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.

I am the Choir Director of several choirs, including the Kirkcudbright Community Choir, Kirkcudbright Junior Choir, and The Farmers Choir. In addition to directing, I am a certified Zumbini instructor, offering music and movement classes for children aged 0-4 and their parents/caregivers. I also lead Bucket Drumming workshops for all ages, sharing my love for rhythm and music. Additionally, I sing in a vocal group called ‘Taste of Country’.

I’m deeply committed to creating and developing music resources that align with Curriculum for Excellence (Scotland’s national curriculum for learners aged 3–18). These resources aim to help teachers effectively deliver music education. Over the years, I’ve delivered numerous music workshops for primary and music teachers throughout Dumfries and Galloway, presented at SAME (Scottish Association of Music Education) conferences, and conducted online webinars.

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 5 to 85, 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 Music Education Workshop 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.