Amazing to meet Paul Brennan, conductor of Bolton Youth Orchestra 1971-1979, for the first time in 45 years. He was an inspiration for me (and many others) as a young player. We talked a lot about the rehearsals and concerts in Bolton and in Paderborn. It was great to reminisce.

40 years ago today, this happened.

"Every primary school should become a "singing school” where music, drama, and visual arts are just as integral as literacy and numeracy, a new report suggests." www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home...

Fascinating.... www.theguardian.com/music/2025/f...

"...children enter classrooms with fewer and fewer of the skills needed to begin their formal education. The key culprit...screen time." www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

Heartbreaking 💔 news that Joseph Talbot died on Saturday aged 20. The most inspiring young man, he met his massive health challenges with bravery, fortitude and perseverance. His personality and smile lit up every room. I was privileged to know him. RIP J xx

6 years old "I'm one little boy and it started with one tub and one dream to save the planet, and now look how many we've got." What a star. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Happy Feast of the Epiphany to all that celebrate.

🎶 On the Twelfth Day of Christmas.....🎶 Not many drummers to be seen or heard today, except perhaps for the one across the pond who consistently drums up bile and nonsense.

Finally put up my Christmas tree

"For behold, darkness shall cover the earth...." A dramatic and staggeringly portentous aria, from Handel's Messiah. Here's James Bundy with Staffordshire Symphony Orchestra, in a live performance, conducted by yours truly. soundcloud.com/nigel-t-6194...

Fabulous lunch with Ian Duckworth, and Tim and Hilary Reynish. An immense treat!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ review for Paul McCartney at the Co-op Live. What an extraordinary musician, and still going strong. Very hard to believe he's 82. www.theguardian.com/music/2024/d...

Great to catch up with breweychris.bsky.social today. We exchanged tales of recent travel experiences, discussed our respective plans for 2025, and shared stories of our time as pupils at Hayward Grammar School, where we first met in 1969. How time has flown...

What a super story: “...I would say that it’s the most worthwhile task in life, to make music and do it well.” www.theguardian.com/music/2024/d...

Hector Berlioz was born on this day in 1803. What better way to toast his musical genius than listen to his "Symphonie Fantastique". Here's the 5th movement performed in 1976 by Orchestre National de France conducted by Leonard Bernstein. www.youtube.com/watch?v=cao6...

What an outrageously brilliant sound. www.youtube.com/watch?v=fXOT...

For all you fellow piano enthusiasts, how long can the lowest C last on a Steinway grand piano? I was surprised by the answer, it's over a minute! www.youtube.com/watch?v=zox0...

Tinnitus has returned. This time in a constant Ab. So annoying.

Duolingo progress report. It seems I'm doing ok!

I'd support this petition. First heard this in the students' union bar at university in 1978. Musical gloriousness!

Delighted with my new bread machine and especially the book of recipes my son and his wife bought me. This one’s a “French Crusty” and it’s really quite delicious!

The firm doing refurb at the National Opera Studio today is On Brand.

When an orchestra grabs the momentum of a piece and threatens to run away with it, sometimes all you can do as a conductor is to go with it, enjoy it, join in, and lead the biggest accelerando! Farandole, L’Arlésienne Suite No.2 by Bizet is such a piece. www.youtube.com/watch?v=VDHo...

Congratulations to Anna, a worthy winner of BBC Young Chorister of the Year. All three finalists were fantastic and heartfelt congratulations to them all. Anna sang with such musicality and maturity, it belied the title of "Junior". Brava! www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/epis...

My Funny Valentine Posted for no other reason than it's - a bloody good tune - a great arrangement - a super performance www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sfnc...

First attempt at baking bread. It looks shabby but tastes delicious.

Tonight's listening: Four Scottish Dances, Arnold arr. John P Paynter. A wonderful piece and a superb arrangement. /1 www.youtube.com/watch?v=0HHN...

Interesting article. It criticizes ACE for its monochrome view of music hub success being confined to output rather than outcomes, but it doesn't say anything about what "quality" (of experience) means. /1 www.musicteachermagazine.co.uk/content/opin...

This little guy, Henri, was born exactly 18 years before me. He perished aged only 6. Among millions of others in a terrible worldwide tragedy. Here am I thriving in my 69th year enjoying freedom and life. Think of Henri and the millions of his compatriots. @auschwitzmemorial.bsky.social

Probably the most humorous card I’ve received today. Team Talbot’s 3rd child chose it. He’s in BIG trouble the next time I see them. 🤣

Trester. A perfect digestive. A gift from my friends in Schleswig-Holstein. I first tasted it in Dresden when visiting there with them in September. A pomace brandy - similar to Italian grappa and French marc. It’s fab!

t's an exquisite feeling to bathe in the love sent by family and friends around the world on my birthday today. I'm extremely lucky.

A great article about a great musician and educator. "We need to be much more imaginative in connecting professional music with schools. It’s a profoundly wonderful world, and we need to make sure the door is open to every child." www.continuoconnect.com/features/pau...

An early birthday celebration at Ocean Palace, Darwen. Fabulous company with excellent food and wine.

Is there someone out there with availability for a January start and who might be looking for a Music Education Leadership role on a fixed term 12 month position? The new post holder will work with me as part of the London West Music Hub. #MusicEducation. jobs.hillingdon.gov.uk/vacancies/25...

Happy 111th birthday to Benjamin Britten born #otd 1913. One of England's finest composers of the 20th century.

Happy St Cecilia's Day to all that celebrate Patron saint of music and musicians.

"You would think conductors have more cognitive reserve than you can shake a stick at – to conduct an orchestra involves complex tasks...All of that sounds good for one’s brain and soul, and, just possibly, for one’s life expectancy." www.theguardian.com/music/2024/n...

The passing of an unsung guitar hero www.theguardian.com/music/2024/n...

🧵What is “quality” in music education? Can “quality” even be defined? Here’s a short thread 🧵on what I think constitutes “quality” in music education /1

Never say “please play that part louder” to the trombone section 🤣

Des pas sur la neige - Claude Debussy

It's hard to believe that Charles Dumont's "Non, je ne regrette rien" (composed for and famously sung by Edith Piaf) was written the year I was born. He wrote many other brilliant songs. The great man has sadly passed today aged 95. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

5 things government could do for music ed (England): 1) Make music mandatory in all schools, all pupils 2) Overhaul music teacher training & recruit more 3) Make music a key issue in Ofsted inspections 4) Double the music hub grant 5) Manage music hubs directly from DFE Just a start. More needed.

"Pass the parcel. That's sometimes all you can do..... Pass it on. Nor for me, not for you. But for someone, somewhere. One day."

Lovely concert at Bolton Parish Church. BMS singers under @alexpattersonmusic.bsky.social sounding rich and sonorous. Corus Brass under Sam King were in fine form. A darned good Rutter Gloria to finish. Congratulations all.

Musicians, music educators. There's a place for us - somewhere. Is Bluesky that somewhere? www.youtube.com/watch?v=-JSt...

Great article

Interesting article from @gabyhinsliff.bsky.social www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...