My story:

After spending a few years living in mainland Europe, where (among other things) I had the honour of delivering “Harmony singing for fun and wellbeing” sessions to the staff of the Greenpeace European Press Office.  I was struck by how effective sharing voices was in lifting the mood of participants, not just during songs, but in the warm ups, too.

When I returned to the UK in 2007, I devised and delivered a short workshop at a tiny festival where participants vocalized simple phrases to create a soundscape.  It was only really supposed to be a time-filler while bands changed over on the single stage. I didn’t fully comprehend what happened in that space (I hadn’t yet studied the physics of soundwaves), but it was an incredibly powerful experience, both physically and emotionally, and I was determined to explore further. 

It was soon after this that a friend showed me an article in the Observer Magazine about “Sound Therapy”.  It mentioned the British Academy of Sound Therapy (BAST).  At the time, they held an annual event called “Sonic Boom” where you could spend a full day experiencing the different modalities that they taught in their courses (Himalayan singing bowls; crystal singing bowls; gong; voice and rhythm).  I was very out of my comfort zone, sharing the space with lots of people who eagerly described themselves as “spiritual” (not a label I resonate with, personally), but I was completely and utterly blown away by the experience.  I came away knowing I wanted to study this “Sound Therapy” and that I really, really wanted to get my hands on a crystal singing bowl!

A few years later, when circumstances fell into place, I studied and completed a two-year Practitioner Level Diploma with BAST at Chichester University graduating in 2013 gaining a distinction for my research on the impact of Sound Therapy on some of the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease.

My experience and training as a teacher of English in Belgium and the UK (EFL and ESOL) has helped me understand different ways of learning and the barriers that can affect acquiring new skills.  I’ve also facilitated team-building events across Europe and Asia and women’s peer-support groups in Leeds for the past 17 years.

I prioritise creating a fun environment while supporting group members to acquire new vocal skills at their own pace and to find a sense of community, safety, belonging and joy within their groups.