A Primary Nativity Is More Than A Musical

14 December 2016

I’m squashed onto a tiny chair between two strangers, waiting expectantly. Cheesy Christmas music plays, almost drowned out by the chatty voices of a large audience. The roof of the school hall has been incredibly…

Ebacc for the Future

21 November 2016

I have been thinking a lot about the changes in education recently and am concerned at the reported drop in take up of arts subjects at GCSE level and beyond.

Poppy Red

11 November 2016

This is a recording of my song, Poppy Red, taken in the classroom of a local Birmingham school.

It was very moving to see the children from many different countries in the world, some of which are at war with each other, singing about the…

Light In The Darkness

09 November 2016

I woke up this morning to the news that Donald Trump is the new president of America.

This scares me, if I’m honest. I know I’m not alone.

Boredom — The Necessary Catalyst For Creativity?

23 December 2016 (revised June 2018)

Children’s Christmas Choirs

05 December 2016

The fairy lights are sparkling, the stage is set, the music is ready…so where is my choir? I suppose I have got 2 minutes to go before 4pm and we did say meet at the stage in the playground then. Ah, here they come, laden with teddies and…

Children In Need

19 November 2016

Yesterday I spent seven hours in a confined space with 200 children.

And I loved it.

Each year Children In Need does an incredible job of fundraising for those children and families who need support in…

Fragile

10 November 2016

Music has always been my way of communicating my emotions. As a young girl, playing the piano in the evening in a darkened room was where I did my processing and explored the feelings that were working inside.

Evening Soirée

04 December 2016

I am fortunate to have a growing number of adult piano pupils. It is a privilege for me to see people committed to learning something new at different stages of life, and to be a part of that process. I enjoy the way an adult pupil is able to articulate more…