Karen Gibbard (MMus, MA, BMus, dipABRSM) is an accomplished teacher of oboe, recorder, early years music and piano. She has performed with many professional orchestras as a historical oboist, receiving a MMus in Oboe Performance from Guildhall School of Music & Drama (London) and a MA in Early Music from the Schola Cantorum Basiliensis (Switzerland).
Karen is a BSMA accredited teacher, having trained with the British Suzuki Music Association to teach Suzuki Recorder (level 3), Suzuki Early Childhood Education (SECE level 2) and Suzuki Piano (level 1).
Karen is a BSMA accredited teacher, having trained with the British Suzuki Music Association to teach Suzuki Recorder (level 3), Suzuki Early Childhood Education (SECE level 2) and Suzuki Piano (level 1).
Karen is a professional member of the ISM (Independent Society of Musicians) and has a current DBS check. She has taught for over 15 years privately and in various schools, entering students for Suzuki graduations & ABRSM exams when appropriate. Karen set up Musical Buds in 2013 and it became a CIC (Community Interest Company) in 2021, to enable local disadvantaged children to learn an instrument. Musical Buds is based in Newcastle but also provides online lessons to those further afield. Karen teaches students of all ages (newborns to retired) and is passionate about sharing the gift of music. She continues to be amazed at the remarkable ability of children to learn music in the same way they learn to speak their native language. This is through the Suzuki approach which is highly effective in enabling children to reach their potential.
