Strange times indeed!

Never thought teaching would look like this!!

First day back to teaching since the summer break, and first day back to face to face lessons since March!(following all necessary safety precautions!!)

I’m so grateful to be back doing what I love, and welcoming back all my super students! Unfortunately, many children across NI won’t be able to return to their usual music lessons, especially if they have their lessons in school. As usual, music lessons don’t seem to be of any importance to school leaders, and it doesn’t seem likely that peripatetic music teachers will be welcomed back to school anytime soon.

Of course I understand music lessons aren’t a priority compared to students and staffs safety, but my point is that it’s important to not let music education get forgotten about or deemed as unnecessary. Music education is just as important as any other subject and should go hand in hand with maths, English, science and art.

Did you know? Learning music can: ✅ improve memory ✅increase fine motor skills ✅stimulate both left and right sides of the brain ✅increase social and communication skills ✅teach independence and self-motivation ✅increase happiness and confidence!!

In other words...it has benefits which improve students’ abilities in ALL other subjects!! That seems pretty important to me!

My point is, music is a vital part of a decent education, and I hope that it won’t get pushed to the side and forgotten when life slowly starts to return to normal...whatever normal is! .