Do you teach adults?

Absolutely! I work principally with adult learners, at all different levels of player ability and confidence. Lots of people are returning to or discovering their talent for music in mature years and I  am delighted to offer programs of study created specifically for adults. In fact, adult learners do exceptionally well because they bring a world of life experience, transferable skills and oodles of passion and curiosity to their learning. 

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How much do lessons cost?

Cost varies relative to the enquiry. Lessons/appointments are be paid for individually at the time of booking. Please get in touch for a personal quote with no obligation. 

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Will I be charged for a missed lesson?

Lessons can be rescheduled up to 48 hours before the appointment, cancellations inside that window are charged at full lesson price. Further booking is suspended until payment is received. Please note, the '48 hour rule' is a safeguard put in place to protect the flexibility of the booking system that allows a natural freedom of engagement for adults, with no contracts or additional fees.

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Do you teach half hour lessons? I think an hour might be a bit long...

Perhaps my most asked question. The answer, in short, is no. I've evolved away from the conveyor belt tradition where I earned my stripes as a young teacher, preferring instead a more free flowing experience where the learner can enjoy a rich creative hour with their flute studies at the heart. Each player's hour is balanced to encompass the full range of development needed to become 'a flute player'. Players are encouraged to take advantage of the time between lessons to really get into the nuts and bolts of their learning and so lessons are taught no more frequently than fortnightly. 

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How much should I spend on my first flute?

You don't have to break the bank to find a decent flute to start learning. You can't go wrong with a Yamaha. You can even start on one of their plastic fifes which don't cost any more than a plastic recorder but do have a much less penetrating tone! There are lots of options out there and something to suit every budget. Whether buying new or second hand, I would always recommend contacting a local player, teacher or instrument repair shop first as they will have their finger on the pulse and be able to help.

 

My top tip is don't be over sold in a music shop. Overspending will not give you a leg up, in fact, it will give you false expectations. This is never a good place to start so be savvy, talk to a teacher or local instrument repair shop and consider hiring from them to get off the ground. This way you put your best interests at the fore.

 

Do you have a DBS check?

Yes, I have an advanced DBS which can be viewed on request. Please don't hesitate to ask.​​

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Can I book different times and only come once a month?

Yes. The choice is yours. Having said that, players with their sights set on classical brilliance will need to dedicate frequent hours of practice and regular tuition to realise that goal. If however, you want to learn as a means of growing your skills, realising a long held dream or to create an oasis for yourself in the chaos of life, you will find yourself able to drift much more freely in what is essentially a multifaceted infinity project.​​​​​​

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My child is having lessons in school, is it worth changing to private lessons?

I've taught and been taught in both scenarios and think both options have merit. In a nutshell, I'd say the main difference is content and speed of progress as a result. I actually think a mixture of experience is healthy and often encourage students to engage other teachers to tap into their specialisms. There are lots of variables to consider and I am happy to walk you through the options and help you with any questions so you can make an informed decision that's right for you and your young musician.

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What age can my child start learning to play?

That really depends on the child. You do need to be of a certain physical size to hold and position your hands correctly on the flute. Many flautists start around the age of six (this is only a guide) with the curved head, designed to bring the flute closer for little arms. There are all sorts of innovations to remove barriers at this stage. An experienced teacher will be able to start your child's musical education whenever you are ready for them to have the lessons. It is a great way to future proof them against stress and anxiety and also instil great practices for their whole education. There are lots of options for getting little ones started.

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Do you have disabled access?

​Unfortunately not as I teach from a first floor studio at home. I am happy to visit learners within a reasonable distance and also offer digital support. 

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How much practice will I need to do?

Honestly, that depends on what you want to achieve but I recommend floating it into your routine rather than hard scheduling the time. In the first couple of weeks, 15 mins a day is a good baseline. Short, daily practice sessions will help you get off the ground faster than one major practice session in a week. This is a more organic way to find your flow, rather than suddenly trying to shoe-horn a big change into your established routines. You will find yourself naturally increasing your practice time as you progress. ​​​​​​​