FLUTE LESSONS
Compassionate, collaborative flute lessons starting from exactly where you are right now.
I’ve been teaching flute for over a decade on the east coast, currently in the Boston area and online. My main work as a teacher includes running my flute studio with private lessons in Belmont, MA and online, plus teaching public workshops and developing practical resources for my students and other flutists.
I'm a big zoom-out and zoom-in person. I’m always thinking about the larger contexts we find ourselves in (how can artists make the greatest positive impact on the world in the 2020’s?) and minute details of every project (what is the most engaging and effective way I can write and organize this rhythm exercise?). I’m also a big question asker, which my students will tell you.
As a flute teacher, I deeply value compassion, curiosity, vulnerability, individuality, collaboration, and play.
Welcome!
MY TEACHING STYLE
As your teacher, I appreciate you trusting me with yourself as you are right now. It is vulnerable to be a student, and I want you to know: when we're in our lesson together, I don't need you to prove anything to me.
You are exactly where you're supposed to be, and I will meet you where you are.
Here's what I emphasize in lessons:
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Learning how to learn, and along those lines, how to practice
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Body awareness: holding your body in a way that allows resonance, flexibility, and freedom in your flute playing.
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Tone and technique: guiding you to find your best sound in high and low registers, clear tonguing, smooth fingers, and more. We'll experiment with various strategies to find ease in your playing.
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Exposure to new exercises and repertoire: contextual variety provides us with the most flexibility in our technique and mental capacity.
The Flute Studio
Lesson packages include
& lessons scheduled at your convenience
Weekly lessons include:
Reserved timeslot
Your lesson time every week and my undivided attention.
Access to my full digital library of resources
Curation of materials including flute exercises I've written exclusively for my students!
Personalized lesson notes
Shared document with weekly reminders, links, and resources.
Monthly workshops and classes
Studio Lab for youth (under 18) and Mind Over Flute for adults, plus some bonus workshops throughout the year
Yearly recital
Opportunity for all ages to perform for friends and family.
More
▪️ Detailed guidance when purchasing a new flute
(including flute trials when applicable)
▪️ Audition prep and planning
▪️ Email access between lessons
Want to work together?
Adult Lesson Packages include:
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flexible scheduling
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personalized lesson notes
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Mind Over Flute: a monthly adult flute seminar
Ali is an exceptional, encouraging, and patient teacher. She has given me a firm foundation in practice techniques, tackling new music, and building my tone. But most impressive to me, her primary focus is always my enjoyment of playing. Ali never loses sight of the fact that playing music is supposed to be fun and fulfilling.
Ali excels at tailoring lessons to the individual. She distills complex musical concepts into bite-size pieces, works on the basics but also finds music that is fun and pretty to play. She has a way of keeping my enjoyment and self-confidence at the center and she adapts her style to my musical, personal and logistical needs on any given week. I noticed that Ali’s focus on a patient and generous attitude towards myself carried over into other areas of my life. The experience has been unequivocally positive and I recommend her to anyone.
Julie M.
Ali has a teaching style that makes learning from her easy. She is never at a loss to find a new way of approaching any difficulty I am having with a particular lesson. Her clever use of both audio and visual aids makes it, nearly, impossible for me to not understand the point that she is trying to make. All this is achieved within a calm, confident and upbeat atmosphere. Each lesson has a goal, but Ali is flexible enough to alter the direction the lesson is taking if I should demonstrate a need in another direction.
Allan C.
Ali's teaching style is very inclusive & flexible for adults. She isn't afraid to try creative or alternative teaching styles based on student preference. Ali's focus on patience and comfort went a long way in improving my flute skills, both technical and expressive. As an adult learner, my biggest concern was feeling like I was a kid in music lessons again, but that could not be farther from Ali's teaching philosophy. I genuinely cannot recommend Ali enough!
Malorie F.
Private flute lessons with me are a great fit for:
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Adult flutists who want to improve their flute technique, or those who are coming back to the flute after years (or decades) away
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Flute students who are preparing for auditions (regional, all-state, college, competitions, festivals)
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High school flute players who are planning on majoring in music in college
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Students who want a challenge outside of band and want to learn additional repertoire
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College students who are looking for a new perspective and practice tips
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Woodwind doublers who want extra flute advice and resources
Lesson packages are available upon request for adults and students taking auditions.
Want to see if we're a good fit?
What's Next?
Ready to get started with flute lessons?
Click here to schedule a consultation or send me an email to set up a time to chat.
We'll talk about your experience with flute and what you're hoping to get out of lessons.
I'll show you what lessons will look like if we work together, my studio policies, and next steps.
After our consultation, I'll follow up with all necessary details.
Finally...
for weekly lessons, you will:
1. Pick a lesson time
2. Sign the lesson policy and fill out the student questionnaire
3. Make your first payment
for lesson packages, you will:
1. Make your payment
2. Book lessons through my scheduling link
Click here to schedule a consultation or send me an email if you have any questions.
I can't wait to work with you!
Here's how my teaching relates to you.
There are many flutists.
There are many teachers.
But there is only one you, and I want to know you.
You want to learn how to improve your tone on flute, how to play high notes that sing, how to play faster music with flow, how to read complex rhythms, how to sightread fluently...
These are the mechanics of flute playing which are the substance of learning the flute. That’s the simple part of flute lessons; I can help you with all of that.
What I need your help with is the other part, the most significant part of studying the flute: YOU.
From my experience of working with hundreds of flutists with hundreds of life experiences, and your experience as you, we will build your own personal learning environment that's tailored to your needs as a flutist, your learning style, and how you want flute to fit into your life.
When you face challenges in your flute playing, I won't send you off to "just practice more" and expect you to figure it out alone, nor will I give you surface-level assignments without inviting your input. Whether you're here to build the fundamentals of flute playing, grow your technical skills, or fill in some missing gaps and nuances in your musicianship, in our lessons, no matter your age, we will problem-solve together.
When we meet, we will navigate the balance between discipline and loving-kindness. We will explore with curiosity and flexibility. We will experiment with how you as an individual learn best and create strategies to help you practice in a way that aligns with your life and your brain.
There isn't one rigid formula for you to follow to become the powerful flute player you want to be. There are many paths to get you there. I will guide you through your most aligned path while reminding you of your own wisdom.
Let's see if we're a good fit.
FAQs
I want to play flute for fun and I don't have much time to practice. Will we be a good fit?
Our studio is built for people who are willing to invest the time in themselves to put in the work to improve. Music is fun when we can see our own growth, which can only happen if we put in the time. The most frustrated students I have had are often the ones who don’t practice often enough to see the results. With practicing, consistency is more important than long, infrequent sessions, and quality is better than quantity; I’ll teach you the skills to practice efficiently. Music IS fun, but it takes hard work and resilience!
I'm an adult and I haven't played flute since I was in school or I've never played flute.
Will lessons work for me?
I have taught tons of adults from in every age group and I always notice the same pattern. If you make the decision to commit to practicing flute weekly, you will absolutely improve. The adult students I have who struggle the most are often the ones who don’t make flute one of their priorities. It doesn’t have to be the MOST important thing in your life, but if you don’t put in the work, you won’t see the results. Many adults have transformed their relationship to music and their overall mindsets in life by pursuing flute lessons and it is one of my favorite things to witness.
What materials do I need for lessons?
This will vary between different levels and ages. Find a list of common materials here.
I'm a parent/guardian and I want to enroll my child in lessons. What do I need to know?
See this page for parent expectations and what to know as a parent in my flute studio.
