy discussions and the design of assessment frameworks in line with DfE and Ofqual requirements. 

Young Sounds – Discover session

Suitable for: All

Discover invites teachers to explore how they can ensure the way they teach music gives every child the best opportunity to show their musical talent and potential so it can be spotted, nurtured and developed. The training explores a range of musical games and activities, delving into what they’re really telling us about the young people we work with. We look at creative vs recreative activities, diversity over uniformity, the importance of a curious mindset, time and space for exploration and noise in the classroom. We also discuss strategies for working in large classes and when teaching whole class instrumental programmes. 

For over 26 years, we’ve supported talented young people from low-income families, helping them to overcome financial and social obstacles. Whatever the genre, our strategically targeted programmes help young musicians from across the UK to grow, flourish and fulfil their musical potential. From funding instruments to lessons, to transport, whilst expanding their musical networks and giving them opportunities to perform, we do everything we can to give holistic, tailor-made support to young people in need. We offer bespoke, individual support for each young person’s musical progression. Our programmes not only sustain musical journeys, they also support others to identify and nurture talent wherever they find it.

Wendy Wilson Goddard - Make yours a singing classroom - enhance the music language link

Suitable for: EYFS

Make yours a singing classroom - enhance the music language link - Singing together as a group at a dedicated music time is a fun, valuable and up lifting activity for children to take part in but can we also include more spontaneous singing throughout the day during free play and for daily routines, or use narrative singing to tell a story together?  Join me in exploring how to include simple songs throughout the day in your setting to support language development, confidence in communication, to enhance activities and to make your classroom come alive with singing!

Wendy began her musical career at the University of Huddersfield and the Royal College of Music as a flute player and then as a freelance performer. After working for Hertfordshire Music Service she embarked on a PGCE and taught classroom music in both secondary and primary schools and, for many years as an EYFS and primary music teacher in an independent school. Her passion for teaching young children has grown over the years and she is now EYFS manager for Encore. She is very vocal in promoting the huge benefits of music making with this age group and it’s importance in the development and well being of young children, as a means of developing confidence and social skills and supporting the areas of learning for EYFS.

Gemma King – Inspiring singing at Key Stage 3 and 4

Suitable for: Key Stage 3

Inspiring singing at Key Stage 3/4 - The session will explore how to engage children in singing across KS3 both through repertoire choice and delivery style as well as how to manage the transition from Primary to Secondary, considering students with a wide range of singing experience. 

Gemma King has a wealth of experience as a vocal coach working for Ex Cathedra's Education Team for many years. Gemma was Project Manager for their KS3 ChoirMaker Programme which was awarded Best Education Resource at the Music and Drama Awards in London in 2024.

Beat Goes On – A practical insight into the body percussion

Suitable for: Primary and SEND

A practical insight into the body percussion ideas we explored during 'Sing, Speak, Shine' - Paul Hamlyn Teacher Development Project 

 Word and rhythm-based warm ups
 Using words as a stimulus for body percussion composition
 Talking and practically demonstrating how the ideas have developed pupil oracy and teacher confidence in teaching it.

Ollie Tunmer is the director of ‘Beat Goes On’, a percussion workshop company specialising in STOMP-style Body Percussion and Afro-Brazilian Percussion. 2026 sees them celebrating their tenth year delivering workshops, long term projects and professional development sessions throughout the UK and internationally.  He has been commissioned to write a samba piece for Haringey Music Hub and a piece for body percussion and voices (co-composed with vocal leader/ songwriter Emily Barden) for Royal Birmingham Conservatoire.

Ollie is a former member of the London and European Touring casts of STOMP and its sister show ‘The Lost & Found Orchestra’.  He has appeared on BBC’s ‘The One Show’ and ‘The Let’s Go Club’, and his work has been performed by the National Youth Choir of Great Britain at the Royal Albert Hall.

His best-selling body percussion tutorial ‘Body Beats’, published through Hal Leonard, is available from www.beatgoeson.co.uk

Mitch Oldham is a drummer, percussionist and educator based in Derbyshire. He's worked professionally in music for over 30 years, performing across the UK and internationally in theatre, touring bands, studio sessions and creative projects. Over the years Mitch has worked with artists including Gerry and the Pacemakers, Billie Jo Spears, Lyn Anderson, The Platters and Skyclad, alongside many contemporary original artists.

In 2012 he was selected as one of five UK percussionists to perform with the renowned French company Les Commandos Percu for the Cultural Olympiad ceremonies. Mitch has also received Arts Council funding for creative music development and further percussion study with internationally respected percussionists Jamey Haddad and Tareq Rantisi. He currently performs with Fat Cat Brass, Soupabads, Stilt Batteristas and Sound Catchers. Alongside performing, Mitch has spent decades delivering workshops and educational projects in schools, colleges, prisons, special education settings and the corporate sector, specialising in world percussion styles and creative instrument making.

Mitch is proud to be endorsed by Balbex Sticks and Sweet Deal Drums — and above all still loves what he does.

