I was involved in high level youth music playing both viola and recorder. I spent a number of years with the 52 Lowland Territorial Army band on flute and marching piccolo and in the ceilidh band as a fiddle player. My degenerative condition changed my course away from intensive music-making and I studied a BEd Primary Education degree at the University of Edinburgh. Still feeling drawn to music education as my first love, I returned to study at Napier University to gain a BA(Hons) in Music Studies. I specialised in instrumental teaching, and also gained my DipABRSM in viola teaching. I have a private teaching practice and have been involved with large scale projects such as SCO Vibe.