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.
Each week, the assembly will start with a catch-up session, a Q&A with listener questions (anything goes!) and we will of course finish with a group singalong and deep dive into your favourite songs from school. Make sure you're sat up straight and get ready to sing every Wednesday with Notes from School with James B Partridge.
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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
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I am on tour all year, across the UK and you can book your tickets at: https://jamesbpartridge.com/
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Introducing...Notes from School with James B Partridge
Wednesday, January 15, 2025 • Duration 01:05
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.
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!)
I am on tour all year, across the UK and you can book your tickets at: https://jamesbpartridge.com/
~~~
Ep 01: One More Step
Season 1 · Episode 1
Wednesday, January 22, 2025 • Duration 44:58
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
Ep 03: Rebellious Scottish songs...from Bonnie Shores to School Floors
Season 1 · Episode 3
Wednesday, February 5, 2025 • Duration 37:17
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!
Ep 04: What are the top 20 UK wedding hymns?
Season 1 · Episode 4
Wednesday, February 12, 2025 • Duration 43:09
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?
I am on tour all year, across the UK and you can book your tickets at: https://jamesbpartridge.com/
Ep 05: Self-confidence through song with Rachel Staunton
Season 1 · Episode 5
Wednesday, February 19, 2025 • Duration 36:33
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
I am on tour all year, across the UK and you can book your tickets at: https://jamesbpartridge.com/
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Ep 08: Ask an opera singer anything! Q&A with Welsh soprano Eleri Gwilym
Season 1 · Episode 8
Wednesday, March 12, 2025 • Duration 37:39
Can you really smash glass with singing?! How do you even find out you can sing opera? Find out the stories behind becoming an opera singer, the state of singing in Wales and much more with today’s chat with Eleri Gwilym. She is currently playing Queen of the Night in the Magic Flute by Mozart and has some fascinating insights into the life of being an opera singer. Thanks for the submitted questions, I hope this podcast clears up some preconceptions about opera and opera singers! Also, wait for the only use of the word ‘undulations’ in a podcast.
If you have enjoyed the episode please feel free to leave a comment or review. Timestamps below if you want to skip to any bit in particular. All questions and/or requests can be sent to notesfromschoolpodcast@gmail.com.
Timestamps: 0:00: Intro and welcome to Eleri Gwilym
03:20: How old were you when you started learning opera?
04:11: Do they learn the language in general or just learn the songs for the Opera?
05:16: Best primary school hymn to sing In opera style?
05:45: Memories of singing in Swansea
07:19: Can you really smash glass with singing?!!
08:23: How do you even find out you can opera sing?!
09:14: How did you know your voice was suitable for opera?
11:02: What made you get into Opera and not any other music genre?
12:02: What's the most annoying 'opera singer stereotype' you've come across?
16:24: What happens to opera sets after productions?
18:34: How do they look after their voice?
20:04: Any go-to warm ups?
22:00: Singing in Welsh schools and how to encourage singing
Ep 07: All Things Bright and Beautiful
Season 1 · Episode 7
Wednesday, March 5, 2025 • Duration 28:59
Cecil Frances Alexander cracked out some absolute belters in her time. Today’s episode dives into one of her most iconic hymns. It’s one that we all know and love: All Things Bright and Beautiful. I look at all the different versions of the melody, explore the lyrics and even have a cameo Radio 1 message about her by Greg James. Which version of the hymn tune is your favourite?
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
03:00: Weekly Catch Up and small venue appreciation
08:10: Song request chats
10:41: The Golden Cockerel singalong
13:40: Cecil Frances Alexander
15:55: CFA on Radio 1?!
17:35: Tune 1 from Come & Praise (Royal Oak)
19:08: Tune 2 from Come & Praise by Graham Westcott
Ep 06: A soundtrack for success with Ella Writer plus I Can Sing a Rainbow
Season 1 · Episode 6
Wednesday, February 26, 2025 • Duration 45:47
Following on from last week’s great chat about youth singing and self-confidence, today we now look at how music can help build self-confidence with professional and personal success. In the assembly hall today we are joined by Ella Writer, CEO of coaching company Bright Yellow who imparts some wisdom from her 10+ years experience in consulting for FTSE 250 companies. There’s a musical analysis of WHY music makes us feel a certain way plus a chat about finding your tribe.
Before we get there, I give a huge shoutout to all the volunteer run venues in the country, after a couple of wonderful experiences at gigs this week. There’s a fun Q&A where I discuss piano exams, family gigs and then take a song request for ‘I have seen the golden sunshine’.
Today’s singalong is the infant school tune I Can Sing a Rainbow which is such a classic DESPITE it being the wrong colours!! Enjoy that one to end the show on a high note.
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.
Send me a message: notesfromschoolpodcast@gmail.com
~~~
Find the podcast on all streaming services and leave a review if you've enjoyed it!
Ep 09: Graham Kendrick on Shine Jesus Shine and the legacy of his songwriting
Season 1 · Episode 9
Wednesday, March 19, 2025 • Duration 56:54
It was an absolute delight to spend nearly an hour talking to Graham Kendrick about his songwriting craft, the connection of worship music and of course the ultimate school assembly banger: Shine Jesus Shine! In the timestamps below you can see the topics we discuss and make sure you listen ALL the way to the end as there is a special one-off performance of Shine Jesus Shine live at the Tunbridge Wells Assembly Hall on 16th March. I’d love to know your thoughts on the conversation and let me know any comments or questions you may have.
If you have enjoyed the episode please feel free to leave a comment or review. Timestamps below if you want to skip to any bit in particular. All questions and/or requests can be sent to notesfromschoolpodcast@gmail.com.
Timestamps:
0:00: Introduction to Graham Kendrick and what’s coming up
01:37: Graham Kendrick interview begins
03:10: How does he feel about Shine Jesus Shine being an assembly banger?
05:27: How did Shine Jesus Shine get into schools around the UK?
07:41: Did Graham know it would be a hit?
12:48: Taking Shine Jesus Shine to Spring Harvest
17:13: What was the songwriting transition to writing for worship?
18:15: Was there much push-back against rock instruments?
20:45: Graham’s new songwriting and new album
24:00: Graham’s Dad and the healing joy of communal singing
30:20: Singing Shine Jesus Shine at Glastonbury
31:00: The pop and rock musicians that influenced Graham
34:35: School songs as a new folk tradition
37:05: Finding the ‘heart songs’ with songwriters from other countries
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