I work and research across the areas of Academic Development and Music. I Completed my PhD in Ethnomusicology and conduct research primarily using ethnographic methods but have also been involved in quantitative studies in music education. I am particularly interested in how and why people improvise when making music and the way in which they develop their approach over time. As a result my research is interested in the performance based, cognitive and symbolic changes in the way people understand music and it's relationship to themselves and others. I am also a passionate teacher with experience in tertiary education and hold a Senior Fellowship in the Higher Education Academy.