Piccolo with Jenna M.

Hi, I'm Jenna! I have been teaching flute for many years and am so excited to be teaching with TakeLessons! I have a bachelor's degree in flute performance from Florida State University, where I studied with Eva Amsler of the Tallahassee Symphony. I have also completed all coursework for a master's degree, also in flute performance, from San Francisco State, where I studied with Linda Lukas of the San Francisco Symphony. I have training in flute and music pedagogy, and experience in psychology, body awareness techniques, mindfulness, and meditation, all of which I make use of in lessons. My teaching philosophy: Being a musician is more than just playing the right notes at the right time. It’s about hard work, passion, and dedication, but it’s also about playfulness, creativity, and joy. My goal is to create a safe space in which every student has the opportunity to express themselves and develop the musical tools that will allow them to do so effectively. I place special importance on relaxation techniques and mindfulness practices that not only enable students to perform better but also allow them to enjoy playing more. I am also a huge advocate for rest - it is such an important part of the learning process and it is essential to becoming a balanced musician (and human!). I offer my students the opportunity to lead and be responsible for their own learning. More interested in beatboxing than orchestral excerpts? You got it! Want to focus on high notes and tone this week instead of fast fingers? Let’s do it! Want to learn that crazy hard piece you heard Jasmine Choi play on Youtube? I’m game if you are - and you’ll be more motivated and learn faster because of it. I encourage my students to examine what concepts they are avoiding and why (hint: it’s probably because it’s hard), and to really nail the basics. With this approach, students learn to teach themselves, improving dramatically in the process. In addition to flute, I also teach piccolo, beginning piano lessons, and coach small chamber ensembles. I look forward to working with you! ***Please note that due to Covid-19 and my own health issues, all in-person lessons must take place outdoors and socially distanced with some combination of a flute mask and face shield worn by both myself and the student. This is extremely important for the safety of myself and all of my students.***