Learning Ideas Limited

03/09/2026

I'm pleased to be able to share the stadium footage of the anthems for the NZ vs France game - the first international rugby match played at Te Kaha stadium.
It was an honour to put together the Ōtautahi Voices for this one-off gig (although we hope to do it again in the future!). Thanks to the wonderful singers for making this such a fun experience.
What was broadcast on SkyTV was (naturally) focused on the players, so it's great we can now access this footage that focuses on the choir.

23/08/2026

Making Loops Musical

Why loops aren't the problem, and what your students can learn from Ravel, Ethan Lam, and a vocal sample called "Don't Let Me Down". There's a widely held view among music teachers that using loops in compositions is a shortcut. That it's lazy. That it doesn't count as "real" composing. I understand where this comes from, and I've probably said similar things myself at various points over the years....
https://learningideasnz.com/2026/08/23/making-loops-musical/

31/05/2026

Calling high school music teachers.

Your students are already using AI to make music. This workshop is about protecting their voice and creativity — and knowing where AI genuinely helps.

Auckland · Wellington · Christchurch (30 June – 5 July)
Online option open to Australian & NZ teachers
$189 NZD + GST (no GST for Australian teachers)

Register: https://forms.gle/5af2zn4rQj8SXnBp7

26/05/2026

Here is a video on different stereo microphone setups for recording a choir. This is from the resource "Producing Student Concerts for YouTube & Spotify" available from www.learningideas.org

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zRMCRLfr9A8

In this video I provide an explanation of how to record choirs in a...

10/05/2026

The 2026 Full Exam Pack is here — and it's the biggest yet.
All Level 2 and Level 3 NCEA Music exams from Learning Ideas, written fresh to 2026 specifications. PDF question books, answer schedules, and MP3s where needed. Print as many copies as your school requires.

New this year — included free:

91276 Score Reading Revision App — an HTML app generating endless practice questions, with smart links back to the relevant lessons when students get stuck.

91421 Harmony Revision App — the same format for Level 3 Harmony. Runs locally in any browser, no install required.

91277 & 91423 Research + Essay Guides — two documents per standard: one to guide students through their initial research, one to help them structure it into exam-ready essay form.
Plus the 91276 video tutorial/guide from last year, also included.
$306 NZD excl. GST (was $408) · Schools only · School order number required at checkout.
https://www.learningideas.org/shop

16/04/2026

Ever tried to explain to a student what a "drop" is? Or wondered how an EDM track is actually put together?
Most of us were never taught this stuff. I certainly wasn't. But it turns out EDM has a clear, teachable structure that's just as logical as sonata form or 12-bar blues. Builds, drops, breakdowns, four-on-the-floor kick patterns... once you understand how it all works, it's incredibly satisfying to teach. And your students will love you for it.
I've written a new blog post unpacking the anatomy of an EDM track for music teachers. What the key sections are, what the terminology means, and what tools you and your students can use to start creating electronic music in the classroom.
And if you want to go deeper, I've also created a full 40-lesson EDM composition curriculum with video tutorials for every lesson. Details at www.learningideas.org

http://learningideasnz.com/2026/04/16/the-anatomy-of-an-edm-track-a-guide-for-music-teachers/

If you trained as a classical or jazz musician, chances are nobody ever taught you what a “drop” is. Or a “build”. Or why a four-on-the-floor kick pattern is the heartbeat o…