Elaine studied music at Southampton University but did not, at that stage, play the violin. Her eldest son, Simon, started to learn to play the violin following the Suzuki Method at the age of five and Elaine was captivated by the Method itself and the speed in which he learned. Simon progressed through several teachers until he reached Helen Brunner, who was then the Director of the London Suzuki Group and who inspired Elaine with her teaching ability. Elaine then studied the violin herself and taught her other sons to play and began to teach friends' children. Her success caused the foundation of Jordan Junior Strings.

She has now been teaching for thirty years and in that time, has taught hundreds of children to play the violin and viola. Many have moved on to study violin at music colleges and universities and many more have won music scholarships and awards at famous public schools and at the Menuhin School, Wells Cathedral School and the Purcell School.