Our teachers

Our Head of Service is Shân ALLEN. Shân started teaching music in 2006 and became Head of Service at West Country School Music in 2012. She is the mother of 3 girls who all learned to play instruments while at school. Shân enjoyed

playing music (mostly the clarinet) during her school years so much that she wanted to share this passion and enable as many children as possible to enjoy the fun and satisfaction of playing an instrument, either alone or in a group.

Shân currently leads Honiton Youth Orchestra (see their website here) which welcomes children of approximately Grade 1 standard upwards to join together to play a wide range of music. The orchestra provides regular performance opportunities.

Timothy LINSLEY MMus

Tim completed a Masters degree in Music specialising in organ at The Birmingham Conservatoire. He has also successfully completed the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music Grade 8 Examinations in clarinet, organ and saxophone, as well as Graded Examinations in pianoforte, guitar and music theory. He is a competent player of wind instruments and keyboard accompanist.

Tim is registered with the West Country School Music as a teacher and has successfully completed our training course. He is a very patient and thorough teacher and enjoys helping primary age children develop their musical skills on their chosen instrument(s).

Tim has been actively involved with music making from a young age, starting with the Yamaha Electone organ at the age of 7 before progressing to the church organ. After completing three cathedral organ scholarships following his degree, Tim is now Musical Director at Bridport Church where he plays regularly for services and trains the church choir.

Tim played clarinet and saxophone in his school windband and jazz band and guitar with the early music group. He also played clarinet with the Dorset Youth Wind Orchestra. Whilst at music college he played with the Birmingham Conservatoire Wind Orchestra, The National Youth Wind Orchestra of Great Britain and The Birmingham Concert Orchestra, as well as giving organ recitals at local churches.

Tim aims to provide his students with fun, engaging and inspiring lessons and for them to enjoy the beautiful gift of music making. He is also an assistant teacher at the Scratch! music group which Shân runs in Honiton (see above).

Vanessa TYRRELL B.A. (Hons)

Vanessa has worked as a Principal Instrumental Music tutor for Berkshire Young Musicians Trust. She has an Honours degree in Music.

She has successfully completed the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music Grade 8 examinations in flute (with Distinction), Piano (with Merit) and theory and is a very accomplished player of wind instruments with wide practical experience of producing good results with young children in Associated Board (Royal Schools of Music) public examinations.

Vanessa is registered with the West Country School Music as a teacher of all of our advertised instruments and has successfully completed our Training Courses.

She is a very conscientious teacher and derives a great deal of pleasure from seeing young children starting on a new instrument and developing their musical skills.

Vanessa has a wide range of musical interests and abilities and has toured and appeared on television with the Dartington Gamelan Ensemble.