MEET THE TEAM
We are a team of passionate and dedicated flutists & music educators who strongly believe in the ability children have to learn the flute from a young age - through playful classes, a nurturing learning environment, fun games, a supportive family, and our loving guidance.
By joining one of our classes, you are supporting a small independent local business. Thank you for taking the time to read more about us and what we do!
We can't wait to play together at one of our classes!!
(listed alphabetically by first name)
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ALEXANDRA PETROPOULOS
Alexandra Petropoulos Flute Studio | London | United Kingdom
An American living in London, Alexandra has been teaching flute for over 17 years. After completing a BM in Flute Performance at the University of Southern Maine, she travelled across the big water to London to do a MMus in Ethnomusicology at the School of Oriental and African Studies where she got to learn about music from all over the world. When she’s not teaching, she’s the deputy editor of the world music magazine, Songlines, and a stand-up comedian. Alexandra loves all things pink – she has even sported some bright pink hair in the past – and she can never eat enough Oreos (dunked in milk, of course). Teaching #littleflutes is her passion because it means she gets be her silly self and pass on her love of the flute! www.londonflute.co.uk
ANNE FONTENAY
Minfloejtebog | Copenhagen | Denmark
Anne is a flute teacher based in Denmark with more than 20 years of teaching experience. She is always in the search for new fun ways to teach the flute and most recently she was trained as a Music Mind Games teacher. She completed her masters degree in flute and flute pedagogy at Nordjysk Music Conservatorium in Denmark. At Rudersdal Music School, where she teach the flute, she also teaches elementary music education. Anne completed a degree in Art and Culture intermediary from the University College Sjælland. Her favorite color is red and yellow like a beautiful sunset. Due to a lack of good flute method books in Danish for little students, Anne wrote her own flute method book! This book is now being translated to English by her daughter. It is important to Anne that kids who start learning music at an early age are given the best start which includes a lot of laughter and fun games. You can read more about Anne's flute method book at www.minfloejtebog.dk or visit her at minfloejtebog.dk on Instagram.
ANSJE DE GROEF
Gemeentelijke Academie Grimbergen | Brussels | Belgium
Ansje De Groef is a Belgium-based flutist with more than 20 years of teaching experience. She completed her masters degree in Music Performance and Music Education in the Brussels Conservatory. She wrote her own flute method books for children ages 5 & up. The first book, "Krullebol" is written in Dutch, and all the other books (Colorful Flute Etudes) are written in English. Ansje loves all kinds of glitter colors to contrast all the mud she gets on her legs at cross-country races in the winter. And to compensate for all the high flute notes, Ansje loves to play the double bass. In the meantime you can always make her happy with... brownies! Ansje feels that when children start playing the flute at a young age, they achieve a very natural, rhythmical, well intone & incorporated kind of playing. To read more about Ansje, her method books and flute studio, please visit Ansje's website: www.krullebol.org
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CHRISTINA ENIG
Nordfyns Musikskole | Funen | Denmark
Christina is a Danish flute teacher and flutist who lives in Funen, Denmark. She completed her Master's degree (Diplomeksamen) in Flute Performance from VMK Academy of Music and Music Communication in Esbjerg (2006), but she also holds a Master's degree in Danish from the University of Southern Denmark (2018). Christina is a mom of three, her favorite colours are orange and yellow, and her favorite cookies are homemade. Christina is a flute teacher in Nordfyns Musikskole
and she also teaches private students in her home. She has more than 20 years of teaching experience and enjoys watching new flutists develop both with the flute and as a person. It is a goal for Christina that her flute students develop in a way that they some day in the future do not need her as a flute teacher anymore. Christina especially loves helping her little flutists develop their flute skills through fun activities like improvisation, storytelling and interactive games with & without the flute. To read more about Christina and her teaching, please visit her website: christinaenig.dk
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DEBBIE REYNOLDS
Debbie Reynolds Music Lessons | Hudson, QC | Canada
