Contact the adviser, Val

Where do I begin? Well, here I go. I was brought up in Northern Ireland I started playing the recorder at primary school, alongside the Cello and Piano.

I went to an all-girls’ state comprehensive school in Bangor, County Down, which had a fabulous music department and a dedicated team of music teachers who from the time I joined the school to leaving gave me every opportunity to learn, play, laugh and live music.

I performed at the Belfast Music Festival and throughout Northern Ireland playing recitals and concertos. I trained with Keith Rogers and Fiona Donnan, annually played at recorder play days at QUB Early Music Society where Philip Thorby and others tutored. I finished my studies at Stranmillis Teacher Training College, Queens University, Belfast. I gained my LTCL in Recorder Teaching in 1987 and have been using it ever since. The minute I could, I got on the boat and came to England. That was that was 35 years ago.

I joined u3a in October 2019 as I was caring for a friend with dementia and, thanks to the wonderful Sutton Coldfield Recorder Group, found a home for my recorders and I. Since then, I have assisted at our meetings, arranged music on musescore for the group through lockdown and beyond, and tutored some of the other members online and face to face. I helped arrange our first playday with Helen Hooker, July 2023.

I am a member of the Society of Recorder Players and have attended the annual festival for the last couple of years which is always fun.

As Recorder Subject Adviser I am here for all members of u3a, no matter what your level, from beginner to more advanced.

I am hoping to talk to all the recorder leaders about their groups in the coming weeks and see where we all are at.

I am happy to share my scores with all u3a groups and to assist sourcing music etc for you. I am available for all members especially if you are a beginner and need a hand to get started through two weekly online sessions.

I’m going to be available for anyone who has a query and needs assistance. Be it learning the treble/ descant/tenor/bass, how to read music, or tips on articulation and styles.

I will be setting up through the online learning platform through u3a Recorder Assist and learn area where scores at all levels can be accessed. Duets/Trios/Quartets and larger forces.

Photos from events in Walsall, Lichfield and Birmingham

Happy recorder playing!

Hopefully, anyone reading this gets the idea that I am really looking forward to meeting with you and learning how I can be of use to you. Hopefully learning, laughing our way through any problems and creating good recorder music playing together across the u3a UK.