Classical background

I am a classically trained musician. I began playing piano at the age of six and, at the age of ten, won a scholarship to the Kent County Music School where I studied piano and oboe. While there, I studied all aspects of music, from choral to orchestral playing as well as chamber music. My training continued with a Bachelor’s degree in Music at City University and oboe instrumentation at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. During my undergraduate studies, I was introduced to music therapy and went on to take a Master’s degree in Music Therapy at Anglia Ruskin University, in Cambridge (1995). My final Master’s dissertation was on ‘play in music therapy’, focusing on children with autism.

Music Therapy

Following my MA in Music Therapy, a colleague and I established music therapy in schools through the Cambridge Instrumental Music Agency. I worked as a music therapist for several years, in many different schools, with children with learning difficulties. This included working for Scope, setting up the music therapy programme at the East Anglia Children’s Hospice, and working in schools for children with autism, and children with emotional and behavioural difficulties.

Jazz piano

It was during my time working as a music therapist, when I was improvising on the piano every day, that I began studying jazz piano with Chris Ingham, jazz piano teacher at the time at Anglia Ruskin University. I developed a deep love for jazz piano, and it has since become a huge part of my life. I perform regularly around the Cambridge area and am passionate about jazz education. I work with a variety of students including those who are unable or who do not want to read from music. I have been teaching jazz piano for eighteen years, during which time I have taught many students of all ages. I believe that every child should have the opportunity to achieve their musical potential, and I feel privileged in my job as a teacher to be able to provide this.

Performance

I perform regularly: currently I play with my trio for repmusic at The Gonville Hotel, Cambridge. I have performed for many organisations in and around Cambridge, such as The National Trust, The Cambridge Jazz Festival, My little Festival, The Ivy Restaurant, Mills and Reeve events at The Botanic Gardens and at many private functions and music venues. I have played with many jazz musicians in different set ups, from big band to modern-jazz ensembles, and I have had the privilege to perform with saxophonist Alan Barnes and trombonist Dennis Rollins MBE.

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