Well okay - I'll admit it - I am absolutely fanatical about everything to do with music full stop! I play all the Recorder family, Tin Whistle, Concert Flute, Baroque Flute, Piccolo, Clarinet, Oboe, Bassoon, Guitar (badly!!), Piano, all the classical percussion instruments, Saxophone and now I am learning the folk harp (Clarsach). 

I really think everyone should have a go at playing music. It is never too late to take up an instrument. The only necessary skill is that you want to have a go! Does it really matter if you become the next James Galway or does it matter that you have fun?

When I was only sixteen I was accepted to study at the

Royal Scottish Academy Of Music and Drama.

I studied Flute with John Wiggins (1st Flute BBCSSO) and Richard Chester (1st Flute RSNO) for four years (piano with Gustav Fenyo and Bela Simandi, Harmony and Composition with John Weeks) before pursuing a career mainly teaching and  performing but also examining and adjudicating.

I play on a solid silver Miyazawa handmade Flute, Type II, with open holes, inline G and a B foot joint. My Clarinet is a Boosey & Hawkes B12, my Alto Sax is a Trevor James Horn and my Oboe is a Hawkes and Son (before Boosey came along!!!). Oh and my Baroque Flute is a Cahusac copy (A=440). My new harp (and my old one) were made by Ardival Harps, Stathpeffer, but I made a Bohemian Harp with Christoph Locherbach in 2005 and love it but I still hanker after a Cafferky or a Sievert!

I do love teaching (mostly J) and I try to make the lessons as full of fun as possible. (After all music is supposed to be fun!) But I also try to encourage the students to practise (although they don't always listen!). The main criteria for having lessons with myself is that they at least try and enjoy themselves. I try to be a hard taskmaster and the minute they stop trying or do not enjoy playing anymore, they are encouraged to find something else to do with their time! 

I am not there to help them skive or to baby sit!!! Harsh but true!!