Monday Morning Music Survival
We’ve all had that moment.
You glance at the timetable and realise a music class is coming in… and you just haven’t had time to prepare. Maybe it’s been a busy week. Maybe something overran. Maybe life just got in the way.
I’ve been there — many times.
Early on in my teaching career, I really wished I had something reliable to fall back on. Not a full scheme of work. Not a perfect lesson plan. Just a solid idea I knew would work.
That’s where the Monday Morning Music Survival Series came from.
What the Series Is (and Isn’t)
Every Monday, I’ll be sharing short, sharp, classroom-ready music ideas that you can use immediately.
They’re designed to:
Work with minimal resources
Suit both specialists and non-specialists
Get pupils making music quickly
Reduce planning stress
This isn’t about flashy lessons or complicated theory. It’s about giving you a starting point — something you can adapt, stretch, or build on in your own way.
And just as importantly, it’s about reassurance.
Why “Survival”?
Because sometimes that’s exactly what it feels like.
Not every lesson can be groundbreaking. Not every week allows for deep planning. And that’s okay.
The ideas in this series are built on things I return to again and again:
Call and response
Repetition
Simple musical structures
One clear objective
They’re the kinds of lessons that still work when:
You’re short on time
The room isn’t set up
You’re not feeling 100%
The class needs something practical and focused
Who This Is For
This series is especially for:
Primary teachers delivering music without being specialists
Secondary teachers juggling heavy timetables
Anyone who’s ever thought “I just need something that works”
If one idea helps you through a tricky Monday morning, then it’s doing its job.
A Place to Start
Think of the Monday Morning Music Survival Series as a musical safety net.
A place to start when you’re not sure what to do next.
A reminder that simple, well-structured music-making is powerful.
And proof that you don’t need to overcomplicate things to teach music well.
New ideas will land every Monday.
Take what you need. Adapt what you like. And most importantly — keep making music with your classes.
