In Tune Teaching - The best start in music for your child

Helen Strong

I have lived in the Caversham area for most of my life and I currently live in Emmer Green with my husband and daughter.

Having graduated from Cardiff University in Music and Education I trained as a Primary School teacher and spent 4 years working as a class teacher with responsibility for Music across the school, and 5 years as a music specialist teaching music to children aged 4 to 11. My teaching roles included leading choirs, teaching recorders, and organising musical productions. I also teach private piano lessons at home.

My first job was in a Junior school where I took on the position of Music Co-ordinator which I relished. I organised all of the music in Key Stage two and was responsible for producing performances both in and out of school. I then moved on to a private school where I became Head of Girls Games. This was a fabulous job as I was able to combine my love for sport as well as a love for music by teaching the year 3 and 4 children as well as directing major productions and accompanying in concerts and winning the house music competition two years in succession.

While on maternity leave I decided to attend a number of music classes with my sons which I enjoyed a great deal. I was desperate to carry on teaching music and spend as much time with my boys as I could so I decided to look into teaching music classes myself. I have always been amazed in the reaction my sons give me when I sing familiar and new songs to them. My eldest son has just learned the actions to Incy Wincy Spider, we have great delight in sharing his achievement and seeing him so happy has encouraged me to provide the Kindermusik programme for other mothers and children in this area.

I have always had a great love of music. As a child I was drawn to the piano and was fortunate that my parents developed this by finding me a piano teacher when I was 6. At school I enjoyed playing the recorder and singing in the choir and played in a Swing band and a rock and roll band during my teens. I became a music teacher as I had a great desire to pass on this love and enjoyment of music, believing that all children should have musical opportunities at a young age. I have been privileged to have seen many children blossom as a result of music and have seen how it can improve their self confidence and achievement in other areas.

When I had my daughter I was amazed to see how she responded to music from her earliest days. When looking for a new challenge to fit in with my role as a mum, I discovered Kindermusik. I was impressed with the quality of the materials and the amount of research used to develop the activities. I was excited about using my music and teaching skills to introduce music to the very youngest children. I trained as a Kindermusik teacher and was licensed in July 2005.

Sharon Boccaccini

I have lived in and around Henley for all of my life and I currently live near to The Henley College with my husband and two sons.

I have always had a love of music and throughout my schools years I learned to play a number of instruments. I also sang in the school and church choir.

Sport and music have always competed with each other for affection in my life and I spent my university years studying sport science at Bedford College ( now Demontfort University) and following my course, I studied for my P.G.C.E in Primary Education at Reading University.