Debbie teaches flute online to children all over the world and she gives in person lessons in Hudson, Quebec. She has been teaching flute in English and French for over 25 years and has a Bachelors and a Masters degree in Music from McGill University. Every student is unique and Debbie loves finding creative ways to teach her young students, depending on their particular learning styles and needs. Her goal is to make lessons full of fun while providing students with a deep understanding of music. Learning to play the flute online can be preferable for some and Debbie has the tools to make online lessons engaging for young children. Debbie has taught music in the classroom and once wrote and put on a musical play featuring 100 little recorder players! Her favourite cookie? Anything chocolate! Debbie enjoys swimming and growing indoor salad gardens. Maybe that’s why her favourite color is green..? To read more about lessons with Debbie, visit www.debbiereynoldsflute.com
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EFTIHIA ARKOUDIS
Eftihia Arkoudis Flute Studio | Morgantown, WV | USA
Greek flutist and Trevor James Low Flutes Artist Dr. Eftihia Arkoudis is the Flute Professor at Frostburg State University and an Associate Flute & Piano Instructor for West Virginia University’s Community Music Program. As a soloist and chamber musician, she has performed in prestigious venues of Greece, Turkey, Austria, and Germany and is a founding member of the award-winning ensemble BETA Quartet. As an educator, Dr. Arkoudis has given several workshops and masterclasses, and has experience teaching flute (all levels), beginner piano lessons, and music theory to students with or without learning and physical disabilities. She speaks English, Greek, German and understands Spanish. Eftihia loves to dance, her favorite color is green and can’t resist a warm chocolate-filled croissant. Nothing gives her more joy than becoming a partner in achievement for her tiny musicians. That is why she aims to foster a positive and well-rounded learning environment that instills confidence and self-love and respects the individuality of every #littleflutist. She holds artistic diplomas from Prayner Konservatorium Wien (Austria) and Athens Conservatoire (Greece) and received her MM and DMA from West Virginia University. For her full bio, visit: www.eftihiavarkoudisflute.com
ELIZABETH BRIGHTBILL
Terra Voce Music | Charlottesville/Crozet, VA | USA
Elizabeth teaches flutists of all ages and performs in the duo Terra Voce with her cellist husband, Andrew Gabbert. Elizabeth has taught for over 25 years and is trained in the Suzuki and KinderFlute methods. Elizabeth believes that a child’s age, learning style, and family situation determine the method. Whatever the approach, she relentlessly looks for new and creative ways to make lessons fun and engaging. The unbridled delight of a child producing a sound for the first time is one of her greatest joys! She loves studying and performing Brazilian musical styles, drawing, hiking and cooking. Her favorite color is periwinkle blue, she loves ginger-lime cookies, and she adores her fur baby, a Pembroke Welsh corgi. Elizabeth holds the D.M. degree in Flute Performance from Indiana University and teaches at Longwood University in addition to her home studio. To learn more about Elizabeth and her teaching please visit https://terravoce.com/teaching/flute-lessons-virginia/
EMILY STUMPF
Flute Tales | Columbia, SC | USA
Emily Stumpf is a multifaceted educator and has taught kids of all ages in an array of subjects in addition to her flute lessons and group classes. Some of these have included swimming, lacrosse, and her favourite - sailing! Emily received her Bachelor of Music from Grove City College and then went on to complete bother her Master’s degree and Doctoral degree in Music performance from the University of South Carolina. Her favourite colour is green - shades of teal and mint and her favourite cookies are macarons. Her goal as an early childhood flute educator is to create a learning environment full of joy and wonder - to have a sense of curiosity to explore the world, music making, and how to play the flute. To read more about Emily, visit her website: emilystumpf.com
ERIN SPENCER
Spencer Music Studio | Colorado Springs, CO | USA
A native of Colorado, Erin has been teaching flute and piano for 9 years. For much of that time, she thought she wanted to be a band director, but after teaching private lessons, she realized how much FUN it is and how big of a difference she can make in the lives of her students. She earned her Master's Degree in Flute Performance and her Bachelor's in Music Education at the University of Missouri to be the best flute educator she could be. The left side of Erin's face was paralyzed in 2018. Although it was devastating, having flute taken away reinvigorated her passion for flute, and the process of re-learning to play forced her to find new ways to improve her sound, making her an even better teacher. Erin collects crafts like some people collect stamps: crocheting, cookie and cake decorating, horseback riding, embroidery, board gaming, and more! Her favorite thing about teaching younger students is how much excitement and energy they bring to lessons. Find more about Spencer Music Studio at: www.spencermusicstudio.com
