Because flute lessons are private, I can focus on what each student needs to do to improve their playing.
Start with the Basics
I cover some basic flute playing skills with all students:
- How to hold the flute properly
- How to use the air and mouth to produce a good sound
- How to start notes clearly
- How to play rhythms correctly
- How to play scales accurately
Mastery of these skills allows a student to participate in ensembles, auditions and performances with greater understanding and enjoyment.
What I Expect from Students
Students are expected to practice regularly – focus on practicing more days a week (possibly for shorter times) rather than long practice sessions. Don’t make practicing so unbearable that you won’t ever do it. Spend some time during home practice working to improve, and some time enjoying the flute. Eventually they become the same thing!
Students are expected to prepare materials for lessons each week to the best of their ability – this way we can progress to new concepts during the lesson.
Students are expected to make good faith attempts at what I ask them to do – much about playing the flute is difficult and will not be achieved until after many repetitions.
Moving Forward
Flute students receive private coaching for audition materials and performance music during lessons.
Lessons include learning how to practice effectively so that the student gets better at working through musical problems (these skills serve them well if they go into software engineering as well!). We also learn flute solos to increase their knowledge of the flute.
Lessons always involve praise, conversation, and a new concept or idea.
Additional Experiences
Flute students learn music theory, music history and musical acoustics because these help the flutist understand music more completely. I also find that my science-loving students enjoy relating music to science; history-lovers enjoy the tie to music history, etc.
A vital part of my teaching is to have my students perform at local events or places. These performances provide my students with opportunities to perform in trios, quartets and flute ensembles (including the alto and bass flute!), as well as some solo work and teaming with other instrumentalists.
Flute students rely on me to explain musical concepts to them in a way that they can understand, direct them towards the next logical step in their progress, and demonstrate good flute playing practices so they can see them in action. It is important to me to provide a learning environment where students feel encouraged to ask questions, but also challenged and responsible for their own development.
Contact Tina to set up a trial lesson!