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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Ep 26: The Endless Harmony of The King's Singers with Chris Bruerton and Julian Gregory
Season 1 · Episode 26
Wednesday, July 30, 2025 • Duration 01:04:52
The school term has ended and in fitting fashion, this will be the final episode of this season of Notes from School. I'm absolutely thrilled to be joined by two members of the legendary vocal group The King’s Singers. I have loved listening to this group since I was a teenager and it's honestly fascinating to hear all about life in the group. I speak to Chris Bruerton and Jules Gregory all about their journeys into the group all the way through to how important singing is for physical and mental health. The musical harmony is literally supported by the emotional harmony between the six singers. Make sure you listen to the end for the quick fire round of questions. Chris and Jules reveal their favourite countries to perform in, ultimate show closers and their favourite tour snacks!
As well as all this, we chat talk about: 👔 Life inside one of the world’s most prestigious a cappella ensembles 🏫 How school music shaped their journeys 🎼 Balancing tradition and innovation in their unique sound 🧠 Music, wellbeing, and mental health on the road 🎵 Why singing still matters—especially in schools today
📣 Find out more about The King’s Singers: https://www.kingssingers.com https://www.instagram.com/kingssingers/ https://www.facebook.com/kingssingers
Ep 25: Help Me! I’m a Teacher at the End of Term with Mr Firth
Season 1 · Episode 25
Wednesday, July 23, 2025 • Duration 53:23
Fingers on lips! The digital school assembly of Notes from School this week invites in the internet’s favourite Year 2 teacher and creator of the podcast Help Me! I’m a Teacher!: the brilliant Mr Firth.
On a very hot school night, I gave Mr Firth a Zoom call which hopefully didn’t trigger too many traumatic memories from the dark days of the online teaching during lockdown. During our nearly hour-long chat we talk about surviving the end of term with humour intact, juggling classroom chaos with content creation and getting the correct rhythm of a classic school assembly banger!
Expect laughs, honesty, and a heartfelt chat about life on the front line of primary teaching in 2025. Whether you’re a teacher, ex-teacher, or just someone who wants to know how you can balance being a full time Year 2 teacher and a social media sensation, this is a must listen!
If you have enjoyed the episode please feel free to leave a comment or review. All questions and/or requests can be sent to notesfromschoolpodcast@gmail.com.
I am on tour all year, across the UK and you can book your tickets at: https://jamesbpartridge.com/
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Ep 24: Redefining the Recorder with Sarah Jeffery (Team Recorder)
Season 1 · Episode 24
Wednesday, July 16, 2025 • Duration 46:42
In this episode of Notes from School, I meet the fantastic Sarah Jeffery. She is a professional recorder player, professor at Royal College of Music and the creator behind the wildly popular YouTube channel Team Recorder. From when I started this podcast, I really wanted to do an episode about the iconic primary school instrument and how it does in fact have a fascinating life beyond those early school days!
During our chat we discuss: 👉 How Sarah is changing the way the world sees (and hears!) the recorder 👉 Life as a professional musician and content creator 👉 School music memories, recorder myths, and moments of pure musical joy 👉 Her favourite videos, behind-the-scenes chaos, and advice for aspiring players
Whether you can crack out a masterful rendition of Three Blind Mice or just simply curious about the recorder, Sarah gives us an inspiring look at one of music’s most misunderstood instruments.
If you have enjoyed the episode please feel free to leave a comment or review. All questions and/or requests can be sent to notesfromschoolpodcast@gmail.com.
I am on tour all year, across the UK and you can book your tickets at: https://jamesbpartridge.com/
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Ep 23: Post-Glasto catch-up with Dan Partridge
Season 1 · Episode 23
Wednesday, July 9, 2025 • Duration 37:26
After a week’s recovery, Notes from School is back with the return of Dan Partridge to catch up on the madness of the Glastonbury experience! If you’re missing the festival then hopefully you’ll enjoy this catch-up. If you’re sick of hearing about it then this will be the last you hear me chat about it 🤣
If you have enjoyed the episode please feel free to leave a comment or review. All questions and/or requests can be sent to notesfromschoolpodcast@gmail.com.
Ep 22: Glastonbury hype and chat with Dan Partridge
Season 1 · Episode 22
Tuesday, June 24, 2025 • Duration 40:00
This week I have invited my brother, and musical theatre star, Dan Partridge onto the Notes from School podcast. We chat about everything Glastonbury Festival, from our favourite acts and areas to the experience of performing there in 2024. I try not to make Dan to sad as he is on tour this summer and can’t make the festival…
Apologies also for the lack of episode last week. I recorded a whole special episode tribute to Brian Wilson passing and the Beach Boys but I dropped my hard drive and lost all the files! Maybe I will do it again at some point. In the meantime, I hope you enjoy this and if you’re going to the festival…see you on the farm!
