” I am very much enjoying what I have – a successful business, time for my family and, overall, happiness at both home and work. It doesn’t get much better than making children and babies laugh and smile four days a week!” 

My Caterpillar Music journey began in September 2015 when I was taking my then three month old daughter for a walk around the block, in a bid to get her to nap. I spotted a poster advertising classes on a local community centre’s notice board and it sounded right up my street. I had been a West End musical theatre actor before I had my daughter and I love to sing. I made contact and found myself at a trial class later that week. I loved the class and so did my baby (despite falling asleep half way through!), so we signed up for a half term. In fact, we signed up every half term for the next four and a half years, as my second daughter had arrived and joined classes at just two weeks old. Just as I was getting to the point of (reluctantly) moving on from Caterpillar Music, a position was advertised for a Class Leader role. I didn’t want to go back to musical theatre as I loved being at home with my children, but I wanted to use my talents in some way and had often thought of starting a children’s music class. I just didn’t know how I could make it as good as Caterpillar Music! I went for the job and it was one of the best decisions I’d ever made. I began teaching two classes a week on Friday 13th March 2020 and we all know what happened next. Things came to a halt as schools closed and lockdown hit. It wasn’t until September 2020 that I finally began to teach regular classes, albeit with lots of cleaning, social distancing and reduced numbers in place. Still, it was wonderful to see people in ‘real life’ again and to see lockdown babies and their parents experience the joy of classes for the first time. The next six months was very up and down with lockdowns and home schooling, but I eventually got back into regular classes in April 2021. At this point, the previous owner of Caterpillar Music Guildford, my lovely friend Mez, had decided it was time for her to move on and asked me if I would be interested in buying the franchise. I hadn’t expected this news at all, so it took me a little while to digest whilst I discussed it with my husband. Could we afford it? Would I make it a success? Did I want to take on a business? Could it fit in with family life? And mostly, would I be as good as Mez? I had big shoes to fill, but I had faith that I could make it work. In June 2021 I became the official owner of Caterpillar Music Guildford. The takeover was very smooth, thanks to Mez and Caterpillar Music Head Office. I thank my lucky stars that I made this decision, it’s been nothing but positive! I choose my own hours, I drop off and collect my children from school every day and I have time for hobbies and family life. I run ten classes a week which are all full with a waiting list. I have room for expansion in the future, but for now I am very much enjoying what I have – a successful business, time for my family and, overall, happiness at both home and work. It doesn’t get much better than making children and babies laugh and smile four days a week!

Written by Chloë Tweed, Caterpillar Music Guildford