TEACHING QUALIFICATIONS
CNAA BA Hons Degree in Music from Huddersfield Polytechnic (1986)

PGCE (Teaching Certificate) in Music from Liverpool Institute of Higher Education (1987)

TEACHING EXPERIENCE

Head of Music at a high school in London. Responsible for the musical activities of the whole school, including organising musical productions.
Teacher in charge of Music at a high school in Widnes, Cheshire. Again responsible for organising musical activities for the school and staging musical productions. Also, instrumental tuition, primary school lisison.
Peripatetic Music Teacher & Supply Teacher at a primary school in Wigan, Greater Manchester. Responsible for delivering the music curriculum from Reception to Yr 6, including class teaching and producing musical productions. Also taught steel band.
Music Lecturer at a college in Lancashire. Teach GCSE & BTEC National Diploma in Popular Music, including: composition, arranging, aural perception, language of popular music, music performance techniques, improvisation, keyboard skills, etc.
Private Teacher for the past 18 years I have taught flute & piano/keyboard to a wide range of students from the rawest beginner to Grade 8.

My son started having guitar lessons in school when he was 6. This was actually against Deb's advice, who thinks children should be at least 7 before starting formal music training. However, he was keen to learn so we bought him a 3/4 guitar and he started lessons.
We noticed that he was reluctant to practice at home - he wanted to strum loudly like a rock guitarist, but would not try to play the chords his teacher had taught him. I found I got annoyed with him as I tried to help, so I enlisted Deb's help. I was amazed at the difference. She let him show off for a while, then started getting him to play properly. He was having trouble getting his little fingers into the shapes they needed to be. She didn't get irritated like me, it was, "No honey, try this". Soon he could form the correct shapes and managed to play the chords properly.
Having only known Deb as a friend, it was interesting to watch her "at work". She works with patience, humour and sensitivity and my son's guitar playing has improved immensely - ever though she doesn't actually teach guitar! She's just a natural teacher.

Michelle Scott