I started to learn the piano when I was six years old and by the time I was 16 I had gained the Associate of the London College of Music Diploma in Piano Performance. I gained Distinctions in Grade 8 Piano and Oboe and Grade 6 Organ before I left school. I studied Music at The City University in London and gained a BSc Honours degree. When I was 30 I decided to train to be a secondary school music teacher and gained my PGCE in Secondary Music in 2006. I taught for 14 years at Farmor’s School in Fairford, Gloucestershire where I became Head of Music, Head of Year and also gained a Masters degree in Educational Leadership. I retired from full time teaching in 2020.