How It All Began

Little did I know that when I started running classes in April 1993, then known as Musical Minors, that I would still be doing so this many years later! It was to be a stop gap before returning to the classroom, but I never anticipated that I would find so much enjoyment and reward in working with such young children, not to mention the fact that it was a job that fitted around my family, always allowing me to be there for them.

From a very young age I knew that I wanted to teach in some capacity, and that it had to involve music! After A levels I went to Music College, and followed that with a teacher training course, becoming a primary school teacher with responsibility for music in September 1980. I stopped teaching in July 1986 to have the first of my three children and I started running music classes when the youngest was three, thinking that I would go back to formal teaching when he was five. Ben is now eighteen and taking his A levels! Charlotte, my eldest is completing her Masters in Sports Science with Psychology and Emma, my middle child, has been a nursery nurse for almost two years and is a qualified NVQ 3. All of my children were exposed to music from before birth and have all shown themselves to be musical in various ways (the girls did piano and danced, and all three can sing well and have a great sense of rhythm), but it is only my son, a drummer, who is taking music further and will be starting a two year music course at Amersham College in September.

I have owned my business since January 1994 and have had a number of teachers since April 1996. I currently have one class teacher to assist me, Alison Howard, who runs the classes in Marlow Bottom and Widmer End. Alison will also help me in Forty Green when necessary. I run all of the classes in Forty Green and work in a local nursery one morning a week. Following a recent session with the Marlow Opportunity Playgroup which benefits children with various disabilities, I am now going to visit them on a weekly basis.

Since September 2004, I have worked with SureStart Children’s Centres in and around High Wycombe, and now I am involved with the Children’s Centres in the Ivers.

Jo Jingles Franchisee of the Year 2007

Jo Jingles Beaconsfield is thrilled to announce that we won Jo Jingles Franchisee of the Year 2007 at our recent company Annual Conference.

When I first started my local franchise over 10 years ago little did I imagine that I would now be part of a UK network of over 100 Jo Jingles franchisees. More than 20,000 children now attend classes in the UK and in Ireland every week.

I continue to love what I do and gain enormous satisfaction from seeing how many children enjoy our musical programmes. I'm very proud of my local team and it really is a joint effort – I couldn't do it without them. So many thanks to all Jo Jinglers who have attended my classes in the past and to all current Jinglers! I hope you continue to have as much fun as I do!”

Fundraising at Jo Jingles Beaconsfield - Children in Need 2007

Val and her team would like to say a very big THANK YOU to everyone who has helped us to raise money for Children in Need, whether it be by contributions to the "penny pot", filling raisin/Smartie boxes, children being sponsored by friends an family for our national "Singalong", general donations or sponsoring Val in her quest to photograph Jo in as many public places as possible!

Our total raised at Jo Jingles Beaconsfield this year was £2,275! In addition to this, we sold more of our Jo Jingles charity CD's than in previous years, so thank you once again to all who bought one!

NEW BABY CLASS

There will be a new class for 6 months to walking at Forty Green, Beaconsfield on Tuesdays at 11.30am.

This is my fifth year of running Jo Jingles Summer Fun Family Sessions for children age 1 - 8 years, enabling families to enjoy the classes together. All sessions will take place at Forty Green Community Hall, Gomms Wood Close, Forty Green, Beaconsfield and will be an hour long. Places need to be booked in advance so please call or email for an application form. The sessions will be on either Tuesday or Friday mornings 10:00 -11:00am. The proposed dates are:

• Tues 22^nd, Fri 25^th and Tues 29^th July
• Tues 12^th, Tues 19^th, Fri 22nd and Fri 29^th August
• Tues 2^nd September.

Children who do not currently attend Jo Jingles classes are welcome to join these sessions.

PRESTWOOD CLASS

This class is unable to run at present due to lack of a teacher

JO JINGLES IN YOUR NURSERY OR SCHOOL

If you would like Jo Jingles to come to your nursery or school, please call for details.

AFTER SCHOOL CLASS FOR 4½ to 7 YEAR OLDS

I am hoping to restart the After School class at Forty Green from September; it will be on a Thursday afternoon at 4:00 pm, or 4:15 pm if a slightly later time is preferred. It will run for 45 minutes and children who have not previously attended Jo Jingles classes are welcome. Children may be left and collected later, but parents are welcome to stay if they wish.

As always, the emphasis is on having fun while the children learn. The classes will have one or more of the following things each week - rhythm work, multi-instrument songs, use of the handbells and chime bars, classical music appreciation, music and movement and action songs, incorporating lots of our favourite props. Some of the songs used are familiar ones, but some are new and much more suited to older children.

Some First Schools are unable to provide much in the way of music for Reception to Year 2, so if your child has started school, really enjoys music and would like to experience more, please call for more information and to register your details.