*** I've just had my first study day at St Andrew's University for the Certificate in Jazz course - totally and utterly fantastic and brilliant!!!  I can't wait until the contact day in November...***

I have been playing the trumpet since I was old enough to be able to hold it ... I was really lucky in that my maternal grandfather, my 'papa' - Jimmy McLellan (trumpeter, band leader, brass tutor, etc) taught me the trumpet and, my paternal grandfather, my 'pappy' - William McMillan (pianist, organist and piano & organ teacher) taught me the piano and theory of music.  (Plus of course I have to mention and thank Mum & Dad's input - they wouldn't let me or my sisters give up this unique opportunity to learn two instruments and ensured we kept practising!!!)

Through my grandfathers,  I progressed through the London College of Music grades (Grades 1-4 for theory and Grades 1-5 for piano) and the Associated Board Of The Royal Schools Of Music grades (Grade 5 theory and Grades 3-7 in trumpet).  After Papa died, I continued to work on my trumpet skills and sat my SQA Higher Music (Parts I, II and IV - my project was on the three trumpeters Louis Armstrong, Harry James and Wynton Marsalis) and was awarded an 'A'.  I missed the chance to sit my Grade 8 trumpet whilst still at school (left 2 months before the 'time slot' for the music exams!) but I continued working on it and was fortunate enough to meet Geraint Evans (trombone tutor) whilst at the University of Wales, Aberystwyth.  With his guidance, I sat my Grade 8 during the summer of '96 and achieved a pass with merit.

I have played in numerous bands from the moment Papa let me first join his big band - the KVO (Kirkintilloch Variety Orchestra) - at the age of 11 or 12.  Oh, and I haven't always played jazz, swing, big band and blues although that's where my passion lies and how I was brought up*.  I had played for many years with the Highland Chamber Orchestra until my health deteriorated before my transplant and, whilst at school, I played not only in Lenzie Academy's School Orchestra (from P7), Wind Band and Concert Band but also the East Dunbartonshire Senior Orchestra (even playing lead & solo trumpet with Lorna in Shostakovich's Symphony No 5 in S5!), Concert Band, Wind Band, Jazz Group, and successfully auditioned for the National Youth Wind Ensemble For Scotland and played with them in Ayr for several years.  Plus the fact that I now work in a Highland school (and have done for the last 11 years) means that you can't escape from helping out (the music department won't let you!) with the school's orchestra, jazz group, brass group, wind band, etc plus the local Ross-Shire Wind Band, Ben Bhraggie Band (when it was running), etc!

I continue to push myself hard in my music - I have now been to two Fife Summer Jazz Courses (2006 & 2007) to improve my improvisation skills (I had originally attended a jazz workshop whilst at uni during 1996 and managed to gain 5 credits at level 1!) and now I've signed up for the University of St Andrews Scottish Certificate in Jazz starting in October 2007.  Oh, and I will have joined the Musician's Union once my next pay cheque arrives.

Oh, and over the last year or so I've been learning the bass ...

... and the guitar and some other instruments!

(I had asked if I could borrow a cello as I've always wanted to learn the cello, so they gave me an instrument that looked like it was a cello ... I soon discovered it was a half size bass as they needed a bass player!!!  I've now borrowed a 3/4 size one, totally love playing it and haven't really looked back as I'm now in so many bands because of my bass playing although i do still dream of playing a cello one day... )