My proud mother took a photograph of me conducting that early school band, which I believe my sister still has in the family album. I was five years old at the time. I continued to play music throughout Junior School and won a prize for my xylophone playing in the school play Lieutenant Cockatoo. At Grammar School, I sang in the choir, occasionally as a soloist, and played viola in the school orchestra.

After giving up music lessons in the Lower Fifth, I decided to resume my musical studies in the Sixth Form at Colfe’s, as I had spare capacity on my timetable. I gained an A grade at O level and was awarded the Powell Cup for Music. I was photographed for the local paper alongside three other trophy winners, including John Hayes, who later became Minister for Adult Education.

In order to take A level Music, I had to pass my Grade 6 clarinet exam. I continued to learn the Grade 8 pieces, even though I did not need to take the exam itself.

I continued to study music at the University of Keele under Peter Dickinson, George Pratt, Philip Jones, Roger Marsh and Eleanor Purce. I gained a Distinction for my Music course and sang in four choirs, though not all at the same time.

Among the music I studied for O level, A level and at university, several works have subsequently become part of my own teaching. These include Mozart’s The Marriage of Figaro, Tippett’s Concerto for Double String Orchestra, Haydn’s Fifths String Quartet, Beethoven’s First String Quartet and Eroica Symphony, Stravinsky’s Petrushka, Brahms’s Piano Quintet and Academic Festival Overture, and Schumann’s Dichterliebe.

While still at university, aged 18, I gave my first History of Music lecture when I filled in for my friend Dr Will Reed at his class at Kidbrooke House in Blackheath. My mother attended his classes every week, and I had always joined her when they coincided with school holidays.

Will was a great musicologist and inspired me to become a music lecturer. I hope I live up to his expectations.