About me

A very musical childhood...

As a child in a very musical family I was surrounded by music making and was already playing in the family recorder ensemble around the time I started school. My mother was a good musician and teacher and it was inevitable that I would learn to read music. At the age of seven I had my first piano lessons and cello lessons followed a couple of years later. I attended the Kent Junior Music School which provided a broad musical education with orchestra and choir in addition to theory, aural and instrumental lessons. Attendance was mandatory all Saturday morning! 

An important highlight of my teenage years was playing the cello in the Kent County Youth Orchestra. In those days there were residential courses three times a year, music college students could stay in the orchestra until they were 21 and there were opportunities to play in some exciting venues like the Royal Festival Hall and Canterbury Cathedral. The intensive training, the role models of older music students and the thrilling repertoire of major works made this one of the most memorable and uplifting experiences of my youth. 

a diverse career...

My higher education was in physics and included a PhD in low-temperature semiconductors from Nottingham University before I gained a PGCE and became a classroom physics teacher more than 30 years ago. Later I worked in supply-chain management in industry in a couple of companies - ask me about Cadburys and Creme Eggs some time! And then my sporting side came to the fore and I got very involved in cycle racing. I won some big trophies and became fascinated in the challenge of training for fitness and so I turned my hand to coaching racing cyclists from 2007 onwards. In cycle coaching my scientific background has combined well with my very genuine interest in supporting and encouraging people to get the best out of themselves. I have worked with a great number of riders from beginners to national champions and the coaching relationships have lasted, in some cases, for many years.

but I came back to music and teaching!

Despite doing a lot of physics and cycling I always knew I would come back to music. It is truly a life-long journey with so many facets, possibilities and opportunities. For over a decade now I've been very fortunate and excited to have the time and opportunity to go back to studying the piano and the cello as a mature student. 

With distinctions at Grade 8 on both instruments and an ABRSM teaching diploma, I believe that music education is valuable way beyond just learning an instrument; it teaches discipline, creativity, and self-expression. My personalised approach to teaching ensures that each student receives individual attention and a curriculum tailored to their specific goals and learning style. Whether you are a beginner or you have some experience already, I am committed to providing a nurturing learning environment. I have a growing reputation for excellence - my pupils have achieved Distinction successes at grades from Initial Grade to Grade 8. 

I am a Registered Private Teacher with the Independent Society of Musicians.