Karen Rough, who teaches at The Lindfield School, Eastbourne, has been named as Music Teacher of the Year for children with special educational needs by Classic FM.
Karen, who has taught at the school for 11 years, picked up her award and £10,000 worth of music equipment and technology for the school, at the glittering Music for Youth Schools Proms at the Royal Albert Hall on 9 November.
Karen said she felt it was really important that children with special educational needs had the chance to enjoy music and benefit from the skills it teaches them. She said: “Everybody has an opportunity to participate in class – a lot of our pupils are on the autistic spectrum, some have social communication difficulties or poor literacy skills but music is something they can excel in and enjoy.”
Having been brought up in East Sussex Karen said she was inspired to take up music by her experiences with East Sussex County Council's Music Service. A keen clarinet player herself she received peripatetic music lessons at school in Brighton and spent three years at the Lewes-based music service academy.
Councillor John Barnes, Chairman of the East Sussex Music Service Management Committee, said: “We are all very proud of Karen and what she has achieved. It is great for her to receive a national accolade for all her hard work. I would like to personally thank her for her inspiring work with young people in East Sussex and congratulate her very warmly on her award.”
The competition saw radio station Classic FM team up with Yamaha, Sibelius and Music for Youth to recognise and reward the nation's most inspirational music teachers. The awards were presented at the Music For Youth Schools Proms over the three nights at the Royal Albert Hall.
As part of her prize Karen will receive £5,000 to spend on Yamaha instruments and equipment for her school and £1,000 worth of Sibelius technology – a computer programme for composing music.
Whilst she has some time to decide exactly what to buy with the prize Karen's first port of call will be to buy a Clavinova, a digital piano. She said: “I am lucky, we have a really well-equipped music room and the pupils really respect the instruments and look after them. The Clavinova will be a great addition for the children to enjoy.”
For more information about East Sussex County Council's Music Service and all the music teaching and groups available in the county visit our Music pages.
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