Dr Janet Ione Mills, Musicologist (11 May 1954 - 24 December 2007)

Tribute by Leonora Davies January 2008

Janet Mills died on 24 December after a courageous battle with illness. The fact that she worked almost to the end, publishing Instrumental Teaching in September 2007, is a measure of her determination and strength of character.

Her professional life was immersed in music as a student, teacher, teacher educator - she held posts at both Westminster College and Exeter University - researcher and inspector (as an HMI for 10 years). As a consequence the music education world is all the richer and better informed through her succinct, direct and down to earth writings.

'All children - and adults - are musical.' This straightforward and passionately held belief is reflected in all Janet's work. She graduated in 1975 with a joint first-class degree from York University in both Music and Mathematics, the Music degree under the tutelage of Professor John Paynter.

Although her initial teaching posts were in secondary schools in Yorkshire, it is through her writing and research in the field of music in primary schools that many students and class-based teachers will have come to know her, and to learn much from her ideas and suggestions - at the same time challenging but empowering and most of all, down to earth and practical.

"Class teachers, given appropriate support, are capable of teaching music. This way, music takes its place as part of the whole primary curriculum."
Music in the school, OUP 2005.

Janet gained not only a national reputation but her research and writing were acclaimed in the international arena, particularly within ISME (International Society of Music Educators). Indeed her final trip was to Brazil in October last year to deliver a paper at an ISME seminar.

She served on the Executive of the Music Education Council for many years and during my term as chair of this organisation I learned much from her considered, thought provoking and sometimes exacting contributions to our debates and discussions. She was a very private person but was always held in respectful esteem by colleagues and friends as was reflected in the packed church at her memorial service.

"Music is not a gift but a right - by teaching music in school, and teaching it in a way that is as positive, enabling, creative and artistic as possible, we help children to make the most of music, for themselves, as they move through life."

This encapsulates for me one of her lasting legacies for the music education world.


KEITH'S CONNECTION

Janet is the daughter of John and Ione Mills. John in turn was the son of Bernard Mills and his wife Mabel (nee Salter) of Nantwich, Cheshire. Mabel Salter was the sister of Keith's grandmother Gladys Salter.