Hi! I’m Naomi. As well as being a mother of two and a Community Musician, I am also a Singing for Wellbeing Leader and a Trainee Music Therapist.
Musical training
I am a classically trained violinist, pianist, and singer, as well as a self-taught acoustic guitarist who also dabbles in electric guitar and bass guitar (using guitar to accompany my Singing for Wellbeing sessions). I began playing the violin at the age of six in my hometown of Tamworth, Staffordshire under the tuition of two brilliant teachers, Alan Brown and Frances Lewis. I was very fortunate to grow up at a time when instrumental lessons in school remained free of charge for parents, or at least were heavily subsidised. I achieved my Grade 8 in Violin at the age of seventeen, passing with merit. I have always loved to sing, but it was not until September 2019 (shortly after I turned 40!) that I began to study classical singing technique under the fantastic Clare Lash-Williams, and in Summer 2023 I took the plunge and entered for my Grade 8 which I passed with distinction.
A background in Health and Social Care Research
A graduate in History from the University of Exeter, I also hold an MA in Social Policy from Birmingham University, and a PG Cert. in Research Methods in Social Sciences from Oxford Brookes University. From 2002 to 2012 I worked in the field of Health and Social Care Research in research units in Oxford, London and Dartington, working to empower patients and service users to have greater choice in decisions about their care.
Throughout this time however, music continued to be an important part of my life, and I played regularly as a member of local amateur symphony orchestras, most recently Exeter Music Group (EMG) Symphony Orchestra, now the Devon Philharmonic Orchestra.
Transition from research to music (2011 – 2015)
In 2011, expecting my second child, I started to think about moving away from a career in academic research to one in music. Research regularly took me away from my young family to overnight conferences and courses across the UK, but music was something I could share with my children and include them in. I joined the Alzheimer’s Society as a volunteer Support Singer, and as my confidence grew, I increasingly welcomed the opportunity to lead parts of Singing for the Brain™ sessions, and I felt able to say “yes” when a fellow parent at my daughter’s primary school (having learnt that I played piano myself) asked if I could teach her child to play. Word of mouth recommendations resulted in more parents and carers getting in touch until I had around thirty regular pupils.
One-to-one teaching (2015 – 2023)
I provided one-to-one tuition in violin, piano, guitar and singing for many children and adults from my home in Exmouth from 2015 to 2023. I also offered, and continue to provide, accessible music sessions for students who find traditional music teaching methods difficult to engage with: including children, teens and adults with autism, ADHD, anxiety, learning disabilities and physical disabilities including visual impairment.
Singing for Wellbeing (2015 – present)
Since 2015 I have been a practising Singing for Wellbeing Leader: I qualified as an approved Singing for the Brain™ Leader with the Alzheimer’s Society in 2015 and have since led the Exmouth branch of this wonderful initiative with the support of an incredible team of volunteers and Alzheimer’s Society staff. I also facilitate the Exeter Stroke Singing Group, and am a visiting Singing for Wellbeing leader for Rose Lodge Care Home, Fernihurst Nursing Home and Brandon House Care Home in Exmouth.
Exmouth Youth Theatre (2019 – 2023)
From 2019 to 2023 I worked with Exmouth Youth Theatre as Musical Director for shows including Annie Junior, Roald Dahl’s Matilda the Musical Junior, We Will Rock You young@part, and School of Rock.
Music Therapy training (2023 – present)
In 2023 I applied and auditioned for a place on the Masters in Music Therapy course at the University of the West of England (UWE) Bristol and am overjoyed to say I was offered a place on the course. I am so happy to be a Trainee Music Therapist! If all goes well I will qualify as a HCPC accredited Music Therapist in 2026.
Other training and qualifications
I am a trained Youth Mental Health First Aider and Emergency First Aider at Work, and have full and current DBS Clearance.