I have always had a love of music and have been singing just about as long as I have been able to talk!
I was fortunate to be exposed to music from a variety of genres at a very young age. There was always some sort of music going on around me – whether it was being sung to, listening to recordings, attending music concerts or singing along to cassette tapes on numerous car journeys! I had piano lessons as I got older and started singing in school choirs.
At the age of sixteen I developed a particular love for folk and acoustic music which inspired me to pick up my Mam’s old guitar. I was delighted to receive my own guitar at the age of eighteen – the same one that is played at Musitots each week!
The first Musitots session was in September 2013. I set it up with the aim to provide opportunities for children and their parents/carers to explore music in ways that are active and engaging. Through my primary school teaching, I have seen the way that musical activities support the development of personal, social, emotional and physical skills.
I decided that the focus of the Musitots sessions should be to expose children to live music, thereby improving the whole musical experience for the child. The sessions encourage children to think creatively, thus improving the memory and language of the children attending.
I have been delighted to be able to spend such quality time with so many parents/carers and their little ones and I am excited for the future of the Musitots community!