Lessons

About my studio

My students range from middle school students to adults, and include college music majors, All State winners, Albuquerque Youth Symphony participants, and other music educators.  While I truly enjoy getting beginners off to the right start, most of my students are adults or advanced high school students, for whom I have the most to offer.

Lessons last one hour and take place at my home studio in Albuquerque’s South Valley. I am also happy to meet virtually through FaceTime, Skype, or Zoom.

My rate is $45 per hour session, plus New Mexico Gross Receipts Tax.

Studio policies and teaching style

Welcome to my flute studio!  Here I’ve provided a general outline of expectations, teaching strategies, and payment policies that should be useful for both students and parents.

Teaching – Ultimately, what you hope to gain from flute lessons depends on you.   What we work on together will largely be based on your skill, the amount of time you can devote to practice, and most importantly, your personal goals.  Generally, there are three elements I try to incorporate into lessons:

Technique – Regardless of your level, we’ll work on some fundamentals of flute playing, warm-ups, scales, arpeggios, and exercises.  For beginner students, I will provide handouts.  For intermediate and advanced students, I suggest you purchase this very affordable compilation: Trevor Wye’s Complete Daily Exercises for the Flute (pub. Novello, $25.95 at Amazon.com or Fluteworld.com).

Repertoire – We will work together on music you bring, whether it is an All State audition piece, music for your high school band, or something of your choice.  For solo material I will help you decide what is appropriate, but you should also be proactive in choosing what you would like to play!

Duets – Duets can provide a fun and engaging way to play and learn by example. We will use them periodically to improve your sight-reading skills and ensemble playing.

Notebook – Students should keep a notebook and bring it to lessons.  Please use it to write your assignments, and brief notes to help you focus your practice for the week following a lesson.  Writing down notes in your own words is a great way to retain what you learn!

Tuition – Lessons are $50 per hour session, plus tax. This is a source of income for me, so I ask that you please follow these guidelines for payment and rescheduling:

Payment – Please pay for four lessons at a time, (that is, the lesson on the day you pay, and the following three lessons).

Rescheduling – If you know you will have to reschedule a lesson, please let me know as soon as possible: certainly no later than 24 hours before.  If you miss a lesson without notifying me, or do not notify me at least one day before, you must pay for the lesson regardless.  We will try to reschedule for another day that week.

Cancellation – Please do not cancel a lesson unless it is absolutely necessary. Emergency cancellations do happen, but please make every effort to reschedule.

Holidays – Lesson schedules will understandably be more flexible around holidays, school breaks, vacations, etc.  Please just notify me in advance if you do not plan on having lessons during these periods.

Resources

IMSLP
Flute World
Carolyn Nussbaum Music Co.
Free Blank Staff Paper
Flute Tunes
Basic Fingering Chart
Basic, Trill and Alternates
Albuquerque Flute Association
Albuquerque Youth Symphony Program
New Mexico Music Educators Association (All State)
Baum’s Music
Second Wind Instrument Repair