Len Tyler Music School
01276 504666
LEN TYLER psm CSAK LTCL(Mus Ed) CKME
It was in 1994 that Len left the army following a very successful career as a military musician. At the time of his leaving he was serving as a Director of Music and ranked 13th within 2000 posts in Army music. He retrained as a Kodaly musicianship teacher qualifying with Colourstrings, the British Kodaly Academy and Trinity College of Music in London. Len's speciality is with early childhood music education, although he does apply the Kodaly teaching principles to other areas of his work, both with adults and with instrumental teaching. Len is often in demand to give workshops on the Kodaly approach to music education both for early childhood and primary school classroom work and also for instrumental teaching, particularly within the wider opportunities scheme.
He founded the Len Tyler Music School, which now has over 500 pupils, in 1994. Despite these numbers he is still able to take an active teaching role in most classes for children between 2 and 6 years old. As a result of his extensive studies while in the Army he is able to play over 20 different instruments, including most brass, most woodwind and most stringed instruments. These instruments are brought into the Music School and demonstrated as part of the children's lessons. Where possible the children get 'hands on' with these instruments.
Len has spent three years on the Executive Committee of the British Kodaly Academy, and in 2000 was invited to become a member of their National Council. He is often in demand to give workshops and teacher training lectures both locally and nationally. Len is now considered to be one of the leading early childhood music educators in the south of England and is frequently visited by teachers from as far afield as Birmingham, Corby, and Kelso (Scotland), Oerlinghausen (Germany), Geneva (Switzerland) as well as by teachers closer to home.
Len, who lives near Camberley with his wife Rose and their two daughters, also manages and conducts "Da Capo Winds" which is a training band for both adults and children. A number of ex pupils from the Len Tyler Music School have found their way into Da Capo Winds. He also runs the woodwind group 'Clarinets Plus' which provides music workshops for primary schools.
Teaching Staff
ALEX RILEY
Alex graduated with a 2:1 in Music from Chichester University in 2005. She came
across LTMS by accident, while looking around for work experience in teaching. Despite
attending classes with a view to observing the teaching techniques, Alex found the
experience of learning in the LTMS kindergarten as much of a ‘big bang’ to her own
musical education as taking a degree course. Having gone with the belief usually
presented -
ANASTASIA CUNNINGHAM
Anastasia's musical training began with learning the piano at the age of six. The guitar, trombone, and various recorders were soon added, then later the church organ. Playing with the school orchestra and singing in one of the five school choirs also became an important part of musical life.
Since school and university, her musical life has been more low key, although she
still plays the piano and is involved in the musical side of her church, especially
with the children. She ran a toddler group locally for five years and enjoyed leading
the singing with the mums and children. She came to the Len Tyler Music School through
her younger child, who joined the school at the age of two, and was very impressed
with the approach -
CLAIRE RENNISON
Claire learned the recorder, the clarinet, and then the piano while at school, as well as singing in various choirs, and playing the guitar. She went on to take a degree in music and education, part of which included a study of Kodaly and Hungarian music education. She taught in a middle school for several years before having children, and joined the Len Tyler Music School in 1994 (when two of her sons were some of the earliest members of the school.) She subsequently obtained the Colourstrings Certificate in Music Kindergarten as well as doing other training with the British Kodaly Academy. Claire also teaches Kodaly early years for Berkshire Maestros. She enjoys choral singing and currently sings with the Chantry Singers, a Guildford chamber choir and an occasional choir called Ex Collegio.
DOMI (DOMINIQUE) LUDOT
Domi began her formal music education at the age of twelve when she began to learn
the flute under professor Jean Patéro (a former student of Marcel Moyse). Having
studied music in a number of institutions in France she taught music for four years
to children aged 5-
HELEN LAIRD
Helen moved into the area in 2004 and wanted to continue teaching music for young
children, having previously led music sessions for babies and pre-
For Helen, music has always been an important, and highly enjoyable part of life. She initially learnt the recorder and then took up the cello, aged 8, and later the piano. As a teenager she played in the Hampshire County Youth Orchestra and went on to play in the symphony orchestra at university and then various other chamber groups and orchestras in Hampshire, Oxford and London. She has always loved singing too, singing in the church choir from a young age and then in school and college choirs.
JUDITH WALLACE
Judith was persuaded by a friend to join one of Len’s classes when her third child was two and a half. She took some persuading having tried various music groups with her other two children and found them totally uninspiring. Within five minutes of being in the Len Tyler Music School class she was forced to pick her jaw up off the floor and wonder in bemusement why she had never been taught music in this way, and she was left to reflect how much further she would have got in her own musical career if she had had access to this type of Music education.
Needless to say she was a CONVERT! After much observation and many courses she joined
the teaching staff in September 2003. Judith teaches all ages within the Music School,
from tiny babies up to 7/8 year olds. She finds it very satisfying to see how much
enjoyment, self-
KATY GOULD
Katy has been involved in music for many years, learning the piano and violin when she was young. After an earlier career working with children, she went back to college and obtained a degree in Music and Drama, studying singing as her main subject. Katy has sung with many choral ensembles and notable choirs in London often taking part in Europe's contemporary music festivals. After working in the IT Service industry for many years, Katy is now focusing on teaching and has joined the Len Tyler Music School to pursue the wonderful Kodály approach to musical education. Like many, she wishes she had had a bit more ‘Kodály ‘ during her own musical training ..!
LUCIE ROBSON
Lucie's first experience with the Len Tyler Music School was accompanying her 4-
SALLY MYLES
Sally started her formal musical education at the age of 12, when she started to play the French horn. This was joined with piano a year later. Sally gained her degree from the Royal College of Music and played horn professionally for a number of years. Sally has always been passionate about exposing children to music early in their lives. She has taught for many years, both private and peripatetic. Her son attended LTMS classes and Sally went on a Kodaly music course out of interest. It completely blew her away! Now her younger child is also learning and Sally is absolutely thrilled to be part of the team.
Admin
LUCY ROOSE
Music has always been part of Lucy's life. As a child she played the violin and piano and sang in a choir all of which continued into adulthood and formed the basis for much of her social life but never her career. In the "old days" she worked for the English Tourist Board in London. She continues to play the violin for pleasure although currently not on a regular basis, and sing weekly with the Chantry Singers, a chamber choir in Guildford.
Having been part of the teaching team since 2006 Lucy took over the role of Music School Administrator in 2008. With Len, Lucy runs a "virtual office" from her home in Fleet, while Len runs his part of the "virtual office" from his home in Hawley. Lucy is mainly available on Mondays and Tuesday when there is no teaching commitment, but will always try to return messages left by email or on the answer machine as soon as possible.
Staff Profiles