Hi, I’m
Niall Warden
Cambridge,Cambridgeshire
Summary
- My broad range of experiences in the music industry means I can adapt and teach many different aspects of the music curriculum, both in the classroom and extracurricularly. This has been noticed by students who have been surprised when I could help them with drumming technique when they had yet to encounter a music teacher who could have before or suggested different rhythms when unsure how to fit into a new Calypso ensemble. Students also commented that they enjoyed that I could accompany them on the piano and help them with wind parts on the trumpet, etc. (I achieved grade 8 in trumpet, drums and piano by age 16). This is also prevalent in other subjects, such as drama when I can help groups demonstrate their vision through a helpful conversation to spur their imagination and creative minds.
- I can record ensembles using audio technology and learned these skills during the COVID-19 pandemic when bands needed amateur sound engineers to record and mix their recordings. I released multiple virtual choir ensembles, which is helpful in a music department when producing live performances.
- Passionate Teacher with experience developing and implementing diverse curriculums covering various subjects. Highly skilled at motivating students through positive encouragement and reinforcement of concepts via interactive classroom instruction and observation. Successful in helping students develop strong confidence in their performance abilities and critical thinking skills.
Overview
5
years of professional experience
Work history
University of CambridgeCambridge
Trainee Teacher
09.2023 - 06.2024
Job overview
- Developed and executed lesson plans under Nick Allen's guidance to effectively fulfil curriculum requirements.
- Gained exposure to different school settings and teaching roles. Experience in Swavesey Village College and Saffron Walden County High School.
- Taught lessons which required alterations for students with special needs, such as SEN or EAL to ensure equal access to learning and resources.
- Utilised technology to enhance student education and comprehension. Ensuring students had easy access from home to school technology-based work.
- Balanced university-based study alongside weekly teaching duties. I also actively participated in the Cambridge Union Society and developed essential public speaking skills within the debating chamber.
- Established classroom rules and standards of behaviour, following the school's behaviour policies whilst ensuring my classroom expectations were known by students.
British Army
Reserve Soldier/Musician
02.2019 - Current
Job overview
- Developed self-confidence and authority through high pressure and demanding basic training.
- Encouraged a strong teamwork ethic through the comradery ethos of training in the field on exercise.
- Developed a strong resilience and independent work ethic to adapt to tasks efficiently.
- I travelled Europe (Gibraltar, France, UK) playing professionally, being held to a high standard, and experiencing excellent music making.
- Developed ensemble leading skills (arranging, conducting) to achieve public music goals being scrutinised to a high standard.
Self-employeedBelfast
Music teacher
09.2022 - 07.2023
Job overview
- Tutored a GCSE SEN pupil, taking their grade from a D to an A in six months. Adapting activities to meet their needs and aid understanding and internalisation of the course material and set works.
- Worked as a peripatetic brass tutor across four primary schools, leading individual and group activities/lessons as and when required. I developed the ability to teach aspects of music I was less familiar with (such as instruments I did not play).
- Evaluated student performance and provided feedback and assistance to improve musical skills.
- Coached students in voice, tempo and rhythm exercises to promote strong foundational music skills.
- Evaluated student progress and provided constructive feedback about performances, exams and auditions.
Education
University of CambridgeCambridge
PGCE from Music Education
09/2023
Queen's University, BelfastBelfast
Bachelor of Music (Hons) from Music
09/2020 - 07/2023
University overview
- 2:1
Bangor Grammar SchoolBangor
A-Levels from Music, Drama, Politics
09/2018 - 06/2020
University overview
- Music A*
- Drama A
- Politics B
Bangor Grammar SchoolBangor
GCSEs
09/2016 - 06/2018
University overview
- Music A*
- Drama A*
- History A
- English (Literature & Language) A
- Religious Education A
- ICT B
- Physics B
- Mathematics C
Skills
- Positive and encouraging My approach to the classroom is to deliver positive experiences with music as a subject, no matter the student's background; I do not take into account any outside lessons and consider this irrelevant in my classroom as each student is there to learn music no matter their pre-requisite knowledge I keep my lessons engaging by being energetic and lively, using humour to keep the attention on me and using techniques such as "phone a friend" when students don't know the answers to questions because this ensures they are still part of the answering process and do not feel embarrassed when not knowing an answer initially
- Classroom management I will always ensure that students know my expectations before they start whichever lesson I have planned, I will use volume control exercises to be able to bring the volume and attention of the room back to my control and be able to command authority in the room through non-verbal cues and dialogic silent responses (such as copying what I'm doing, which means they copy my volume also)
- Varied lesson plans Due to students in my class who did not speak English, I made resources that would aid their understanding of what I was discussing in their own language (bullet-pointed list with the numbers matching on my PowerPoint slides) and the Teams quiz was also available in their language When possible, I would offer one-to-one help as a catch-up in the lesson to allow them to ask questions through live translation or Google Translate
- Creative leadership I led many ensembles and directed events such as carol services during university One difficult voluntary event was running a carol service by myself; all planning, arranging, rehearsals, risk assessments, bookings etc, were entirely completed by me The singers and musicians in the event did not like that I was leading it (due to me being an "outside hire" as it were), I had to work with many difficult personalities Still, through gentle persuasion and engagement, I got the choir and orchestra on side and ran the event attended by hundreds
Timeline
Trainee Teacher
University of Cambridge
09.2023 - 06.2024
Music teacher
Self-employeed
09.2022 - 07.2023
Reserve Soldier/Musician
British Army
02.2019 - Current
University of Cambridge
PGCE from Music Education
09/2023
Queen's University, Belfast
Bachelor of Music (Hons) from Music
09/2020 - 07/2023
Bangor Grammar School
A-Levels from Music, Drama, Politics
09/2018 - 06/2020
Bangor Grammar School
GCSEs
09/2016 - 06/2018
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