Sally was educated in Worthing where she began learning the violin and piano in primary school. As a student Sally led the Worthing Youth Orchestra and West Sussex Youth Orchestra then went to study violin and piano at the Royal Academy of Music. Here, Sally gained a GRSM (hons) and LRAM, followed by a year of teacher training at Middlesex Polytechnic gaining a Cert Ed.
Sally’s career began teaching class music in a secondary school in Cambridge before taking up a peripatetic violin teaching role in local schools in Chichester. This role was working for West Sussex Music Support Service and she later transferred to schools in Worthing.
Sally has remained teaching for West Sussex Music and enjoyed a wide range of management roles. These have included Lead Teacher for Strings, Lead for Key2Music, Area Manager, Music Centre Leader as well as leading several courses and projects including the production of the bespoke beginner tutor book for violinists, Fiddle Fun. Through being involved with the pilot of WCET projects, Sally attended the Open University CPD programme run by Trinity Guildhall, in addition to all the national training available for whole class instrumental lessons.
Sally is passionate about teaching young children and for over 30 years has taught thousands of pupils to enjoy music through the violin, piano, and recorder. She also particularly enjoys mentoring new teachers, directing ensembles in music centres and teaching music within a whole class instrumental setting. As well as equipping children with musical skills, Sally thrives to create regular performing opportunities for all pupils facilitating their confidence and self-belief to develop which spill over to other areas of their lives.
Spare time is spent keeping fit, jive dancing and growing vegetables on her allotment. She plays professionally with local orchestras and in a string quartet at weddings, parties and corporate events. She is also a trustee of Worthing Symphony Orchestra.
Sally is a brilliant violin teacher! She ensures that all the children are engaged in the lesson with a range of musical activities, including singing, body percussion as well as playing the violin itself. The children all make a huge amount of progress from the beginning of the year to the end and they display this within their brilliant concerts to their parents. Many children also take up further peripatetic lessons as a result of this whole-class learning. Thank you for your continuous fun lessons Sally!
Nick – year 4 teacher in K2M lessons at Broadwater Primary School