If you have enjoyed the episode please feel free to leave a comment or review. All questions and/or requests can be sent to notesfromschoolpodcast@gmail.com.
Send me a message: notesfromschoolpodcast@gmail.com
Ep 21: The Disturbing History of Nursery Rhymes
Season 1 · Episode 21
Wednesday, June 11, 2025 • Duration 40:18
What do "Ring a Ring o’ Roses" and "Three Blind Mice" have in common? They're MUCH darker than you remember. In this episode of Notes from School, I take a look at the surprising (and occasionally horrifying) history behind classic nursery rhymes. Expect plague, beheadings, and wool-based tax policy, the perfect themes to get kids singing!
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.
I am on tour all year, across the UK and you can book your tickets at: https://jamesbpartridge.com/
~~~
Follow me on socials at:
Ep 20: Mega Song Request and Q&A special!
Season 1 · Episode 20
Wednesday, June 4, 2025 • Duration 32:45
We’ve hit the 20th episode milestone! To celebrate, this week is a bumper crop of song requests, as well as a short Q&A section. If you have any song requests for future episodes or suggestions for topics to cover then feel free to comment or write in. Hope you enjoy the songs today!
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 the episode
1:38: Weekly Catch up
3:08: Glastonbury times and show news
6:36: Lord of the Rings messages and comments
11:55: Songs for anxious adults message
13:48: Q&A - Are Panda Pops “woke”?
16:13: Q&A - How is the book project going?
17:10: Q&A - Favourite tour venue?
18:17: Mega song request special
19:15: O Jesus I have promised
20:16: Water of Life
21:46: You Raise Me Up
23:05: BINGO
24:20: The Bell of Creation
25:05: Matchstalk Men and Matchstalk Cats and Dogs
Ep 19: Tolkien’s Forgotten Song Cycle, “The Road Goes Ever On”.
Season 1 · Episode 19
Wednesday, May 28, 2025 • Duration 37:54
What do Hobbits hum and Elves sing? Join me for this week’s assembly as Tolkien’s poetry meets Donald Swann’s piano in a musical walk through Middle-Earth. In this week’s episode of Notes from School, I explore “The Road Goes Ever On”, the enchanting song cycle that sets Tolkien’s poetry to music. Forget the classic LOTR soundtrack briefly and discover how Tolkien would have actually HEARD these songs. I’ll sing you some of each tune from the song cycle and you’ll hear how Donald Swann gave voice to the songs of the Shire, Lothlórien, and beyond.
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.
Following on from last week’s episode, today’s assembly is focussed on the classic tune: I Vow to Thee, My Country. I’ll be exploring the history and tension behind one of Britain’s most emotional hymns.
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 to the topics today
2:20: Catch up
5:19: Obscure question on email
7:00: I Vow to Thee intro
11:30: How did this hymn come about?
12:35: Who wrote the words?
15:31: Poem reading plus extra verse!
18:08: History of lyricist Cecil Spring Rice
21:06: Link to Gustav Holst
25:10: Second tune by Ralph Vaughan Williams “Abinger”
29:00: The controversial patriotism of I Vow to Thee
I am on tour all year, across the UK and you can book your tickets at: https://jamesbpartridge.com/
~~~
Follow me on socials at:
Ep 17: Jerusalem, England’s Most Iconic but Controversial Hymn
Season 1 · Episode 17
Wednesday, May 14, 2025 • Duration 40:01
Jerusalem. It has been one of the most recognisable and iconic English tunes of the past 100 years. But is it as universally loved as we remember and can it even be called a hymn? How has a story about Jesus taking a road trip to Glastonbury led to a First World War patriotic anthem, through the lens of a Georgian revolutionary poet.
In this week’s assembly, I do a deep dive into Jerusalem, talking about its history, the association with the WI and even how it can signify the English musically. I really hope you enjoy this episode and I would love to know any memories of singing it plus any comments or thoughts about what I have to say!
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: Jerusalem poem reading
0:50: Catch up
4:10: Education and positive music news
7:20: Intro to Jerusalem
10:03: A vicar’s PM about Jerusalem
11:58: How did the hymn Jerusalem come about? William Blake, Robert Bridges and Hubert Parry
17:23: What makes the Jerusalem introduction so stirring?
22:02: Why Jerusalem is musically English
25:14: How the hymn became the anthem of the Women’s Institute
27:16: Becoming used by political movements
29:24: Is Jerusalem even a hymn?
33:16: Memories from social media
37:21: Jerusalem singalong
38:50: Final thoughts and wrap up
Notes from School, a podcast by James B Partridge - Stats, Episodes and Rankings - My Podcast Data
