The Night Runners of Bengal by John Masters, about the Indian mutiny. It was my GCSE English set text and I must have read it about 14 times; I could almost recite it by heart. I was just starting to think about the wider world and my place in it, and the descriptions of sand, dust, the skies, the heat, and culture made me long to travel. Another book I have read many times, to myself and my children, is The Little Grey Men by BB.

Again it’s the description of the sights and sounds of a journey that appeals.

Best film ever

Stanley Kubrick’s 2001: a space odyssey. As a kid in London I went to the cinema every week, but I was gobsmacked by 2001. It was the first of its kind in terms of believable special effects. I love its spacious, slow-moving quality. It’s also where I met my first girlfriend, a real milestone.

Best on stage

A few months ago I took my family to see Stomp (a physical theatre, dance and percussion company, pictured) in York. They do the whole thing with brooms, dustbin lids and saucepans and it’s so good musically, so intelligently put together. The next day my kids got out all our pots, pans and brushes and had a go themselves. They were quite good.

Best resource

My colleagues and other musicians. Music is about interaction with other people.

To share with pupils

The community operas my partner Em Whitfield (singersongwriter and vocal animateur) and I have created and produced for the past three years have brought adults and children performing together, which is so rewarding.

Looking forward to

My wedding to Em in the spring. All our five children will be involved - Mathilda and Rosie as bridesmaids, Tom as my best man and guitarist, Joe on drums at the party, Rufus on bass guitar. All our musician friends will be playing, and Em and I will do a few numbers with the children.

Tim Brooks, 44, is music consultant to the City of York arts service and supports teachers to raise the profile of music in schools. For the past three years he has written and co-produced community opera for the Ryedale Festival. He was talking to Elaine Williams