I play violins & violas made by my father, Robert Vale, who died in 1996.

In 1998, for health reasons, I decided to take a break from music and gained a degree in Chinese from Oxford University. Then a few years later I returned to music, teaching violin, viola, piano, theory and running ensembles. With fresh eyes I began to write materials for my pupils – and the Hey Presto! series was born, followed some years later by Top Ten. I’ve loved writing these series and particularly enjoy creating the audio tracks for the tutor books, as well as arranging music for various combinations of instruments.

Other things I love? Gadgets, languages – I have a degree in Chinese and a smattering of several other languages – dogs, (I have a gorgeous border collie, Bonnie), walks in the Shropshire hills where I live now, jigsaw puzzles, the colour turquoise, dark chocolate..!

First workbook in the series (6 books), designed to take beginners on the double bass to Grade 1 theory level and beyond, relating it to…