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GILLIAN SHEPPARD
Tutti Flutey Music Studio | St. John's, NFLD | Canada
Gillian hails from St. John's, on a rocky island in the middle of the North Atlantic Ocean called Newfoundland. Gillian has a Doctorate of Musical Arts in Piccolo Performance from the University of Toronto along with an Artist Diploma from the Royal College of Music in London, UK. She completed her undergraduate degree at the University of Ottawa with Camille Churchfield and was a graduate student in the studio of Michelle Cheramy at Memorial University. Gillian is a high-energy, creative and passionate music teacher, arts administrator and social entrepreneur. She adores horses, is a huge fan of the color purple, and absolutely dies for a "cuppa" Tetley tea. Gillian loves the game-based learning approach to teaching little flutes and enjoys surprising her students with new activities for learning musical and flute-playing concepts. To learn more about Gillian and Tutti Flutey Music Studio, please visit: www.tuttiflutey.ca
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HATTIE JOLLY
The Flute Studio | Hertfordshire | UK
Hattie has been teaching the flute for over twenty years, and loves to swim in her spare time. Hattie took a BA Hons in English and an MSc in Human Communication before studying for a PGDip in Flute Performance at Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance. More recently, Hattie completed the KinderFlute training with Kathy Blocki, and is currently undertaking the ACKME Kodaly certificate course with the Phoenix Collective. Her favourite colour is blue, and although she isn’t a big fan of cookies, you can often find her eating malt loaf with lots of butter (delicious!). Hattie believes that all #littleflutes deserve a joyful and exciting learning experience, grounded firmly in musicianship. She loves teaching #littleflutes because they are so full of wonder and excitement, not afraid of trying new things and expressing their musicality. Let’s play!
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IRENA MITEVSKA MILEVA
Toot and Hoot Method | Singapore
Irena is a flute teacher with more than 12 years of teaching experience. She studied Flute Performance and pedagogy in her home country – Macedonia. After she finished her Masters degree, she moved to Dubai where she taught and performed for 12 years. This is where Irena first started teaching young flute beginners and her idea about creating a method for younger beginners was born. Through the years of teaching, Irena taught all levels of flute students, especially #littleflutists. In August 2020 she moved to Singapore, where she created Toot and Hoot Flute Method and her flute beginners’ books. Irena’s favorite color is turquoise because she loves the sea, and her favorite cookies are peach flavor gummies. She loves when her little flutists learn while playing games. To work with Irena or to find out more about her teaching and method books, visit tootandhootflutemethod.com
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JAMES PALUK
James Paluk Flute Studio | Winnipeg, MB | Canada
Originally from Winnipeg, Manitoba, James received his Bachelor of Flute Performance from Brandon University and his Masters of Flute Performance and Pedagogy from Memorial University of Newfoundland. He now resides in St John's, Newfoundland with his partner and three cats (Oliver, Lincoln, and Gustav). An energetic and good-humoured teacher, James believes there is no "one-size-fits-all" approach to lessons. Students are treated as individuals with their own goals, wants, and needs to be met. James' main musical inspiration comes from video games and composers such as Nobuo Uematsu (Final Fantasy), Koji Kondo (Legend of Zelda), and Yasunori Mitsuada (Chrono Cross). An avid gamer himself, James likes to mix work and play to make fluting fun!
JAYBO WONG
Jaybo Wong Flute Studios | Hong Kong | China
Born in Hong Kong, Jaybo started piano at the age of 4 and flute when she started college. Jaybo is now an active flute & piano teacher who has a passion for teaching little ones - especially after becoming a mum of two. Jaybo was awarded the Licentiate in Flute by the Associated Board of the Royal School of Music (LRSM) and the Associateship in Piano Performance by the Trinity College London (ATCL). Jaybo never hesitates seeking ways to expand her teaching knowledge and is always looking to provide more opportunities for her #littleflutes to perform together. She feels tremendous pride every time she helps a new student succeed in producing a beautiful tone as she believes that good tone is the spirit of flute playing. Apart from her active teaching and performing schedule, Jaybo enjoys baking colorful cookies with her daughter and visiting Hong Kong Disneyland. To learn more about Jaybo's teaching journey, please visit @flutefunhk on Instagram & Facebook!
