Where will I be in 10 years' time?

In 2016, when my youngest daughter Julia was 9, she asked me this question:

'Where will you be in 10 years' time, Mum?'

and after a few moments of thinking my answer was...

'in 10 years' time I don't want to still be saying... "one day I will do an MA"...

...I want to have actually done it!'

So in 2017, motivated by Julia's question, I got on with it and started a three-year MA in Early Childhood Music Education at CREC - Centre for Research in Early Childhood in Birmingham.

When people asked me why I was doing it and what I hoped to gain. I didn’t have a strategic answer - I didn't really know where it would lead! I simply wanted to deepen and broaden my understanding - to satisfy a growing curiosity... and go in whatever direction it led me!

That curiosity changed everything. The MA opened my eyes to the world of research and helped me see just how much there was still to learn, both academically and in my teaching . I became fascinated not only by how children respond to music, but by what the adults in my groups were taking away. It confirmed something vital: in family music, the adults are central. They are both learners and teachers, partners, collaborators and the bridge to nurturing meaningful musical experiences at home.

As I was coming to the end of my MA, I had a conversation with Nicola Burke (researcher and author of Music Development Matters) that was truly transformative. Nicola introduced me to Rosie Adediran (well respected for her work with London Rhymes). Rosie had also been researching family music with a particular interest in group leaders from Libraries and children centres - many of whom don't see themselves as musicians. The three of us started talking… and five years later, we’re still talking, working, and building The Family Music Hub together.

Today, I’m proud and excited to be a co-Director of The Family Music Hub, alongside Nicola and Rosie. We’re committed to supporting music-making for families across the country, championing high-quality practice, supporting the workforce and building a community where research, creativity, and generous collaboration can flourish. Here is a short video that tells you more about our organisation!

Find out more about The Family Music Hub!

Over the past two years, The Family Music Hub has been developing and delivering training programmes (face to face and virtual) for group leaders across the country. In January we are taking the next step in our organisation's development and launching an online subscription platform The Hub to support equip and connect group leaders who include music in their work with 0-5s and their families! We are looking forward to working with large numbers of library staff, family workers, volunteers, faith group leaders, teachers and many others. We will help them to get the most out of every song and rhyme and, through music, improve lives and experiences for families everywhere. Here's another short video that tells you all about The Hub and it's contents!

Find out more about The Hub and its contents....

And Julia often reminds me of her role in all of this ... it was her question that inspired me to move my career forward and get on with my studies!

..... and yesterday, Julia (now 18 and in her first year at University) asked me again...

'Where will you be in 10 years' time, Mum?'

My answer to her and to everyone reading this is that, with Nicola, Rosie and The Family Music Hub, I honestly believe we will be influencing amd supporting family music practice across England, across the United Kingdom and across the World and .... to quote my really wonderful fellow MA students Sophie, Monica, Kate and Kendra ... We can do it, we will do it, you watch us do it!