▁had ▁played ▁in ▁a ▁band ▁in ▁his ▁youth , ▁later ▁forb idd ing ▁his ▁children ▁from ▁touch ing ▁his ▁guitar . ▁At ▁about ▁the ▁age ▁of ▁ 1 4 ▁Ar mat rad ing ▁began ▁writing ▁songs ▁by ▁setting ▁her ▁own ▁lim er icks ▁to ▁music ▁on ▁a ▁piano ▁that ▁her ▁mother ▁had ▁purchased ▁as ▁" a ▁piece ▁of ▁furn iture ". ▁Short ly ▁there after , ▁her ▁mother ▁bought ▁her ▁a ▁£ 3 ▁guitar ▁() ▁from ▁a ▁pa wn ▁shop ▁in ▁exchange ▁for ▁two ▁pr ams , ▁and ▁she ▁began ▁teaching ▁herself ▁the ▁instrument . ▁ ▁Ar mat rad ing ▁left ▁school ▁at ▁the ▁age ▁of ▁ 1 5 ▁to ▁support ▁her ▁family . ▁She ▁lost ▁her ▁first ▁job ▁( as ▁a ▁typ ist ▁and ▁compt ometer ▁operator ) ▁after ▁taking ▁her ▁guitar ▁to ▁work ▁and ▁playing ▁it ▁during ▁tea - break s . ▁ ▁Career ▁ ▁Late ▁ 1 9 6 0 s ▁and ▁ 1 9 7 0 s ▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁ ▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁ ▁▁ ▁Ar mat rad ing ▁first ▁performed ▁in ▁a ▁concert ▁at ▁B irmingham ▁University ▁for ▁her ▁brother ▁at ▁the ▁age ▁of ▁about ▁ 1 6 . ▁She ▁only ▁knew ▁her ▁own ▁songs , ▁but ▁her ▁brother ▁asked ▁her ▁to ▁perform ▁something ▁that ▁would ▁be ▁familiar ▁to ▁the ▁audience ; ▁she ▁chose ▁" The ▁Sound ▁of ▁Sil ence ". ▁She ▁then ▁performed ▁her ▁own ▁songs ▁around ▁the ▁local ▁area ▁with ▁a ▁friend ▁from ▁school , ▁and ▁played ▁bass ▁and ▁rh ythm ▁guitar ▁at ▁local ▁clubs . ▁In ▁ 1 9 6