FLUTE LESSONS
Welcome to my studio!
Since 2015, I have been teaching private students, sectionals, and group lessons from ages 6 to 75! I teach everything from first flute lessons to lessons with college students and advanced musicians. Teaching is one of my greatest passions and I would love to work with you, wherever you are in your experience.
PRIVATE LESSONS
Flute lessons are available in 60 or 45-minute blocks. I teach in my home studio and online (which means I can teach all over the country!). Lessons are tailored for each student to align with your goals.
MY TEACHING STYLE
My teaching style is a holistic approach that encompasses effective practicing methods as well as a focus on mental health and healthy thinking patterns.
Here's what I emphasize in lessons:
Tone - getting those high, low, and middle notes out clearly, confidently, and in-tune
Technique - scales, solidifying fingerings, flexibility, range, and more
New repertoire - how to play musically with etudes and solos based on your playing abilities
HOW to practice in an effective and healthy way - my tips, tricks, and methods
Most importantly, mental health - I challenge my students with music but support you in life. I teach about boundaries, overworking, and prioritizing physical and mental health over all else. Human first, student second.
THE FLUTE STUDIO
Our studio encompasses much more than just one on one lessons. Here are our other opportunities to grow as a flutist:
STUDIO CLASS
Our flute studio class meets once a month on Zoom. Our studio is a community of musicians of all ages and levels, from elementary school to adults. In studio class, anyone interested can informally perform something they've been working on in lessons, and we will learn to give and receive feedback from peers to create a supportive community of musicians.
WORKSHOPS
Workshops feature topics like practice techniques, mindset, music history and music theory, movement, flute maintenance, contemporary flute techniques, audition prep, improvisation, and other topics that we don't have time to fully learn about in lessons.
RECITALS
Each year, we hold an online studio recital where students will perform pieces that they have been working on for friends and family. A huge part of music-making is performing and building confidence, and sharing our hard work and art with the community.
Private flute lessons with me are a great fit for:
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Adults who want to explore their love of music
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Students who are preparing for auditions (regional, all-state, college, competitions, festivals)
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High schoolers 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
Contact me today to set up a free consultation:
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 is competent, patient, fun, thoughtful, and motivating. She keeps Nathan engaged in lessons and he loves getting to play music he enjoys. We are very grateful for everything she does and for guiding him through his music education!
Benedicte K.
When Ali agreed to teach me, I had not touched my flute in almost 40 years. To say that I was rusty, is a grave understatement. And I had major gaps in my knowledge of music theory. Needless to say: I was scared and insecure about my first meeting with Ali.
My fears proved to be unfounded. I met a young woman who was eager to help me get back into playing and to make sure that the experience was enjoyable and motivating.
Ali was able to relate to my special needs as an older adult who was playing on the novice/intermediate level, and she was able to produce a growth in me that I could not have foreseen. As a result, I strongly reconnected with my flute and music in general, and after just a few months I was brave enough to play with a friend who accompanied me on the piano. We even played for a group of friends!
My life has been enriched, and I cannot thank Ali enough for her gentle, determined and insightful teaching style that speaks volumes about her abilities and talent.
Iris B.
ENTHUSIASTIC, APPROACHABLE, EXPERIENCED
READY TO GET STARTED WITH FLUTE LESSONS?
Ready to join our flute studio? Click here to email me about setting up a complimentary consultation!
Looking for a low-cost opportunity to enrich your musical self and develop healthy practice habits? Click here to check out the Mindful Practice Room!
Alison 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 adroit 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 Alison is flexible enough to alter the direction the lesson is taking if I should demonstrate a need in another direction.
Before the first Studio Class I attended I was certain that I would never play for the other students. To my surprise, Alison’s positive and relaxed demeanor gave me the confidence to play, and I am better for having done so. My flute playing ability is still at a rudimentary level but is advancing at a pace of which I didn’t believe myself capable of.
Allan C.
Ali is just what I needed to pick up my flute and start playing again. She easily adapts her teaching style to whatever my needs happen to be during each lesson and they are completely judgement-free. Ali is able to share her deep knowledge of the flute, flute repertoire and music theory in ways that make it fun and easy to understand. She helped me gain insights into my flute playing that will benefit me for years to come.
Cheryl P.
Alison is an extraordinary teacher and clinician. She instantly grasped exactly what the students needed and quickly led them to be better flutists. Her professionalism, enthusiasm, and musicianship are at the highest level.
Steve Zimmerman, Department Head and Director of Bands, Northwestern Regional High School, CT
SHOP
TEACHING PHILOSOPHY
My main goals of music-making are instilling creativity, confidence, and meaning. I find it important to gauge students and teach to their level of interest. Some students are interested in making music their priority, taking auditions, and pursuing a career in music, while others play instruments for the enjoyment of music and the connections that they can make with others. It is important to teach the fundamentals of instrumental performance in a way that emphasizes why basics are taught, how to improve upon them, and how that makes a difference in the music that students encounter. All students are going through their own unique problems and changes, and I challenge myself to meet the emotional, mental, and intellectual needs of each student. I strive to show all students respect and treat them with dignity, resulting in a stronger sense of self-worth. I believe that students are more likely to be motivated to learn should they know they are being listened to and valued as individuals.
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.
ARE THERE WAYS TO WORK WITH YOU OTHER THAN TAKING ONE-ON-ONE LESSONS?
Yes! I also run a community coworking space for musicians called the Mindful Practice Room which happens twice a week on Zoom. The sessions are casual, welcoming, and provide some practice prompts and insights for you to think about as you practice. Although it's not a substitute for private lessons, it's a really great resource for finding calm and ease in your practice sessions (which I'm a huge advocate for!) and it's an extremely accessible and affordable option for musicians.
The Mindful Practice Room is included in the tuition for private students in my studio.
You can also join our free Facebook group, Mindful Practice Community: Practice Thoughts & Tips.
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.