Laura Ritchie – Mentor & Academic Consultant, ESTA Education

Laura is Professor of Learning and Teaching in Music. She is a teacher, mother, musician, and dreamer. She is recognised as an educational innovator and was awarded a UK National Teaching Fellowship in 2012.

At the University of Chichester she coordinates both the Music with Instrumental / Vocal Teaching and the MA Performance programmes.

Laura has also co-authored the curriculum for the European String Teachers Association Postgraduate Certificate in Teaching, which is an international, distance learning course.

Laura trained as a classical cellist in America (Northwestern University) and London (Royal College of Music) and her PhD research focused on psychology of music and specifically the impact of students’ self-beliefs on learning and performing.

In her academic publications and presentations she promotes excellence across disciplines in teaching and learning, and in particular provides innovative ways to unlock student potential through practical teaching settings.

Laura pushes the boundaries of learning for her students and herself. She advocates experiential learning and fully immerses herself in learning projects, teaching by example.

She works across disciplines to actively advocate open education and cross-cultural learning with projects such as her open music class #MUS654, cross-disciplinary collaborations with Jonathan Worth and #Phonar, Connecting Classes, and Connected Courses.

Jessica has extended her teaching style to adjudicating at Festivals and school’s competitions where her rigorous approach and engaging mannerhave been highly regarded. She is currently compiling a violin study book for Faber following on from her successful ‘Best of Violin’ series for Grades 1-5.