Monkey Music Beckenham and West Wickham

Helen Whitaker

Tel: 020 8777 6700
Email: Click here to send email

Hello! Welcome to the webpage for Beckenham and West Wickham.
My name is Helen Whitaker and I have been running Monkey Music in this area since 2002. Originally, I discovered Monkey Music through taking my own daughters to classes in Sydenham and Dulwich. Ella and Luka (now aged 12 and 10) both absolutely loved it and are still very involved, usually entertaining their little brother, Thomas, on long car journeys with their favourite Monkey tunes!
I have a musical background with a music degree from Oxford and many years experience working as a freelance orchestra and concerts manager. However, when I saw the ad in Families magazine for someone to take over the running of this area from Karen Hill, I immediately picked up the phone (in the middle of giving the girls their tea...) for a chat with Karen that changed my life! She convinced me that running my own area would be fun, challenging and rewarding. It has been all of those things and more. I consider myself truly lucky that I have found a lifestyle that suits me so well, that I can fit around my family's needs and that is so enjoyable.
If you would like to have fun at a Monkey Music class, meet other mums and carers, and watch your child grow in confidence and ability, please don't hesitate to get in touch. I would be happy to arrange for you to have a complimentary class at any of our venues.

Timetable

Autumn Term 2010 Dates

Term Starts Monday 6 September
Half Term Monday 25 October to Friday 29 October
End of Term Friday 10 December

Spring Term 2011 Dates

Term Starts Monday 10 January
Half Term Monday 21 February to Friday 25 February
End of Term Friday 8 April

Please ensure that you have booked your class before attending!

Venues

To book your complimentary class at one of the venues below, please telephone 020 8777 6700 or email helen.whitaker@monkeymusic.co.uk .

Beckenham

The Public Hall, 4 Bromley Road, Beckenham BR3 5JE
Monday am and pm

The Parklangley Club, 44a Wickham Way, Beckenham BR3 3AF
Wednesday am

West Wickham

Emmanuel Church (URC), The Grove, West Wickham BR4 9JS
Tuesday am and pm

For other classes in the Beckenham and West Wickham area, please see the Bromley and Chislehurst venue

News

It's all change in this area for the Autumn Term! Firstly I must say a huge 'thank you' to Claire Boyle who has been a much-loved Monkey Music teacher in West Wickham for the last few years. She is moving to the country with her family and is already looking forward to putting Monkey into a little pair of pink wellies. Claire will be greatly missed by lots of little monkeys and their carers, some of who are still wiping their eyes at her departure....... We wish her all the very best for her new life.

However, the good news is that we are welcoming more fabulous teachers into this area. Diane Peters will be taking over the classes at Beckenham Public Hall on Mondays. Diane is very experienced, having taught Monkey Music in Chislehurst for the last two years. She is a lively, warm and popular teacher who has a very loyal band of little monkeys over in BR7. She is now adding a Monday to her working week and, as a mum of three, all of whom have been to Monkey Music classes themselves, she knows exactly how to make classes go with a swing. Also, Diane and I go back a really long way as she had clarinet lessons at primary school from my mum!

Jacqui Moore is moving from Beckenham Public Hall on Mondays to Parklangley Tennis Club on Wednesdays. Classes at the Tennis Club are already nearly fully booked as the regulars there are being joined by lots of Jacqui's loyal customers from Mondays. It's a great compliment to Jacqui that some of you are moving with her! Parklangley is a very popular venue, with plenty of free parking, a nice relaxed atmosphere and a spacious baby-friendly cafe for after (or before) the class. I will miss my Parklangley monkeys very much: I have really enjoyed launching that venue and teaching lots of gorgeous children there over the last two years

I would like to officially welcome Emma Buxton, who is our lovely new teacher starting off in West Wickham in September. Emma is also a Monkey Mum and will be continuing to attend Ding Dong with her younger child at the same time as launching her own teaching. Emma has been attending Claire's classes and will bring the same calm warmth to her teaching style. I feel sure that she will settle in brilliantly and I know she is really looking forward to her new role.

And finally, a big 'welcome' to Kara Watkins, who is our new Administrator, starting in September. She will be in the office every morning except Tuesday, and will be very happy to help you with class information and availability. If you are visiting our website for the first time and would like to book a complimentary class, Kara is the person to contact. She is yet another (!) Monkey Mum and will be happy to provide firsthand information on all things Monkey-related. We look forward to seeing you at Monkey Music soon!

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