Fighting your child to pick up their flute or go to the piano is exhausting.

When music is taught without meaning, clear goals, and from only one perspective, there's no joy in the music making. As a result, kids quickly become frustrated, lose interest, and feel unenthusiastic about music lessons. 

My teaching is focused on inspiring and motivating your kids every week so that you don't have to fight them to practice. Seeing their eyes light up with curiosity or excitement is what makes my eyes light up!

My youngest students ask their parents, "Is today music day?" And my older students say, "I love Tuesdays because I get to end my day with a flute lesson."

I'd love to show you why students in my studio love their lessons.

What My Students' Parents Are Saying

A semester of flute lessons or piano lessons includes:

How to Get Started

I understand how students of different ages learn and I believe in each of my students

I am an expert and passionate music teacher who has accompanied many young musicians on their musical journey. I look forward to meeting you and finding out together if flute lessons or piano lessons in my studio are a good fit for your child. 

Building Enthusiasm and Motivation

When a student makes a connection with a teacher who inspires and believes in them, enthusiasm and motivation develop easily. Your child will be the one telling you at the end of each school year: “I want to keep going with flute lessons” or “I want to keep going with piano lessons.” Your child will make it clear that they value the weekly lesson time, and they will enjoy the process of practicing at home and seeing their own growth. Your child will come home from their lesson with a clear assignment which they are excited about. 

What I Teach

I aim to teach students for at least 5 to 10 years, and I have a long-term plan for my students’ musical development. With time, you will see all the amazing musical skills your child develops through flute lessons or piano lessons. I value both accuracy and creativity, note-reading and improvisation, following what is on the page exactly and finding your own voice. You will also see extra-musical skills develop. Flute lessons and piano lessons will build your child’s confidence and pride through risk-taking, goal-setting, reflection, determination, and perseverance. 

We learn most deeply when we involve our whole selves: our physical bodies and their movements/sensations; our emotions and capacity to express, empathize, and connect; and our intellect with its ability to analyze, imagine, and observe. I have over a decade of training in Dalcroze Eurhythmics and Integrative Education, two holistic pedagogical approaches which give me tools to bring the students’ whole self into each piano lesson and flute lesson. (If you're curious to learn more, I spoke with Dr. Heidi Kay Begay on her podcast Flute 360 about the way Dalcroze movement education can help us play with more freedom and clearer musical intentions.)

Confidence comes from a healthy mix of safety and challenge, and I have a breadth of teaching tools and approaches to create that balance for my students. 

How I Teach

I bring multiple pedagogical approaches to the flute lessons and piano lessons I teach. I have 11 years of teaching experience and a deeply reflective teaching practice. I recognize the investment families are making when they commit to studying with me. I keep my studio deliberately small (10-15 students each week) and I think about my flute and piano students throughout the week, reflecting on our lessons so that I can bring fresh insight each week. I give my best energy to each flute lesson, to each piano lesson. 

Every student is different. I love finding what works for your child. When it comes to learning how to read music, approaches to practicing at home, and choosing what music to learn, there is no one-size-fits all approach. There are a number of wonderful method books available, and I like to get to know each student before deciding which book is right for them. Students in flute lessons often work from Kathy Blocki’s excellent method, standard repertoire from FluteWorld,  or pop and folk tunes from FluteTunes. My students in Piano Lessons use the Piano Safari Series, the Music Moves Series, the Music Tree Series, and Donald Waxman’s primers. As part of tuition, you receive instrument consultations any time they are needed. I can advise you on the right instrument for your child, depending on your family’s needs and budget. There are many wonderful options for flute lessons, from the Toot Flute for the youngest students all the way to curved and straight headjoint student flutes, intermediate flutes, and professional flutes available at two local stores I recommend, Flutistry and Leonard’s. Piano lessons can begin with electric keyboards, or used or new upright pianos. 

Community through Flute Lessons and Piano Lessons

By learning in community, your child will become more motivated and enjoy musical friendships with other young musicians. In addition to a weekly flute lesson or piano lesson, my students attend group music-making experiences every two or three months. These include classes, recitals, and ensembles organized through my studio. Your child can also take part in amazing community events and weekly musicianship classes through organizations I partner with (more details here). Middle school and high school students can participate in local, regional, and national competitions and ensembles, such as those offered through the National Flute Association, Massachusetts Music Educators Association, or New England Conservatory Prep. 

My Training

I completed a 4-year certification process in Dalcroze Eurhythmics, with exams in eurhythmics, solfege, piano and vocal improvisation, and pedagogy. I was the first Integrative Education Fellow at Integral Steps, completing a year of observations, workshops, and supervised teaching to gain a deep understanding of integrative education which addresses a balanced development of mind, body, and emotions. I have a Bachelor’s degree in Flute Performance from Carnegie Mellon University and a Master’s degree in Flute Performance from the Longy School of Music of Bard College.