Duncan Ferguson is the founder of Learning Ideas, a company created from his passion for empowering music educators and students through innovative resources.
Over the last 20+ years Duncan, as the resource developer and provider of teacher training, has transformed how New Zealand high school teachers approach music theory, aural skills, and technology.
As Head of Music at St Andrew’s College his music groups have had the following major achievements:
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Producer of notable performances, like the 2023 "Stairway to Heaven” and 2024 “Viva La Vida".
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Music Teacher of the Year (2019) at the Aotearoa Music Awards.
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Deputy Chair and board member of Music Education New Zealand Aotearoa (MENZA).
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Editor of the MENZA magazine 2019-2023.
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Contributor to NZQA exemplars and national moderator/marker.
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Keynote speaker at major conferences and member of the Apple Distinguished Educator program.
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Winners of the NZCT Chamber Music Contest in 2021 and national finalists four years in a row
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Winner of best composition at the NZCT Chamber Music Contest in 2024
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Winners of NZ Best Jazz Big Band at the National Youth Jazz Festival in 2018
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Winners of the Southern Jam Youth Jazz Festival six times (including one win with Linwood College in 2004)
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Regional finalists for Smokefree Rockquest (every year)
In his 15 years at St Andrew’s College Duncan has musically directed 28 shows including The Little Mermaid, Legally Blonde, Songs for a New World, Parade, The Drowsy Chaperone, Blood Brothers, Cabaret, Urinetown, Guys & Dolls, Chicago, Anything Goes, Bright Star, Twelfth Night and many others. In 2014 one of his students wrote an original full musical called “Suspect”.
Duncan is committed to creating resources that make teaching and learning music accessible, engaging, and effective. His vision is to see teachers and students thrive with the help of innovative tools and expert training. Teachers have a very tough job, so Learning Ideas seeks to take the pressure off teachers for resource development and assessment design
Proudly supporting schools using our Learning Ideas Resources
