Mary studied at the Birmingham Conservatoire, where she gained a BA Hons and performing and teaching diplomas. She then completed a PGCE year at Birmingham University, which included an inspiring opportunity to observe Suzuki Trained teacher, Heather Clemson, teaching violin in schools in the Birmingham area. Mary’s contact with the equally inspiring Heidi Nixon (then training on the Suzuki course) led to an interview with Sandwell Education Authority, who wanted to appoint a violin teacher interested in becoming a Suzuki Teacher.
Mary then completed the 5 levels of the Suzuki Teacher Training course while working in schools in the Sandwell area, bringing the teaching method to as many families as possible, with the support of Heidi Nixon and Andrew Crabtree – Suzuki trained colleagues – attending workshops (Birmingham, Ayr, Edinburgh, Bryanston School, Cheltenham, Bristol, Paris) and large scale concerts in London and Birmingham. After 11 years, Mary moved to work for Worcestershire County Council as she was expecting her first baby and wanted to work near to where she lived, enabling maximum family time.
Mary worked for the music service in Worcestershire, now ‘Severn Arts’ for 20 years, which afforded her a great variety of music teaching experiences, including music curriculum class teaching from Nursery through to GCSE and A Level, violin teaching, accompanying students for exams, string orchestra directing, youth orchestra string coaching, running an Area Music Centre, liaising with schools and line managing other teachers.
She then took on a part-time High School music teaching post at South Bromsgrove High School which she combined with Suzuki Violin teaching on the ‘Young Strings Project’ at the Junior Conservatoire in Birmingham on Saturdays.
Having retired from employed work, Mary is now enjoying her independent Suzuki Teaching practice at her home – called ‘The Violin Hut’ as the entrance resembles a beach hut!
Mary is very happy to have had the support of her wonderful husband, David, a musician, for 35 years and they have two grown up children, Reuben and Rachel, who both love music – amongst many other things.
Video about Suzuki Teacher Training
The Violin Hut 