About

After graduating from Colchester Institute of HE with a BA(Hons) in music I began my teaching career teaching the piano on an individual basis both privately and in secondary schools in the Bath area. I also played violin and viola in string quartets and orchestras including Bath Baroque.

After having my children I retrained as a classroom teacher gaining a PGCE in Early years. I then worked as a Reception class teacher for 14 years at a school in Trowbridge. During this time, using my musical skills, I built up a lively musical life within the school including running a choir for both children and adults, arranging teaching of guitar, violin and cello and running an after school string club. I was also involved out of school with the Wiltshire based string club Superstrings. I continue to tutor on courses run by Superstrings, coaching chamber groups, supporting in orchestra and teaching musicianship through Dalcroze Eurhythmy and Kodaly methods. I am currently working on obtaining the certificate in Dalcroze Eurhythmy ( a holistic way to learn music through structured and responsive movement, singing and aural activities) and have completed all the practical elements of the training. This approach to learning music has highly influenced my music teaching and is particularly useful in teaching young children (although it is a rigorous approach and can be used up to degree level too).

Central to my my teaching is that music is a form of communication and opportunities should be made for regular performance. In schools this will take the form of Assemblies for parents to attend and for individual students I arrange regular concerts to perform to each other and parents.

I work with Wiltshire Young Musicans and currently conduct Trowbridge Junior Strings in Trowbridge on a Monday and the West Wiltshire Intermediate String Ensemble at the Music Centre in Bradford on Avon on a Tuesday.

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What I / we help young people achieve

I firmly believe that music is for all and taking part in music raises self esteem and confidence that impacts on a child's entire development. My individual teaching reflects this by tailoring what and how I teach to the student; from learning to play by ear using recordings and the internet, pre-instrumental skills using percussion, singing and music games to working through the grades (usually ABRSM but will use other boards as well) and accessing regular performing opportunities through concerts and festivals.

For my private pupils
I arrange 2 concerts a year and am now looking at opportunities for chamber music making (particularly for pianists) so that young people can come together and make music and experience the thrill of small ensemble music making whilst learning valuable and transferable skills of working within a small group.

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Opportunities for children & young people

• To learn to play an instrument and / or develop skills on an instrument
• To learn to sing
• To play, perform music with others
• To learn things about oneself , other subjects or life-skills through musical activity
• To work with and support other young musicians

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Times

• Term Time
• After School
• Weekends

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Working with special needs

Some of my private teaching involves students with specific needs such as co-ordination and memory difficulties. I am able to adapt my teaching to suit specific learning needs through the use of Kodaly and Dalcroze principles.

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