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KAREN NORTH
The Young Flute Player | North Sydney | Australia
Karen has enjoyed teaching flute and class music for over 35 years. Karen has a Master of Music Degree (UNSW), a B.A. Honours Music Degree (USYD) and a Graduate Diploma in Education (Music, STC). Karen started work as a professional orchestral conductor, but then discovered her passion for teaching. She was Director of Music at Sydney Grammar (Edgecliff) School and has also worked in government schools at primary and secondary level. Karen loves the openness and energy of #littleflutes, and believes that getting off to the right start is essential. She has written a series of method and ensemble books for children called The Young Flute Player, as well as a method book especially for adult and teenage learners. Karen enjoys coming up with new ideas to make lessons fun for her young students, and she gets as excited as the children when there is a new game to play! Karen’s favourite colour is blue and she likes homemade chocolate chip cookies, although melting moments with lemon icing come a close second. In her “spare” time, Karen edits two newsletters and gives workshops for teachers in Australia and overseas. To learn more, please visit her website https://www.theyoungfluteplayer.com/
KATHERINE WATSON
Katherine Watson Music | Vancouver, BC | Canada
Katherine Watson is a Vancouver-based flutist and flute teacher. She received her Bachelor of Music from the University of Toronto, and then went on to receive her Artist's Diploma at The Royal Conservatory of Music. After a few years of teaching flute and piano privately in Toronto while pursuing an orchestral performance career, Katherine decided to move to Montreal for a few years to get her Master's degree from McGill University. Katherine loves to run and her favourite colour changes with the seasons! Her favourite cookie will always be oatmeal chocolate chip. Katherine loves to instil love and joy with music-making. Through her Kinderflute training, she uses creative solutions for any challenges that arise, and inspires critical and creative thinking in her students. Katherine believes that everyone is a musician, and music is for everybody. Check out her website at KatherineWatsonFlute.com!
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LANA CHOU HOYT
Oakwood Music School | Toronto | Canada
Lana teaches flute in her hometown of Toronto. She studied flute and music education at the University of Western Ontario, now Western University in London, Ontario. Lana has taught flute for 15 years and has always loved creating community through running her flute ensembles Flute Parfait in London, Ontario and City Flutes in Toronto since 2007. Lana enjoys the fun and challenge of working with beginner and intermediate flute players. Since becoming a mom a few years ago, she has taken a greater interest and has a greater understanding of how children learn through play, and incorporating fun and play in her lessons with young flute players. She uses a variety of activities, flute pedagogy, and resources she has collected over the years and from her flute teachers, including incorporating Suzuki philosophy in her teaching. It is an exciting time to be a little flutist with many innovations like Nuvo Toots, which allows little flutists get started at a younger age. When she is not teaching or playing music, she enjoys pedalling around the city on a cargo bike with her two daughters and husband.
LISA O'CONNOR
Happy Tunes Music Makers | Shoreham-by-Sea | England
Flautist Lisa O’Connor has returned to her hometown of Shoreham-by-Sea on the Sussex coast via Liverpool, Dublin, Dartford, and Brighton. Lisa gained her grade eight flute and first taught music as a teenager before putting music to one side in favour of achieving a degree in design followed by a career in retail management. Becoming a Mum brought music bouncing back into focus and Lisa is now the founder & lead educator of Happy Tunes Music Makers! Lisa is passionate about introducing Nuvo woodwind instruments and ocarinas to young children with fun and vibrant creativity. Kinderflute is the perfect platform with games and movement to compliment the child-led learning Lisa delivers. Blue is Lisa's favourite colour to wear but she loves relaxing on orange cushions! To find out more about Lisa and her classes, visit her website: www.happytunesmusic.co.uk
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MARJOLEIN DESMET
Mayo's Flute Studio | Saltillo, Coahuila | México
Marjolein (Mayo) Desmet is a European flutist, born in Belgium, and currently living in Saltillo, Coahuila, Mexico. She holds Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Flute Performance and did a specialization in Music Pedagogy. Whenever Mayo has some free time she loves to hand letter and practice calligraphy. Her favorite colour is Tuscan sun yellow and the best cookies in the world are definitely oreo’s.
