Imagine you’re in 5th grade and you finally get to try out instruments to select what you’ll be playing in band. You LOVE music and all your friends are trying out. How awesome is this? It’s now the big moment and you finally select the flute as your instrument - woohoo! 

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But then you get through your first few band rehearsals and notice that your friends know how to read music and play, but you can’t seem to grasp it and you almost want to quit. But you keep pushing through and meet a flute teacher along your journey. Suddenly you’re 1st chair in band! 

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Meet the imaginary 5th grader in this story: me! 

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Flute lessons truly changed the trajectory of my life for the better. I learned self-confidence, self-expression, and gained lifelong friendships with my peers. I’ve taught flute lessons for folks ranging from beginners to advanced, ages 10 through 60+, and college courses like History of Rock and Roll. I even Co-Directed a collegiate Performing Arts department, created courses and helped build programs. All because I pushed through and began taking lessons!

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One of my biggest observations over the years while teaching is that studying music has an amazing power to transform lives by building courage, empathy, accountability, leadership, community, and compassion. These aren’t just skills and traits that are beneficial for playing in band… they are helpful and in most cases necessary in many aspects of life beyond the music room.​​