Flute with Mona S.

I'm a flutist, Japanese language instructor, and Alexander Technique teacher currently based in Seattle, WA. I have been teaching classes through TakeLessons since 2017 and have re-opened my studio for in-person lessons starting in 2024 (Seattle-based students only). I hold degrees in Flute Performance from New England Conservatory and the University of Washington, and was a Fulbright Scholar at the Sibelius Academy in Helsinki, Finland. I received my Alexander Technique certification in June 2022. FLUTE LESSONS I believe that learning music should be fun and inspiring, but that artistry comes from technical mastery of your instrument! I therefore create a positive and encouraging environment for all of my students, while still setting challenging goals. Stylistic choices in musical expression/phrasing are encouraged through the incorporation of music theory, music history, and ear training skills into lessons. As an Alexander Technique practitioner, I firmly believe that our psychophysical mechanism is paramount to success in healthy music-making, and lessons will incorporate many elements from this technique to help students practice efficiently, to prevent and alleviate repetitive stress injuries, to overcome performance anxiety, and to perform confidently. JAPANESE LESSONS As a "haafu" (half-Japanese), I grew up speaking both Japanese and English at home. I continued my formal Japanese education at the University of Washington and continue to polish my skills through regular study and preparation for language exams. My understanding of the language has been bolstered by extensive time spent in Japan, as well as the consumption of Japanese literature, film, and music. I have an overall passion for languages and am currently working to achieve fluency in Spanish and Norwegian! I welcome beginning and intermediate Japanese students of all ages! Students will work out of the Genki I, Genki II, Quartet, and the Tobira textbooks. Japanese lessons focus on reading and writing the three scripts, vocabulary memorization, and speaking standard Japanese (both formal and informal). I have additionally prepared many students to take and pass the Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT) and can help you with this goal. If you have any questions or concerns about Japanese or Flute lessons, please don't hesitate to contact me!