Introduction: I am a very positive and upbeat teacher. I help my students to get excited about playing music, and I also have high standards for performance. My main instrument is flute (and piccolo), and I have played for 35 years, since 1986. My second instrument is oboe, and I have played it for 31 years. I have also played clarinet and saxophone in ensembles, and have bassoon, trumpet, and piano experience as well. I have played flute and piccolo in the Colorado Wind Ensemble for 20 years, and have also taught private lessons for nearly 21 years. I also played Flute in a chamber group called Orion Winds, and am principal oboist in the Thornton Community Band. I play professionally around the Denver area in numerous venues, in many various styles and genres of music. I play flute and oboe in Metafonic Rockestra, and sub in various other local orchestras. My goal is to make students feel good about themselves, and their study of their instruments, so that they will continue playing for years to come. I have had students frequently make it into CU middle and high school honor bands, Continental League, and also the prestigious All-State Band. Alumni of my studio have gone on to many various universities, and are now majoring in music, or have earned their music degrees. I personally have a double major in music education with a woodwind emphasis, and also in flute performance, received in 2002. I’m also currently one of the woodwind specialist teachers with Colorado Honor Band. I also teach singing lessons, and am classically trained, but I sing many different genres of music! :)
I enjoy working with all ages of students, and I love it when I see a student smiling because they have had an "aha" moment, and made a breakthrough improving in a certain area of their playing. I like when students can laugh and have a sense of humor when learning, and also be serious about it and very focused at the same time. I am happy when my students see how much they can improve when they practice hard, and go the extra mile. I also have a great time planning recitals for my students, and performing a teacher piece at the end of the show, and giving out awards each year.
