Hi, I’m Kathleen (Kate) Picken, and I live near Kirkcudbright, a beautiful town on the southwest coast of Scotland.

I studied music at Aberdeen College of Education and began my teaching career in secondary education. After a break to raise my family, I returned to teaching, focusing on primary schools in and around Kirkcudbright. I’ve been passionately teaching music in this area for over 35 years.

Current Roles:

Choir Director of:

• • Kirkcudbright Community Choir

  • Kirkcudbright Junior Choir

  • The Farmers Choir

• Music Specialist in local primary schools – delivering engaging curriculum-based music sessions

• Certified Zumbini Instructor – leading music and movement classes for children aged 0–4 and their parents/caregivers

• Bucket Drumming Workshop Leader  – facilitating rhythm-based workshops for all ages: 4 – 84!

• Performer in a local vocal group Taste of Country.

I really enjoy creating and developing primary music resources that support the Curriculum for Excellence (Scotland’s national curriculum for learners aged 3-18), supporting teachers in the delivery of music education with confidence.

With over 40 years of experience in music education, I’ve delivered a wide range of workshops for primary and music teachers across Dumfries and Galloway and nationally. This includes leading sessions at SAME (Scottish Association for Music Education) conferences, presenting for Education Scotland’s Expressive Arts conferences, and delivering online webinars — all focused on sharing practical, creative approaches to music teaching.

Currently, my work includes teaching music to primary students (ages 5–11), running after-school piano/keyboard workshops, leading choirs, delivering bucket drumming workshops for ages 4 to 84+, and continuously developing primary music resources.

Explore My Music Resources

On the Primary Music Resource page, you will find instant access to downloadable, fun, and engaging music resources for ages 4–11. These include Chair Drumming, Bucket Beats, Body Percussion, and Go Compose! Each resource bundle includes a detailed Teaching Plan/Guide, a PPT resource, and links to video demonstrations of the activities. These resources are designed to support teachers and engage students, with each unit being part of a weekly music lesson (20 minutes) and followed up with 2 x 10-minute lessons during the week. This structure helps students prepare for a performance in a class assembly or concert within 6–8 weeks.

To learn more about each resource, click on the product to see a full description.

Professional Learning Opportunities

Please visit the PL for Teachers page to explore various professional development opportunities. If you find something of interest or need a workshop covering multiple aspects, please get in touch.

Thank you for visiting, and I look forward to supporting your musical journey!

I was deeply honoured to receive an MBE in January 2020 for my services to music, education, and charity.