Pianist, Teacher, Researcher.
Refresh, recharge and
re-imagine through learning to play the piano.
Music is universal - all human cultures have had music since earliest times. In modern life, whether it’s at the big moments – weddings, funerals, rugby matches – or ordinary moments – via the car radio or streamed through headphones as we go about our everyday lives – music expresses those things which are beyond words and connect us to our deeper selves, to each other and to feelings of wellbeing.
Neuroscientists tell us fireworks go off in our brains
View the TED Ed video below to find out more.
Have you ever wondered how playing an instrument can benefit your brain?
Watch this insightful video from TED Ed.
My Background
After a long career as a teacher of piano to both children and adults, alongside occasional performances as a soloist and ensemble player, my interests and work now embrace research into the wellbeing benefits of music-making and learning.
Here are some ideas about music and music-making that I think are important, that I use to guide my approach to music-making and learning, and are the basis of the topics of this website.
“‘Music expresses that which cannot be put into words and cannot remain silent” In this quote Victor Hugo encapsulates an essential quality of music: that it can express the depth and nuance of feeling and experience so much more eloquently than words.
Participation in musical activities, singing and dancing together, has been a part of every known human culture both past and present. While recognising that some make music more easily than others, many cultures would not recognise the idea of a person being “unmusical”. Despite the fact that music is all around us, in our western culture we have lost our natural connection with it, expecting it to be provided by professionals. We have become either makers or consumers of music and this must be challenged. Its primary function is to bring and bind people together, breaking down hierarchies and social barriers. Music connects us with ourselves and with others.
It is not a luxury – music-making is there for all. We can and should do things with music so that music can do things with us (deNora) 2014.
As many great minds agree:
Shakespeare is scornful of those who don’t understand it’s purpose: preposterous ass, that never read so far to know the cause why music was ordain’d! Was it not to refresh the mind of man, after his studies or his usual pain? (The Taming of the Shrew)
Einstein’s wife tells us that when he needed a break from his work he would “rest his mind” by improvising on the violin, and he claims that he would have been a musician if he hadn’t been a scientist.
It’s not about whether we’re good at music, but that music is good for us.
“I continue to be passionate about music-making: playing, teaching and researching into music-making and wellbeing. I tirelessly encourage others to take it up, to re-start, and keep playing, in whatever way works for their lifestyle and needs.”
Keys to the workplace
It is a pleasure to work with Coach House Pianos on a project to encourage workplaces to embrace the concept of providing music-making facilities for employees to take a break during their working day.
Find out more about this event by clicking the button below.
Piano Evening at St Stephen’s, South Dulwich
Music-making at Man Group is celebrating ten years! There are now two piano teachers, a guitar teacher and a singing group. Last month (September) we had a gathering of pianists who had left the company over that time but still continue to have lessons or keep in touch. We shared a lovely warm occasion of getting together to celebrate our love of playing the piano and its importance as a key part of our lives.
Blog Articles
Explore my blog to read up to date insights into the wellbeing and cognitive benefits of learning an instrument.
Testimonials
