Pam's Music

Music has always been a very important part of my life and I loved singing even when I was in primary school and although both my maternal grandparents were teachers and musicians I didn’t ever have any formal music training.  It wasn’t until I had children of my own that I started to want to learn more for them and for myself.

However, I sung with Chester Music Society for several years (when I lived in that area – many years ago); with Kent Music School at Gravesend and for a short time with Dartford Choral Society and Eltham Choral Society.   Much of my singing has been with Choirs of the Churches that I have attended.

I and my 3 sons belonged to St Paul’s Church in Northumberland Heath for about 10 years and I sang in the choir, then when my eldest son became organist at St Augustine’s Church in Slade Green (he was too young to drive there himself) I joined the choir there.   I then went with my second son to Holy Trinity Church in Dartford and with my third son to the Baptist Church in Erith. They were all too young to drive at the time and so I took them and stayed with them and again sang in the choir of each Church. During that time I took singing lessons and successfully passed Grade 6 singing examination of the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music.

I now sing in the choir at St Michael’s & All Angels Church in Wilmington where Alan my husband is Organist and Choirmaster and I play flute in St Michael’s music group.
Although I had played recorder at primary school I did not have any musical training and when my eldest son started recorder and then flute lessons at primary school, I decided that I would also like to learn to play the flute.  So I had lessons with Chris Lloyd who was Principal Flute of Royal Artillery Band and passed most of my Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music (ABRSM) flute exams with him.  Eventually I changed teachers and had lessons with Diane Baxter from Kent Music School and successfully passed my Grade 8 ABRSM exam.  Both Chris and Diane are great friends and I will always be grateful for all they have given me.

Two years ago, I decided that I would have oboe lessons, and as my second son Ian, rarely played his oboe, I borrowed it.   I now have lessons from Julia Lloyd who is Chris’s wife and she has taught me so well that I have passed my ABRSM Grade 5 exam with merit and I am now studying for Grade 6.

Dartford Concert Band has been in existence for about 28 years and I have played the flute there since I joined about 15 years ago.  Two years ago when I started learning to play the oboe I changed my position in the band to play oboe.  I worried at the time whether this was the right thing to do as there were only two flutes and I was one of them.  However two other flutes players joined within a short time so I felt it was now appropriate to play oboe.  It is great fun, and at times difficult and nerve racking when coming up to a concert, but we all enjoying playing together.
I did also start to have piano lessons many years ago now from Julia Lloyd and did achieve Grade 3 ABRSM but find I simple don’t have time to continue and leave all that to my husband Alan.

Opera is something I grew to love about 7 years ago.    When I was young I remember my mother used to listen to opera and music on the radio a lot of the time.   So although I could recognise so much opera I didn’t actually know what the arias/choruses were, and when I found an extended learning course at the Rose Bruford College in Sidcup called ‘Opera Studies as Theatre Studies’ I knew I wanted to know more.   The course will give me a BA validated by Manchester University and at present I am now trying to finish essays for the final modules of the degree.   I find it is a struggle to keep up to date with study, when working full time and being involved with music at Church and realise it will take me longer to complete than I thought when I first started to study.
                                                                                                             
My favourite composer – well it is Mozart mostly, but sometimes it’s Aaron Copland, or Grieg or Benjamin Britten, Monteverdi, Verdi, Elgar or even, dare I say, John Williams.  There is just so much music to listen to and experience, and at times it evokes such deep feelings.  

 For me the greatest thing is to worship through music, either by singing, playing or by just listening and thanking God for this gift.


I have now (August 2009) completed the course and have obtained my BA Opera Studies degree.

Graduation Day Saturday 12th September 2009 at Rose Bruford College.