I truly enjoy teaching and spending a very "focused" time with each of you working on music. Playing the flute is something I knew I wanted to do from the time I was 9. So, it's a thrill to share some of your "musical time" with you!
The joys and heartaches we have in life shape our musical energy and pulse, and if we can learn to harness these emotions and express them through our playing, then that is a truly wonderful thing!!
I want my students to be very well-rounded and flexible musicians. "Flexible" to me means that you can play different styles of music, and that you can vary your tone colors, tonguing, vibrato. Therefore, I really try to show you as many different concepts as possible. While I am not someone who thinks "I do it this way...therefore, all of my students must", I do want you to practice what I suggest, so that it can become a tool that you can pull out and use when you need it!!
Working on the fundamentals or "building blocks", as I like to call them, gives us that firm foundation we need. Therefore, tone studies and technique are always stressed in lessons. I also like my students to play a variety of studies/methods, and solo literature spanning all periods of music. Playing duets is not only fun, but can also be a great tool for teaching pitch and intonation, rhythm, sight reading.
It is my hope that I pass on to each of you not only "how" to play your flute, but also a love of listening to great music and performers. I want to inspire you to do great things in life and expect great things from life!!
