Creating Musical Participation encourages clients to play the keyboard or sing favourite pieces keeping their mind and body active. Research suggests that actively taking part in meaningful musical activities can really help to improve mental health, quality of life and aid healthy ageing.Most sessions take place in the client’s own home and are personalised to suit individual musical tastes and meet particular needs.

Musica Music is a music and healthcare consultancy with a clear objective to embed music into the dementia care plan journey. Leading music sessions at care homes in Dorset, I work with elderly residents in meaningful activities that increase self esteem, aid reminiscence and create joyful moments.

Continuing to develop an established music department was an exciting opportunity when I first arrived at St Osmund's and I was able to update the curriculum, resources and assessment programme to bring it more in line with national changes. I manage a large extra-curricular programme and direct a bi-annual musical, as well as a range of additional performing opportunities. To commemorate the centenary of the Great War, I led a large-scale project to write and perform our own play, based on our local town during WW1. The 18-month project was a fantastic collaboration between the school and the local community, and involved a great deal of research, a number of successful funding applications, and the organisation of props, the set and costumes for a cast of over 100. Music is an important feature of the school character, and I arrange many opportunities for the students to enjoy their own music-making activities, as well as going to see professional musicians performing.

I was responsible for redevelopment of the music department, designing a curriculum and assessment programme to engage the pupils, and build up the numbers taking music at GCSE level. I was successful in various grant applications for funding to help establish music technology at the school as well as building up the extra-curricular programme. With the renewed enthusiasm for music at the school, I led a project to create our own musical, as well as directing performances of We Will Rock You and Footloose.

As Director of Music I was responsible for selecting the music for weekly and special services as well as taking choir rehearsals and preparing the junior members of the choir for Royal School's of Church Music Awards. With an average regular choir of 30, we also staged some very large-scale concerts, inviting other local singers and musicians to take part in choral works and raising money for charities. I also wrote numerous pieces for the choir and staged some musical productions including Noye's Fludde and Pharaoh to Freedom which included a cast of around 50.

I was privileged to begin my classroom teaching in a school that had an extremely active music department, teaching music from year 7 to A level. I conducted the school orchestra, created arrangements for a variety of groups and co-directed musical theatre performances. In addition to my class teaching, I was also the administrator for some 12 visiting instrumental teachers, organsied both ABRSM exams and accompanying A Level pupils for their final recitals.

Whilst looking after my family, I was able to teach cello, piano and theory of music from home. My pupils ranged from beginner to diploma level and included children as well as adults. I prepared pupils for exams with the Associated Board of the Royal School of Music as well as arranging small concerts.

Teaching cello in a variety of primary and secondary schools as well as the Saturday Specialist Music School, my pupils ranged from groups of beginners to individuals at an advanced Grade 8 standard. I also coached the local orchestra, arranged music for ensembles and performed in the staff quartet.