Mayo runs her own music studio, Mayo’s Flute Studio, where she offers flute classes designed for every student’s individual needs. Everyone is unique! Student’s qualities, talents, and ideas take centre stage during flute lessons. Mayo’s goal is to create a learning environment full of fun and positivity. To know more about Mayo’s Flute Studio visit the website: www.marjoleindesmet.com
MICHELLE KRAWIEC
The Music Rainbow | Bristol | United Kingdom
Michelle Krawiec is a passionate and enthusiastic educator with over 20 years experience teaching pupils of all ages. Michelle completed her Bachelor of Arts with Honours, specialising in flute performance at Bath Spa University College and then completing a Post Graduate Certificate in Education in secondary music teaching at Bath Spa University College. Michelle holds a Diploma in flute performance from the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music, is a level 3 trained Suzuki flute teacher (accredited by European Suzuki Association) and has undertaken Early Years Music training which has influenced the development of her Music Rainbow curriculum for young woodwind players. Her favourite colours are purple and turquoise and she loves chocolate orange cookies! For more information about how to start your musical journey please visit www.michellekrawiec.co.uk.
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NICOLE WELSH
Treble Maker Music | Newmarket, ON | Canada
Nicole runs her music studio, Treble Maker Music, from her home in Newmarket, Ontario. When she is not in the studio teaching, you may find her “tapping” out rhythms at a dance class! Nicole holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Music Performance (flute) from York University, and is a certified teacher with the Royal Conservatory of Music. Nicole is the founder and executive director of the Toronto based flute ensemble, Flute Flight. If you want to make her day, bring her a hot coffee and a home made sugar cookie... bonus points if it's in a teal coloured mug! Nicole absolutely loves starting new beginners on their musical journey and is working towards bringing flute playing into the lives of more young children. Her favourite thing about teaching little musicians is their contageous joy as they proudly play a piece they've practiced! Please visit www.treblemakermusic.ca for more information.
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SARA SILVA
FLUTURE Music Studios | Porto | Portugal
Sara Silva is a Portuguese flutist and flute teacher based in Porto, Portugal. She is originally from Santa Maria da Feira, a small city with a historic castle from Aveiro district where she completed her Masters Degree at Aveiro University. In the same year, Sara was Trevor Wye's flute student in his Flute Studio in Hastingleigh, UK. Sara often plays with the Hator Trio - a flute trio with two of her best friends. Besides playing the flute, Sara is a practitioner of the DeROSE Method and loves everything that has to do with Harry Potter. Her favourite colour is yellow and she loves "bolo de bolacha" a typical Portuguese dessert made out of cookies and coffee. Sara's favourite thing about teaching younger flute students, beyond the happiness they always bring to class, is the cute way they talk that is always so distinct from each other and their excitement in learning new things. Sara is now presenting her music studio by the name FLUTURE where she wants, not only to teach flute but, most importantly, provide an encouraging environment where children will have their first steps in music and music making.
