Biography
Introduction: I am a music psychologist working as a Senior Researcher at the Lucerne University of Applied Arts and Sciences in Switzerland. My current research projects focus on using music for health and wellbeing with two areas of investigation: 1 - the use of rhythmical music to help motivate and manage movements for people with Parkinson's, and 2 - the wellbeing of musicians.
I am the External Examiner for the BA (Hons) Career Musician and MA Music Entrepreneur courses at WaterBear College of Music, Falmouth University, UK.
I am also a professional member of the Swiss Society for Music Medicine, the International Judo Research Unit (iDojo) at the University of Hertfordshire, the Society for Education and Music Psychology Research (SEMPRE), and of the British Association for Sport & Exercise Sciences (BASES).
My musical background is as a professional drummer (current; The Frog Princess - Punked, previous; Rantipoles, Gertrude, Right Said Fred, Altered Images). I also hold black belts in two martial arts; Danzan Ryu Ju Jitzu and WTF Tae Kwon Do.
Recent Projects: My postdoctoral research (2016-2018) was conducted at the University of Hertfordshire. It focused on the different effects of auditory cues (music and metronomes) on synchronization and entrainment of different types of movements for people with Parkinson`s.
Academic Background: I completed an MSc. (Music, Mind and Brain) and Ph.D. (supervised by Professor Pam Heaton and Dr Alice Jones Bartoli) also at Goldsmiths. My thesis investigated the cognitive, behavioural and socio-emotional effects of becoming and being a musician in children and adults. Prior to academia, I taught artist development at the British & Irish Modern Music Insitute (BIMM) and worked as professional drummer and drum teacher in the UK.
Arts & Media: I have written articles for drum magazines such as Rhythm and Drummer and have previously appeared in The Happiness Project, a Wellcome Trust funded project in association with The Roundhouse, London. I appeared on BBC MidWeek and Absolute Radio for this project, and recently again for a BBC documentary on the therapeutic effects of dance with Darcey Bussell. I have also given talks on the use of music to reduce symptoms for people with Parkinson's for Parkinson's UK, the Manchester Institute for Collaborative Research on Ageing (MICRA), and at The Francis Crick Institute and on the Power of Music at the Royal Festival Hall (Meltdown Festival).