Beat Goes On – STOMP – style Body Percussion for Key Stage 3 and Key Stage 4

Suitable for: Secondary and SEND

STOMP-style Body Percussion for KS3&4:

 Fun, rhythm-based warm ups
 Development of composition and performance skills, inspired by STOMP
 Using 'rhythmonics' (rhythmic mnemonics) to learn rhythms from 'Mambo' from West Side Story (BBC Ten Pieces)

Alongside performing, Mitch has spent decades delivering workshops and educational projects in schools, colleges, prisons, special education settings and the corporate sector, specialising in world percussion styles and creative instrument making.

Mitch is proud to be endorsed by Balbex Sticks and Sweet Deal Drums — and above all still loves what he does.

Charanga and Steph Wellings - Creative Approaches to Teaching Music - A SEND Focus

Suitable for: SEND

Creative Approaches to Teaching Music – A SEND Focus. This session is designed for teachers working with young people with a range of special educational needs and disabilities, and puts inclusive, creative music-making at its heart.

We'll explore a range of tools and resources available on the Charanga Platform, and focus on how they can be adapted to meet the diverse needs of your students.

During the workshop, Steph Wellings from Chadsgrove School will share how she tailors and adapts resources to engage and inspire her pupils, offering real-world strategies you can take straight back to your classroom.

Mark Cardy, Charanga’s Education Director, has extensive knowledge of the UK’s music education landscape. He began his career as a brass teacher with Surrey Arts and Berkshire Maestros before working as a secondary music teacher, and subsequently holding senior positions as Head of Brass, Head of Whole Class Instrumental Teaching, and Senior Instrumental Leader at Surrey. Alongside his work with Charanga's partner music services, Mark oversees the organisation's CPD & Training programme, supporting teachers across the UK and beyond.

Steph Wellings has over 20 years' experience working with pupils aged 2–19 with physical disabilities, sensory impairments, complex medical needs and learning difficulties. Originally trained as a Secondary Music Teacher, she later completed a Master's Degree in Community Music, strengthening her commitment to inclusive music-making and SEND education. She is currently Music Teacher at Chadsgrove School in Worcestershire, where she teaches across a range of pathways, leads a successful Open Orchestra, and champions accessible, meaningful musical opportunities for all young people.

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Music Tech - Barriers and Solutions to embedding music technology on a budget

Suitable for: Primary

Barriers and Solutions to embedding music technology on a budget: A talk about the common barriers faced by primary teachers when embedding music tech into the school offer, along with solutions to those problems. It will be centred around free browser based tools (including several that are excellent for SEND). I will also explore how to create a simple 6 week curriculum plan, using these tools, that addresses the Model Music Outcomes for a year group. 

Bradley Smith is a music education consultant, former Assistant Head of Service at Leicestershire Music, and founder of Music Tech Hub. He specialises in inclusive, low-anxiety approaches to music technology in schools, working nationally with teachers, music services, and industry partners including Yamaha, Digit, Cosmo, Serato, and emerging music tech start-ups. His low-anxiety model for designing and delivering music technology schemes of work has been adopted by over ten music services across the UK, spanning disciplines such as turntablism, finger drumming, iPad-based music making, and inclusive music technology.

Music Tech - Turntablism and tech at GCSE

Suitable for: Secondary

Turntablism and tech at GCSE : A hands-on understanding of the fundamental skills of Turntablism (Scratch DJing) followed by examples of how this discipline can be contextualised and performed at GCSE.

Catherine Atkinson

Suitable for: Primary

Often as a music subject leader in a primary school it can be challenging to spread the message about the importance of music both as a subject and throughout the curriculum or school day. Join Catherine Atkinson to explore approaches to promoting music in your school and amongst staff. You will go away with lots of ideas from this session and also have the opportunity to share and discuss specific challenges.

Catherine Atkinson is the Director of Professional Learning at Rivers C of E Academy Trust which has 15 primary and first schools across Worcestershire, Sandwell and Dudley as well as an Alternative Provision setting.

Throughout her career, she has been passionate about music education and the arts. She recently designed the music curriculum for the schools in the Trust and works closely with Severn Arts to ensure all children experience the transformational effect of music.

Hannah West - Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2 - Developing Your Singing Classroom

Suitable for: Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2

This workshop will cover areas such as:

Warm up ideas

Resources – where to find songs, use of puppets, actions for words etc.

Song Sharing

How to teach a song

How to help children learn words

How to Develop a song – partner songs

Developing vocal Techniques

Suitable for teachers of any experience, this workshop will provide you with the chance to develop your confidence and skills at teaching singing within your classroom. You will learn some fun and interactive songs and explore a range of resources you can use to develop your pupils’ singing skills and establish a love of singing in your school.

After graduating from The University of Warwick in 2000, Hannah worked in North Warwickshire as a class teacher and music co-ordinator. She was then invited to work with Warwickshire Music service where she lead their Song Club for younger children and helped establish the Warwickshire County Boys choir.

Now firmly established in Herefordshire, Hannah works as an instrumental teacher and singing leader in schools across the county and is the vocal coach for Charming Theatre company. Along with her partners in ABF Music, she has lead many large scale singing workshops including organising and delivering the highly successful Sing Spring In project. Hannah continues to perform as a singer and instrumentalist and can regularly be found playing and singing with local folk groups Hops and Hares and Sheila’s Reels.

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