Medley Music For Schools Ltd is a music education company that delivers music lessons to children in schools. Founded by Fran Sixsmith in 2017, Medley Music has over 1000 students and offers a variety of music programs, including keyboard, vocal, and performance opportunities.
MEET THE TEAM
Fran Sixsmith
I absolutely love working with the children in the primary schools, getting to know them, their characteristics and encouraging their personalities to shine through music.
From a big family, I was surrounded by music and started to learn the piano from age nine, thanks to my lovely Mum and Dad, studying the ABRSM examinations and later going on to learn to play the flute, keyboard and ukulele as my main instruments.
I enjoyed teaching children and adults during my time running the Yamaha Music School in Warrington, entering students for Trinity examinations.
Approached by the Warrington Music Service, it was a pleasure to work with the team and develop my skills since 2007, delivering whole class music lessons to the primary schools in warrington.
I was delighted to be recognised and ultimately win the Classic FM Peripatetic National Music Teacher of the Year in 2011. Off I went to The Royal Albert Hall with family, friends and colleagues to be awarded on stage in front of an audience of thousands at the Music For Youth Schools Prom Concert by Sarah Teather MP, Minister of State for Children and Families.
In 2017 I founded Medley Music For Schools Ltd and have immensely enjoyed working with Headteachers to support their children with the music national curriculum.
I have worked with Senior Leadership Teams in schools to map out endpoints and ensure that the national curriculum for music was not only covered but enhanced. During a December 2023 Ofsted inspection, music was recognised as being a real strength.
I have been fortunate to work with local historian Chris Bent, initiating remembrance compositions with the children from schools, who have researched the history of the fallen and learning of the warrington bombing. Each year Medley Music brings children together from schools to perform a Medley Music Melodies concert and our special guests Wendy and Colin Parry attend, whilst the children perform a remembrance song for Tim Parry and Johnathan Ball.
I have a great team supporting me and we continuously evolve the Medley Music provision, ensuring each lesson is delivered in a fun and engaging, as well as educational approach, to meet the national curriculum objectives. I particularly enjoy the children performing as a whole class and in school choirs throughout the year.
Quality time with my husband, two lovely children and my close family and friends is particularly important to me. I may also have been known to get up and perform myself, in the odd karaoke or two!
Meet the team
Su Ancliffe
Su began playing keyboard instruments at around 5 years old. Her first music lessons were on recorder at school. She then went on to study piano, guitar, oboe and flute and continued with these through to university, gaining a BA (Hons) in Music with Education Studies.
Su began teaching instrumental lessons in 1995 and joined the keyboard project in its inception in 2007. As well as teaching, she has been involved in writing and recording for our courses. She believes she has the best job in the world!
Su played oboe in the Stockport Schools Wind Band and has continued to play with Werneth Concert Band since 1995. She also plays bass in the swing band and conducts a community ladies choir.
Su feels that the opportunities she had to learn and participate in music at school played a huge part in both her choice of career and her love of making music.
Su enjoys many styles of music, but has a particular passion for 80s pop and electronica and, of course, ABBA.
Meet the team
Mary Stockley
Mary joined Medley Music in 2022 and has brought a wealth of knowledge, experience, enthusiasm and a nothing is too much trouble approach to the team.
Mary has been a music teacher for over 20 years. She studied early music, specialising in recorder and harpsichord at Cork School of Music graduating with a BMus in 2004. Since then Mary has performed as a soloist around Ireland and the North West of England.
Nowadays Mary teaches piano, recorder and flute as well as teaching classroom music. In her spare time Mary enjoys knitting, cross stitching and Egyptology.