Kate Thompson Music

06/02/2026

Fascinating!

Brain activity suggests newborns can detect and predict patterns relating to rhythm, study says

28/01/2026

This review from a very lovely lady made my day!

I love teaching adults 😊

14/01/2026

The Die of Destiny, Reborn….

When you are 8 years old, and you play a piece of music, would you choose to repeat the fun bit that you can already play without fault? Or work on the tricky part, where you know you probably fall over?

And if you have ADHD and your brain has already moved on to the next thing before you have mastered any part of the piece, would you choose to play it more than once? Maybe you would. Or maybe you would find repeating anything tedious in the extreme.

The Die of Destiny came into being for just such an occasion. When I wanted a young man to fix the tricky parts of a piece, and he said no. This young man in particular is fun and vibrant and a very, very good sport. So we turned it into a game.

I labelled sections of his piece with the numbers one to six. No, actually, I labelled them with the numbers one to five. The number six was reserved for something else…

Enter the Die of Destiny. With a casual roll of the die, Destiny selected which part my student should play - with a specific focus each time (note reading, rhythmic accuracy, dynamic shaping…). It soon became apparent that this could occupy an entire lesson, with no objections whatsoever. Of course, the whole thing can become more targeted when only particular problem areas in the piece are labelled. Then at the end of the lesson he plays the piece all the way through. And now it's ALL doable, all fun and none of it needs to be avoided.

So what does rolling a six mean? Well, this student finds it difficult to sit for any length of time and play the piano. He just needs to work off a bit of physical energy every few minutes to keep him focused. So we make that part of the game. Six star jumps, push-ups or hops. (I watch in incredulous fascination, as I would struggle to do ONE push-up without turning into a beetroot and collapsing on the floor.) It turns out it's even more entertaining if 5 means student push-ups and 6 means ME doing star jumps.....

For years, the Dice of Destiny has been faithfully putting in the hours, until the last week of term when tragedy struck.

It was no longer possible to ignore the fact that Destiny's dots had faded into invisibility, rendering them null and void.

So, Sharpie in hand, with the aid of a mini roll of sticky tape whose inner dimensions happen to be the perfect template, I have restored it to its former glory.

Long live the Die of Destiny!

02/12/2025

Can't wait to use these little guys in my lessons!

They're so handy for marking chords, scales, hand position movements etc on the keys. And the ever popular 'Race to the End of the Piano' game, to drill keyboard geography.

And look at their little faces - so cute! ⛄

20/07/2025

Love this! ❤

https://www.facebook.com/reel/746201788063387

10/07/2025

One of the hardest things about my job is saying goodbye....

It doesn't happen very often with private students. But every July I say goodbye to the lovely Y6's I teach in school, as they finish primary school and head off on their next adventure.

As teachers we watch them grow all through primary school. They tell us their hopes and fears. They share their struggles and successes. We challenge them to try new things, to push themselves, to achieve beyond their expectations.

We remember when their hands were too small to play full-fingered chords. When their feet didn't reach the floor. When they looked up to the 'Big Children' in Y6 with awe and admiration. Then, suddenly, they ARE the Y6's and they're playing the keyboard with confidence and style. They handle chords with ease. They play with musicality and finesse. And it's time for them to move on to secondary school and say goodbye.

Goodbye, my lovely Y6's! What a privilege to have taught you 😊

11/06/2025

Just clearing out some old boxes and came across this....

What a memory! April 2000 - the first time I heard Messiah performed live. In the Royal Albert Hall, with one of the best seats in the house. Front row, Box 22 - thanks to some extremely kind and generous friends. I was blown away by one of the most beautiful, moving, sublime musical works ever written.

And that moment when we stood for the Hallelujah chorus - I just can't find the words to describe. The orchestra began, then the wall of sound hit me as the choir lifted their voices in harmony.

That's one to treasure.

29/05/2025

Music is like magic.

I'm not a music therapist, but I see the therapeutic value of music every day.

The student with ADHD - visibly agitated when he arrives, calm and laughing when he leaves.

The student who is finding life difficult - who plays well, and says "at last, this is something I can do right".

The student with dementia - whose playing brings back so many memories from decades ago, and rolls back the years to times that seemed forgotten.

The student with autism - who turns out to be awesome at improvising. So aware of musical expression, so good at filling her music with emotions that are too hard to put into words.

And me? I get to watch it all happening 😊

10/02/2025

This article caught me eye - because I love teaching adults, and I also love game-based learning.

It's very interesting to see a scientific study on the affect piano lessons have on mental health in seniors.

The power of music ❤

It feels like we’re finally talking more openly about mental health these days. We know now how much anxiety and depression overlap with issues like chronic pain, neurodegeneration, and addiction. …

15/01/2025

When PC Victoria Sandwich drove to work, she had no idea of the heinous crime she was about to discover.

A shocking case of intrigue, deception and....cake theft.

A crime so dark that DCI Iva Teapot was the only man for the job.

With DCI Teapot on the case, and the full force of the law behind him, it's only a matter of time before the culprit is found.

My dedicated team of musicians at Toot Club, will uncover the clues as the dramatic story unfolds - but can they crack the case in only 30 minutes?

T***s at the ready - there's not a moment to lose!

For those who may be wondering if I've lost my marbles - fear not. T***s are musical instruments like little plastic flutes. They're fab for small hands, and great in schools are they're cheap, washable, easy to hold and (fairly!) difficult to break accidentally.

I run Toot Club in a local primary school. We have loads of fun playing musical games and learning how to play the Toot. This week, effort will be rewarded with clues, as my Toot Club stars try to solve the crime...

24/10/2024

Fun and friendly group keyboard lessons for adult beginners - starting on Tuesday 5th November in The Old Post Centre, Newhall, Swadlincote.

Why not give not give it a go? 😊

Come & give it a try out!

27/09/2024

When you teach a child with significant additional needs, and you see how big the challenges in front of him are.

And you work with him week after week, trying to find what makes him tick and how to use that.

Then after months he wants to perform in school, and you hope with all your heart he will manage and it will be ok...

And he smashes it! He gets a Headteacher's Award, and he's so proud that it looks like he might burst!

That's the best feeling!