With a background in teaching, research, and charitable work alongside her studies as a musician (as well as a student job presenting science shows!), Aimee is a natural animateur.
Since 2013 she has co-developed and delivered programmes introducing classical music to children for the Leeds Lieder festival: these have included Discovering Lieder for Key Stage 2 schoolchildren, an annual week long project within schools across Leeds culminating in a final performance at Leeds Town Hall; Family Lieder ('Heroes and Villains'), an interactive concert for under 12s and their grown-ups; and Lieder for Littl'Uns for under 5s and their families, a concert incorporating classical art song into an interactive storytelling experience for early years. These programmes have now introduced over a thousand children to classical music, winning the JM Barrie Action for Children's Arts Member's Award (for 'the heroes and heroines of children's arts') in 2019.
Her experience with children and adults with special educational needs includes an ongoing role as a musician for Jessie's Fund children's charity, a position which has included leading and assisting on the Soundtracks programme, with young people within respite care units, and with teachers and teaching assistants as part of a year long school development project. In 2015 she was a musical director for Armonico Consort's SEN Musical in a Day project, working with KS2 and KS3 children in a special school over three days to compose and perform a brand new musical show from scratch. She was also the founder of The Sunshine Singers, a weekly choir and music session for adults with a learning disability in Glasgow.
Since giving concerts for family members in care-home settings as a student Aimee has been passionate about the use of music in dementia care. Initially she trained as a student with the RNCM Music for Health programme, gaining experience of music-making within hospital settings with older adults. Inspired by this experience Aimee co-developed a 5 week programme for the Oakmere extra care development in Cheshire, leading sessions with residents as well as delivering staff training sessions and resources. For Givin' it Laldie over a period of 3 years she developed and delivered The Laldie Sessions, weekly music groups for residents within secure residential units in Glasgow, as well as a series of Dementia Music Cafés in conjunction with Alzheimer's Scotland; this work won an Evening Times Community Champion award in 2018. She was also delighted to be a discussion panellist for the Scottish Mental Health Arts Festival's screening of Young@Heart in 2017. Most recently she has joined Luminate (Scotland's Creative Ageing Organisation) as a Dementia Inclusive Singing trainer.
Aimee has also facilitated music workshops in a variety of other settings. These have included within HMP Barlinnie for the International Day of Prison Education, for Glasgow community integration project Bridging The Gap, with The Daisy Project for survivors of domestic abuse, on the wards of Yorkhill Children's Hospital, and for the Citizen's Theatre to complement Ricky Ross' musical The Choir and as part of theatre open days. She has also received extensive training in work with vulnerable people, including Streetwise Opera artist training, NHS Safetalk Suicide Prevention and Alcohol Awareness training, Scottish Drugs Forum Drugs Awareness Training, and extensive training on work with individuals with additional support needs.
Since 2013 she has co-developed and delivered programmes introducing classical music to children for the Leeds Lieder festival: these have included Discovering Lieder for Key Stage 2 schoolchildren, an annual week long project within schools across Leeds culminating in a final performance at Leeds Town Hall; Family Lieder ('Heroes and Villains'), an interactive concert for under 12s and their grown-ups; and Lieder for Littl'Uns for under 5s and their families, a concert incorporating classical art song into an interactive storytelling experience for early years. These programmes have now introduced over a thousand children to classical music, winning the JM Barrie Action for Children's Arts Member's Award (for 'the heroes and heroines of children's arts') in 2019.
Her experience with children and adults with special educational needs includes an ongoing role as a musician for Jessie's Fund children's charity, a position which has included leading and assisting on the Soundtracks programme, with young people within respite care units, and with teachers and teaching assistants as part of a year long school development project. In 2015 she was a musical director for Armonico Consort's SEN Musical in a Day project, working with KS2 and KS3 children in a special school over three days to compose and perform a brand new musical show from scratch. She was also the founder of The Sunshine Singers, a weekly choir and music session for adults with a learning disability in Glasgow.
Since giving concerts for family members in care-home settings as a student Aimee has been passionate about the use of music in dementia care. Initially she trained as a student with the RNCM Music for Health programme, gaining experience of music-making within hospital settings with older adults. Inspired by this experience Aimee co-developed a 5 week programme for the Oakmere extra care development in Cheshire, leading sessions with residents as well as delivering staff training sessions and resources. For Givin' it Laldie over a period of 3 years she developed and delivered The Laldie Sessions, weekly music groups for residents within secure residential units in Glasgow, as well as a series of Dementia Music Cafés in conjunction with Alzheimer's Scotland; this work won an Evening Times Community Champion award in 2018. She was also delighted to be a discussion panellist for the Scottish Mental Health Arts Festival's screening of Young@Heart in 2017. Most recently she has joined Luminate (Scotland's Creative Ageing Organisation) as a Dementia Inclusive Singing trainer.
Aimee has also facilitated music workshops in a variety of other settings. These have included within HMP Barlinnie for the International Day of Prison Education, for Glasgow community integration project Bridging The Gap, with The Daisy Project for survivors of domestic abuse, on the wards of Yorkhill Children's Hospital, and for the Citizen's Theatre to complement Ricky Ross' musical The Choir and as part of theatre open days. She has also received extensive training in work with vulnerable people, including Streetwise Opera artist training, NHS Safetalk Suicide Prevention and Alcohol Awareness training, Scottish Drugs Forum Drugs Awareness Training, and extensive training on work with individuals with additional support needs.
'There's just something about you - you just ooze positivity!' - Janice M, The DAISY (Domestic Abuse Integrated Support) Project
'Just a note to say you have no idea the difference it makes to the residents when your girls come to sing and play. Truly wonderful.' - Husband of resident, McNeil Street Care Home
'Aimee is a joy and should be available on the curriculum in schools.' - Attendee, Luminate Dementia Inclusive Community Singing Training Day