Midlands Music School

My musical career began at the age of 7 by taking violin lessons at school. I was made aware of the fact that the violin was arguably the most difficult instrument to play.I quickly rose to the challenge and in so doing found an absorbing interest. As a child I was very quiet and introvert, so this was a means by which I was able to express myself. I remember playing "3 Bourees" whilst my mother was ironing. It must have sounded awful in those early days. She went through a lot of earache but always gave encouragement.I have never forgotten this lesson and realise as a teacher now how important this is. I continued having lessons at school but also had private music lessons and played in several amateur orchestras.I remember being the leader of the Redditch Junior College Orchestra and playing second and then first violin in the senior orchestra also. By the age of seventeen, I had reached professional standard and done all the necessary theory exams also. It was a necessary requirement to be able to play the piano.I learned to play the piano under duress as I didn't enjoy it very much. Insufficient challenge. So I also took up the organ - two hands and feet, far more difficult, more sounds and rhythm accompaniment too.