Kathryn offers flute lessons to students of all ages, from beginners to advanced flautists. She is an experienced teacher having taught privately and at several schools in Adelaide, Amsterdam and Melbourne. Kathryn has also prepared students for AMEB and VCE Exams. Her studio is based in Windsor.



MY TEACHING PHILOSOPHY:
I believe teaching is an intrinsic part of being a musician. I have had the benefit of having some exceptional teachers in my own education and not only did they help me in solving musical problems, but they also taught me skills to apply to the rest of my life.

One of the reasons I find teaching rewarding is because it gives me the chance to make a positive impact on a young persons life. It is gratifying to see students achieving their goals and develop confidence and leadership skills, which comes from this.

My teaching style incorporates a variety of teaching methodologies. I try to take the best of several techniques and use a variety of strategies to address each student's learning style. My goal to instill a passion for learning music and provide a learning environment that is encouraging and positive.




FOR BEGINNERS - YOUR FIRST FLUTE:


If you are just starting the flute, the beginner brands of flutes I'd recommend to rent or buy are Yamaha, Pearl, Jupiter, or David Temby. If you are a beginner flautist and don’t want to invest in a new instrument, renting a flute for a shorter period of time is a good idea. Billy Hyde’s, Ormond Brass and Woodwind and Allans Music have a variety of flutes for rent. You will need a ‘Student flute’ which is the term used to indicate an inexpensive instrument. Student flutes can be made of various metals, nickel, silver or silver plated.

A curved headjoint is a good idea for young flautists to hold the instrument without having to physically stretch beyond his or her capabilities at first. As the student grows, it is a simple matter to change over to the traditional, straight headjoint.

Many people start off with used flutes. As long as a flute was reasonably taken care of by its previous owner, it'll be fine. Flutes are mechanical instruments, though, so a used flute is more likely to need some refurbishing (keys adjusted, pads replaced, etc) than if you buy a new flute. I never recommend buying an instrument on Ebay without having tried it. Second hand flutes can be found at various music shops in Melbourne, specialist flute dealers, through the Victoria Flute Guild's Magazine or through teacher contacts.

Have fun getting and starting a new instrument!