Lucy
I live in Northwood, near Watford and have two children. I have always enjoyed music - mainly singing or playing the piano - but I also played the oboe during my school and college days so therefore played in numerous bands/orchestras or small ensembles in addition to singing in choirs, opera groups and musicals. I studied music at Worcester College of Higher Education as 1 of 3 subjects but when I left changed tack and worked for St John Ambulance in the Marketing Department (fundraising only - don't ask me the latest treatment for heart attacks). And prior to producing my own children I produced Children's books for HarperCollins for 4 years. Outside of these proper paid jobs, I continued singing and performing in musicals and plays and since 1999 have been a member of Blag Theatre Company, a professional company performing its own up to date parody shows through comic song. (Look out for us at The Pump House Theatre in Watford just before Christmas!)
It was when I started attending local baby's music groups and Toddler clubs that I started thinking about how children learn music. I decided to start up my own pre-school music group and researched the internet for training / ideas on the best way to teach music to such young children. Having found DaCapo on the web and completed the in-house training, I started my music groups in September 2004. Currently I run classes in Northwood and teach at the flagship Family Music Centre in NW11 on Saturdays. I think the DaCapo Early Years method lays a superb foundation for music education and in a way that children find absorbing and highly enjoyable. The skills learnt are invaluable should children wish to take up an instrument in future years.
