Lessons
My overall approach:
When you start your lessons, we will work together to establish your main goal and design a routine to help you meet it. We will also chat about your general music education and work on filling in any gaps. For example, do you have any experience with music theory, choir, piano, or recorder? (Don’t worry if you don’t have any! I’m just trying to figure out where we should start). We will check in with each other regularly to see if you still like your goal or if you’d like a new one.
During each lesson we will go through your routine. I will type lesson notes for you so that you will know exactly what and how to practice and won’t have to be concerned about forgetting any of the lesson when you practice at home. At the end of the lesson, I will give you an interesting handout to take home. It might be about the flute; flute playing tips, stories about flutists, comics, puzzles or even a page to color. Oh! and yes, I even have a handout about whether a flute player should be called a flutist or a flautist, since that is the most common question I’m asked.
After each lesson, I will check over and add to the notes I took in your lesson and then email them to you. Along with these, I usually send an encouraging note. Any parents will also receive a note about their child’s progress. I will send an extra note between lessons if I feel that a student would benefit from some extra support.
Other things to expect:
By taking private lessons with me, you will:
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learn the proper way to play the flute from the beginning (Isn’t that why you are here?)
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learn how to play your favorite songs and music (Lizzo or Bach, anyone?)
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learn how to be organized and disciplined about practicing so that you improve at a good pace
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have the opportunity to perform (Performing doesn’t have to be scary! It can be fun – especially when you’re dressed up in a costume or you play your flute with other students)
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have the opportunity to play in a small ensemble (Wouldn’t it be fun to play flute duets with a friend?).
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become proficient in music theory which teaches you how to read and understand music (because if you can’t understand music, how can you play it?) and after working through my method of teaching theory, you will be surprised that you will be able to play simple tunes on the piano.
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learn interesting flute and music facts in the lesson. For example, did you know that the earliest flutes were made from bone?
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have the chance to do flute and music theory exams and as a result, gain a sense of accomplishment. (Students who are in school can receive credits when they pass certain music exams which means you’d have a spare where you can do what you like. How neat is that!?)
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collect points for well-prepared lesson assignments and receive a prize when you reach 100 points.
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receive surprise treat bags several times a year.