Year started at NECOM: 2014
Teacher of Piano, ensembles & classroom music
WHAT DO YOU LOVE ABOUT WORKING AT NECOM?
Having been a primary classroom teacher for many years, my two favourite things about NECOM are the interactions I have with young people on their musical journey and with the staff who are so knowledgeable about all things musical.
YOUR EARLIEST MUSICAL MEMORY IS
In Year 2 I had a very talented classroom teacher who taught us using a Kodaly based music approach. As a class we sang our way through the day – morning greetings, maths lessons, English lessons and of course music. I remember loving that year at school. We learnt recorder and this is when I began my love of music.
WHAT IS ONE MEMORY THAT STANDS OUT AS A HIGHLIGHT OF YOUR CAREER SO FAR?
As a classroom music teacher, I have had a very different experience of music making to many of my colleagues. My career has been focused on mostly teaching rather than performing. No one event comes to mind as a highlight but many when I’ve had the opportunity to work with or learn from any number of very talented music educators across the country (or world). Many of these are Kodaly educators – Lucinda Geoghegan, Dr James Cuskelly, Aileen Miracle just to name a few.
IF YOU COULD ONLY KEEP ONE PIECE OF MUSIC IN YOUR COLLECTION, WHAT WOULD IT BE?
Borodin String Quartet No 2. Nocturne. I danced to this as a teenager and loved it.