Music Lessons in Mesa, AZ

Instruments: Flute Recorder Piccolo

What musical accomplishments are you most proud of?
Winning the competitions that brought me performances in Carnegie's Weill Recital Hall (twice) and a European Debut in Geneva, Switzerland. I loved performing the concertos with orchestra that I have. I'm quite proud of the chamber music work I continue to do.

Does music run in your family? Tell us a little about your musical family members.
My uncle was an active musician, bass player, in New York in the 1940s and on. My mother first went to college to major in music (piano) but ended up switching. My nephew is a film composer in LA and also has been writing K-Pop songs that are pretty successful. He's doing very well and I'm so proud!

When did you decide to become a professional musician? Was it a gradual decision or was there a defining moment for you?
I think the defining moment was the stay at music camp after 8th grade. I loved music my whole life and sort of thought of it as a career before that, but the most serious "statement" was at that point and there's been no looking back.

If you have a Music Degree, what is it in (Performance, Education, Musicology, Theory, Composition, etc) and why did you choose that degree?
Bachelor of Music in Music Education: I chose this because it seemed like the right thing to do. Master of Music in Woodwind Performance: I was really focusing my career as a performer and I had the opportunity to be accepted to the flute studio of Leone Buyse (then of the Boston Symphony Orchestra). Doctor of Musical Arts in Music Education: I chose this because I needed a doctorate to pursue teaching in college. But, while studying in the program, I came to realize that whether you are a performer or teacher (or both!), you are an educator and how important understanding how to teach it for the private studio teacher.

What does a normal practice session look like for you?
I warm up - although I'm not one to spend a lot of time on that. I do some brief scale exercises and then get to my repertoire. Similar to most students, my time for practice is often compressed, so I've learned to make most effective use of it. If I have more time, I sight-read, which I think is one of the most important skills for a musician.

What do you think is the hardest thing to master on your instrument?
Understanding the physics of air pressure, speed and direction. Sometimes people worry too much about embouchure and fingering, when it really all comes down to understanding air and how sound is made on the flute. I spend a lot of time on this in my teaching and I think this is why my students all have a really good, strong sound.

Have any of your students won awards or been selected for special honors? How have they succeeded?
I have had a number of students go from my studio to major in music in conservatories and colleges. I think that the passion I instilled in them, as well as the knowledge of how to practice and be a good musician has carried them well.

Why did you choose your primary instrument?
It was really a matter of what the band director wanted for his band and also that I walked to and from school so my mother didn't want me to choose something heavy (as my brother already played horn). I just chose the flute, but I like to think that the instrument chose me.

If you play more than one instrument, how did you decide to start playing the second? (Or 3rd, 4th, 5th, etc)!
Flute is my primary instrument (also piccolo, alto and bass), but I started off on piano when I was 5. I chose piano because my older siblings played and I wanted to be better at it than them - perhaps I already knew I was going to enter a competitive field! So, flute was my second and I chose it because I wanted to play in the school band.

What advice do you have about practicing effectively?
Organize your time. Don't try to work on an entire piece. Identify where the problems are and focus your attention there. Schedule practice time as you would any other appointment. Consider practicing in small time units.

How do I know if my child is ready to start lessons?
Have they shown an interest? Not an ability, just an interest? Are they very easily distracted? Obviously they don't need to be able to sit quietly and non-moving, but they do need to be able to give their attention.

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