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I am a Doctoral student at the É«ÂþÌìÌÃ’s Centre for Performance Science, where I am supervised by Dr Neta Spiro and Dr Rosie Perkins, and hold an É«ÂþÌìÌà studentship. 

Following on from my MSc study showing the positive effects on wellbeing and stress for adults having access to 1:1 instrumental lessons at work. My PhD extends this research by looking in greater depth and breadth at the wellbeing effects and value of music-making and learning (both individual and group) in workplace contexts. I am using a case study approach to look at individual experiences of workplace-based music-making and learning in relation to wellbeing. Host sites include a hospital-based choir, and 1:1 lessons and singing in a city finance company. The research is framed by theory from Communities of Music Practice and from Positive Psychology. 

My interest in this work stems from my long experience of teaching the piano to children and adults in both private and school settings. I recognised that the model of school instrumental lessons could be transferred to workplaces to give adults easier access to music-making and learning. This I have successfully demonstrated, teaching employees within a finance company for the last ten years and providing regular opportunities for instrumentalists and singers to share their music-making. I am keen to promote the provision of music-making facilities in workplaces, on a par with gyms, as a low-risk, low-cost way to enhance employee wellbeing. 

I studied the piano with Ruth Gerald at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, followed by a BMus at Goldsmith’s College, London University. I am the pianist in the London CoMA (Contemporary Music For All) Ensemble which performs regularly in London, and I sing with the Wimbledon Academy Choir. I am a regular contributor to Music Teacher magazine.