Flute Lessons

My approach to music education focuses not just on the student’s progress as a musician, but on the individual’s growth as a person. The goal of music lessons is not to create perfect musicians, but rather to nourish one’s creativity, confidence, and lifelong appreciation for the arts as an integral part of the human experience. 

Learning a new skill such as playing an instrument is more about accessing the right resources than it is about having natural virtuosic talent. Think about it – music is one of the most universally enjoyed activities across all cultures – we may have different preferences in music taste, but the majority of people can find joy in some type of organized sound and rhythms. Throughout history just about every culture in the world has developed with its own variety of traditions around music, making it one of the most natural activities for humans to engage in. And we’ve been doing it for thousands of years. If you like music, you can make music! 

So your relationship with music-making is really about accessing the right tools to learn how to develop this creative and expressive part of yourself. I believe this is something that every person deserves access to! I’m here to give you the tools to develop the musician inside of you and feel empowered using flute as an outlet for personal expression and community.

When I began learning the flute at age 10, I had so much trouble making a sound! While my peers were learning their first notes, I feared I was falling behind. After several weeks, my beginning band instructor at school suggested that I could switch to another instrument like clarinet–but the more I struggled, the more I became determined that flute was the instrument I wanted to learn.

The day that I went to my first private flute lesson was the day that my entire trajectory changed. Being given the tools to overcome the challenges I faced on flute by a knowledgeable teacher was the missing piece to unlocking my development as a flutist. I was able to witness my own progress as we set and reached small goals, which helped me gain confidence as a musician and individual! Oftentimes we have potential to reach new heights, but we could use some help learning how to get there. Learning a musical instrument is akin to speaking a new language – it is a skill built over many hours and years, but it can open up your world to an entirely new form of expression. Whether or not you go on to use it all of the time, this is something that you can carry with you forever.

There have been several exciting neuroscientific findings on the positive impact that music education has on individuals’ involvement and success in other areas of their lives, and how the act of engaging in playing and listening to music creates stronger community bonds between people. 

In a five-year research collaboration with participants in the LA Philharmonic Association youth orchestra completed in 2017, neuroscientist Dr. Assal Habibi found that “when young musicians performed intellectual tasks, they demonstrated a greater engagement of a brain network involved in executive functioning and decision-making.” Her lab also concluded that “music training accelerates maturity in areas of the brain responsible for sound processing, language development, speech perception, and reading skills. Playing music not only stimulates multiple regions of the brain–motor, auditory, visual–it strengthens the neural connections between them, and enhances memory, spatial reasoning, and literacy skills in the process.”

The benefits of music education don’t stop after adolescence, as learning and refining skills on an instrument has been associated with a lower rate of cognitive decline and a lower risk of developing dementia throughout one’s lifetime. Scientists believe the reason for this is because music-making strengthens the ability of different parts of the brain to work together, creating and building plasticity through reinforced neural connections and grey matter.

In the 2010 study “When Music and Long-Term Memory Interact: Effects of Musical Expertise on Functional and Structural Plasticity in the Hippocampus”, researchers determined that “musical expertise critically modifies long-term memory processes and induces structural and functional plasticity in the hippocampus,” the area of the brain involved in memory-making and information retrieval. Engaging in music can decrease engagement of the amygdala, which is involved in withdrawal and fear responses, and decrease levels of cortisol, a hormone associated with stress – something that can be very beneficial to adults! 

These neuroarts studies, among many others, are discussed in the book Your Brain on Art by Ivy Ross and Susan Magsamen. I highly recommend it!

ALL ages and experience levels are welcome in my studio! You can access the benefits of music education at any point in life. While it is common for many children to begin learning a wind instrument in school around the age of 5th to 6th grade (or 9th grade in some CPS schools), many adults may go years or decades without picking up their instrument and want to start back up again with the added guidance, tips, and direction that lessons provide. Some people are adult beginners, meaning they have never had previous experience on the flute.

If you are interested in learning the flute, it is never too late to start! Learning a new skill is exciting, challenging, and rewarding.

Lesson content varies depending on a student’s level and personal goals, but may include:

• Learning scales and arpeggio exercises to play comfortably in every key!

• Learning fun solo pieces from different time periods and styles.

• Sight-reading and playing duets together!

• Discussion of music theory, terminology, music history, and cultural context.

• Working on repertoire for a concert the student has coming up or working towards audition content for other ensembles such as school groups or ILMEA District/State ensembles.

I offer lesson durations of 30 minutes, 45 minutes, and 60 minutes. 

60 minutes is generally recommended for intermediate and advanced levels of all ages as it creates time to address a larger variety of musical topics at a deeper level. 45 minutes is a great amount of time for ages 10 and up, beginner and intermediate levels, or someone looking to get back into playing again. 30 minutes is recommended for very young students and for beginners as an entry point to lessons.

Building a skill requires consistency! Typically, lessons will be scheduled as a weekly occurrence with breaks for holidays. Lessons will continue over the summer. Flexibility in frequency is allowed as long as it is agreed upon by student and teacher in advance.

Lessons are paid for in advance on a monthly basis. Payments are due by the first lesson of each month. I accept payment through Zelle, or check or cash if preferred. My rates are commensurate with local market rates in the city of Chicago, IL.

Yes! While I strongly recommend in-person lessons for beginners, I will always be prepared for remote instruction as it can be an excellent way to continue instruction in times of inclement weather, if a previously in-person student moves away, or if a student lives too far to commute to lessons in-person regularly.

There are many different kinds of flute makers and sellers for different levels of players. I am happy to help you find an instrument that will suit your needs and budget! It is important to buy an instrument through a reputable source such as a local music shop or a trusted brand. Used instruments can also be a wonderful option. For beginners, a closed-hole C-foot joint flute is most common, but open-hole instruments can also be played with plugs. Great beginner brands include Yamaha, Gemeinhardt, DiZhao, and Jupiter. 

If you are not ready to purchase an instrument, I recommend renting one from a local music store. Some music stores offer rent-to-own programs where your rental payments can apply towards eventual ownership of the instrument.

If you own a flute and are ready to upgrade to an intermediate/step-up instrument, it is common to do a “trial” of multiple instruments to see what feels the best for you as a player. Talk to me about it and I will be here to help you along the way!

Fear not! I will be happy to answer all of your questions. Fill out the lesson interest form below and I will be in touch!