SARAH BROUGHTON
Sydney East Flute Studio | East Sydney | Australia
Sarah is a flute player and teacher living in Sydney, Australia. She spends her time practising flute, violin, and piano with her daughters, teaching flute in her studio, and developing resources to help introduce children to the wonderful world of music and music making! Sarah is a graduate of the Royal College of Music, London, and the Australian National University, Canberra School of Music. Sarah also has a law degree, has been admitted as a solicitor, and spends part of her week giving legal advice. Her favourite colour is anything except orange...she doesn't especially love cookies, but give her a bag of chips any day! Sarah has a special interest in teaching young beginners, inspired by her mother who is a specialist in childhood development and learning. Sarah's studio philosophy is "musical excellence, in a positive learning environment, developing skills to last a lifetime." To learn more about Sarah and her studio, please visit: www.beststartmusic.com
SARAH ROBERTSON
Sand Dollar Music | Dayton, OH | USA
Originally from Michigan, Sarah currently lives in Ohio and is a flute playing, music loving, kid-doting music educator! She holds a B.M. in Flute Performance from Indiana University of South Bend and a M.M. in Music Education from Wright State University. She is a #boymom, coffee addict, adores the colours teal and burgundy (her studio colours!), adrenaline junkie,nature lover, and go-getter. She has 15 years experience as an elementary music teacher and band director and her favorite thing to do is to incorporate all of the fun elementary classroom knowledge into her private flute studio where she teaches kiddos of all ages! Sarah co-founded Sand Dollar Music with her Sand Dollar bff, Christin, and in their music studio they help their students gain the confidence to create music, the skills to succeed, and the power to perform! Sarah especially love helping her little flutists develop their confidence and skills through fun activities, interactive games, and creative learning. To read more about Sarah and her teaching, check out her website: www.sanddollarmusic.com
STEPHANIE SUPERLE
FlutePlay Creator | Winnipeg, MB | Canada
Born in Ontario, Stéphanie has lived in 5 provinces coast to coast and has been making music across Canada for decades. She holds Bachelor's degrees in Music Performance and Music Education from the University of Saskatchewan and completed her Master's degree in Flute Performance from the University of Toronto. Stéphanie is a new mama, enjoys her coffee with a hint of maple syrup, sports hot pink lip stick [her favourite colour!], and enjoys baking homemade chocolate chip cookies for her students & family. As Founder & Lead Educator of fluteplay, Stéphanie strives to make music more accessible to families by encouraging wind instruments from a young age. Her favourite thing about teaching little flutes? The combination of creativity & physical activity makes learning music a whole lot of fun. To read more about Stéphanie and her flute studio, please visit her website: www.stephaniesuperle.com
SUSAN HALLSTEAD
Puget Sound Flute | Seattle, WA | USA
Susan Hallstead is a certified KinderFlute™ instructor and the owner of Puget Sound Flute, based in the Seattle/Tacoma area. She fell in love with the flute in the first grade when her teacher’s daughter played for her class, and it has been her passion ever since. Knowing how impactful a first impression can be, she tries to incorporate fun into learning and believes it is a vital component to connecting young children with music. Susan earned her music degree from the University of Washington where she also studied voice and was a regional winner of the San Francisco Opera Competition. In addition to running a large private studio, Susan also teaches masterclasses for area schools and has worked to develop music programs for the YMCA. When she’s not planning classes or performing, you can find her hiking, searching for 5-star waterfalls, and exploring the beautiful Pacific Northwest surrounded by her favorite color: Green! To learn more, visit pugetsoundflute.com
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TOMISLAVA KARACIC SOLJIC
Franjo Kuhac Music School | Osijek | Croatia
Tomislava Karačić Šoljić is a flutist who lives and works in Osijek, Croatia. When she was very young, she imagined that she would be a teacher and that wish came true. She started playing the flute at the age of 10, after visiting the Croatian National Theater where she heard a performance of Bach's Suite in H minor for flute. She graduated in flute at the Academy of Arts in Split, Croatia. She is employed at the Franjo Kuhač Music School in Osijek. Her favorite color is blue. Her favorite cookies are Speculas. Tomislava's wish is for music to reach every child, so in her classes she tries to adapt to the needs of each of her students. Teaching the little ones makes her happy, those hours are full of joy, fun and imagination, and music and flute take them on adventures. To read more about Tomislava or to join her #littleflutes studio, visit her FlutePlay studio page.
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WERONIKA BALEWSKI
Balewski Music Lessons | Waltham | USA
Weronika is passionate about building connection, relationships, and community. This is evident in her musical life as a flutist and teacher, and in the desserts she bakes for her family and friends. Weronika has 11+ years of teaching experience. She holds master’s and bachelor’s degrees in Flute Performance from Carnegie Mellon University and the Longy School of Music of Bard College. She is a certified teacher of Dalcroze Eurhythmics, a social and movement-based approach to learning which develops ensemble and improvisation skills, musicianship, and expression. Weronika loves the color purple and Smitten Kitchen’s salted chocolate chunk cookies. She loves to see the pride on the faces of her #littleflutes students when they have mastered a new skill, usually accompanied by a big grin. Her greatest wish is for each student to feel confident in their ability to make music, at any level of experience. Explore Weronika’s studio at balewskimusiclessons.com