OUR TEAM

Hi, I'm Amy!

I'm a teacher at Riverside Special School. I have been a teacher for 5 years and really enjoy my job as a teacher. Alongside my teaching job, I teach our early year classes, music and movement and Drum 'n fun SEN drumming group (alongside Donna).

I am also in charge of programming at ASM so you will likely hear from me about our current programmes, and new ones we are launching! This year, I organised and ran the summer scheme for ASM- it was a wonderful 2 weeks and it has really given me even more motivation for music! I am really excited about introducing lots of new programmes for ASM and being able to teach these!

I have always enjoyed music from a young age from singing lesson, school choir or performing with my sisters and cousins in front of family! I just love the way music can help anyone express and communicate in different ways! I have always wanted to learn an instrument so last year I decided it was time I began this journey. I attended our adult group piano classes last year and will continue to do so this year as I progress my own learning.

I really enjoy teaching our early years classes where the sessions are about learning music with lots of fun such as dancing, singing, creating instruments and learning basic music theory aswell as exploring different instruments. I love joining in with the children and love seeing lots of smiling and happy faces!

Hi I'm Donna!

I've been playing the drums for 29 years. I got my first bodran at 8 years old and joined a folk group which lead onto getting a set of bongos which then lead onto a set of congas. At 13, I got my first drum kit and was in a rock band at age 15, gigging all over the place. We recorded some songs which was an awesome experience!

I have been teaching drums for about 15 years now! In my full time job as a special needs classroom assistant and music co-ordinator, I bring a wide range of music lessons to children of all needs. I've ran Rock clubs for teenagers and a wide range of music clubs for younger kids.

I'm delighted to be a part of the ASM team! I will be teaching 1-1 drums, basic beats class and our drum 'n fun SEN class (alongside Amy).

Hi, I'm Sarah!

I teach Musical theatre, singing, some of our group guitar classes and Uke Club!

I have been singing since I could walk and always dreamed of performing! I taught myself to play the guitar when I was 15 and have been playing and singing at weddings, gigs and on the internet ever since! I have also performed on the stage at Lyric Theatre and more recently at The Grand Opera House with Belfast Operatic Company! I also have a drama degree from Queens University.

Teaching music has always been a dream of mine! I remember doing my own singing grades in school and thinking how cool it would be to be able to teach someone else something I'm so passionate about. I was studying for my grade 8 in musical theatre this year and I saw the opportunity to teach at ASM and jumped at the chance! I have only been with the team a few months now but I love every minute of it. I have gained so much invaluable experience and more knowledge about music myself. Teaching at ASM has also opened up more opportunities for me to perform which is a beautiful bonus I wasn't expecting!

I am mostly inspired by how music makes me feel and how each individual person will interpret a piece of music in a completely different way and it's up to me as a tutor to guide my pupils to express how the music or piece of text makes them feel. My favourite pieces of music are those that help me to express emotion. My favourite musicals are Wicked, Waitress and anything from the Walt Disney company!!

My favourite part of the job is seeing my pupils get inspired, coming up with an idea for a character and just running with it, not caring what their peers think!

Hi I'm Claire!

I have been playing the piano since I was 8 years old. From the very young age, I created so much noise using the saucepans, lids and anything I could put my hands on! I got my first keyboard for Christmas and I was playing it non-stop. I even tried to create my own tunes and taught myself how to play Twinkle Twinkle Little Star. I was particularly drawn to the tactile and visual elements of music. I was around 6 or 7 when my parents put me in for piano lessons. I worked through my grades up to grade 6 but I had to stop due to college commitments. I am now working towards achieving my grade 8 and I am beginning to learn to play the violin again and taking up singing lessons! I enjoy learning and continuing to develop myself musically- it's never too late to take up an instrument!

I also enjoy art, photography and theatre. I gained experience working at the Lyric Theatre at the age of 16 and continued to gain more experience in the Grand Opera House with the Ulster Association of Youth Drama. I had the opportunity to take on a lifetime experience to work in the popular McGill's University Theatre in Canada where I worked as the stage manager.

Finally, I am deaf and have been since birth but this has never stopped me from playing music. Music has always been a huge part of my life from a very young age and I want to show the pupils that nothing should stop you from learning an instrument regardless of having a disability or not! Music is for everyone to enjoy!

I am really delighted to be part of the ASM team and I look forward to teaching pupils in some of our group piano classes this year.