Flute Lessons in Austin!

Areas served: Austin ISD, Hays CISD and online

Age Groups: Elementary, Middle School, High School, College, Adults

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Originally from Chicago, Dr. Julie Koidin teaches for the Austin and Hays ISDs. Her past positions include those at the University of Illinois-Chicago and Loyola University Chicago. Through the U.S. State Department’s Fulbright program, she taught and performed in Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Serbia, Sweden, Norway and New Zealand. Other international work includes 23 Brazilian tours and 3 German tours. Her recordings received Latin Grammy and Grammy nominations. Her doctorate and master’s in flute performance are from Northwestern University and BM from the University of Illinois. Her aim in teaching is opening doors for each student to explore music’s amazing communicative possibilities.

Areas served: South and Central Austin

Age Groups: Elementary, Middle School, High School, Adults

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Beth Galiger has been teaching and performing in Austin for 35 years. Her professional experience playing and performing with many bands and ensembles has been accented and complemented by her love of music, creativity, impeccable ear, and improvisational skills. Her vast experience with many genres from Jazz to Folk, Rock to Latin, Classical and Big Band spill over into her teaching style. She encourages students to explore and grow into their own confident, independent musicianship.

Areas served: South Austin

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Age Groups: Middle School, High School, College, Adults

 

One of Ms. Baker’s real joys is teaching. A sought after flute teacher, her students regularly participate in the Texas State Honor bands and orchestra, have won national level competitions, and have gone on to study at top universities and conservatories in North America.

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Alison Baker holds a Master of Music degree from Florida State University and a Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Wisconsin - Madison, both in flute performance.  Her teachers include Eva Amsler (Florida State University), Stephanie Jutt (University of Wisconsin - Madison), Thomas Robertello (Indiana University), Rebecca Gilbert (Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra), and Sophia Gibbs-Kim and Mary Krusenstjerna (Eastman School of Music - Preparatory).  

Areas served: Austin & surrounding areas

Age Groups: Elementary, Middle School, High School, College, Adults, Improvisation and Theory classes too!

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Sarah Jane Hargis is an internationally-acclaimed performer, teacher, and composer of classical, modern, and improvisational music. She is an artist for Altus Flutes and Earthquaker Devices. Sarah Jane has been a university professor/lecturer, guest lecturer, and performer in schools and universities around the U.S. for over twenty years. Sarah Jane's adventurous spirit has brought her to take a full, rich, classical flute tone and combine it with a passionate exploration of electronic sound effects creating compositions like none other. Sarah Jane continues to keep a full teaching studio as well as performs actively around the world as a soloist and with various groups.

Areas served: Texas State Univ​ersity

Age Groups: College 

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Adah Toland Jones is Professor of Flute at Texas State University and Principal Flute of Austin Opera. She holds BM and MM degrees and a Performer's Certificate from the Eastman School of Music and a DA degree from Ball State University where she was awarded the Outstanding Alumni Award. She has also been the recipient of the Presidential award for Scholarly/Creative Activity from TX State. Dr. Jones is an active member of the National Flute Association having served on numerous panels, as a judge, performer, committee member, and conductor of flute choir events.

Areas served:

Bastrop ISD, Elgin ISD, Giddings ISD, La Grange ISD, Thrall ISD

Age Groups: Intermediate, Middle, High School

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Originally from Odessa, Texas, Diane is an ardent music educator and instructor devoted to sharing the art of playing flute with all her students and band directors. She incorporates cheerfulness and positive encouragement into each lesson, allowing her students the ability to grow and excel at their own pace in a stress free environment. Because of her passion and dedication to teaching, several of her past/current students have gone on to study or pursue  degrees in music education and music therapy respectfully. 

Diane has several years of experience teaching, first, as assistant HS director in Midland, Texas, then as a head middle school director/ assistant HS director in Raymondville, Texas. 

Diane is a lifetime certified teacher in Texas with a Bachelors Degree in All-Level Music Education from West Texas State University (Canyon, Texas) and currently teaches masterclasses, private lessons and serves as a music consultant in Bastrop, Elgin, Giddings, LaGrange and Thrall. 

Diane's past instructors and music mentors include: Karen Leach (Midland-Odessa), Sally Turk (West Texas A&M University), and Dr. Gary Garner, professor emeritus (West Texas A&M University) .

Areas served:  South & Central Austin

Age Groups: ​High School, College, Adults

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Alex Coke, born in Dallas, Texas, an original member of the Creative Opportunity Orchestra, has performed with Tina Marsh in various formations for 22 years. For ten years he played and recorded with the internationally renowned Dutch jazz group, the Willem Breuker Kollektief. His various bands have included New Visions, the Live Action Brass Band, the Leadbelly Legacy Band, The Alex Coke/Paul Bollenback Duo, JAMAD, and his post-bop quintet, The Worthy Constituents, a collaboration with longtime partner, pianist Rich Harney with Martin Banks on trumpet. He has worked with Gerald Wilson, Charles Tolliver, James Polk, Jay Rozen, the Paradise Regained Orchestra and the Trio Henk de Jonge. He can also be heard with the John Jordan Trio, the Mysterious Quartet From Helsinki featuring Chris Duarte, Reeds and Deeds, and Rob Verdurmen's Double Drummer Bill.​​​​

Areas served: Central & East Austin (Mueller area)

Age Groups: Middle School, High School, College, Adults

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Seetha has over 20 years teaching experience in flute and chamber music. She holds a Master’s Degree in Flute Performance from the University of Texas at Austin and is a 500-hour Certified Yoga Teacher from her studies with Rodney Yee & Colleen Saidman of NYC. She intertwines her knowledge of music, breath, & posture throughout her challenging, yet kind approach to flute teaching. Her teaching philosophy is ‘one size does not fit all’ and each lesson is uniquely personalized to each student’s goals. She enjoys teaching all ages and levels.

Areas served: North Central Austin, Greater Austin Area

Age Groups: Elementary, Middle School, High School, College, Adults

 

Jessica Melas (Billitteri) is a dedicated and passionate music teacher who brings the joy of music to students of all ages and backgrounds. With her extensive musical knowledge and a warm, engaging teaching style, she has inspired countless individuals on their musical journeys.

As a certified Texas Music teacher with Kodaly training, Jessica brings years of experience teaching elementary school music in NYC and Texas. She specializes in beginners and offers private lessons and masterclasses in the Greater Austin Area and virtually.

Jessica holds a B.M. in Flute Performance from CUNY Brooklyn College Conservatory of Music, an M.A. in Flute Performance from Montclair State University, and studied at the Conservatorio di Milano, "G. Verdi," Milan, Italy.

Areas served: North and Central Austin

Age Groups: Middle School, High School

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For the past decade, Nicholas Goodwin (he/him) has sustained a varied career as a professional performer and educator in Austin, TX. Originally from Middleton, Massachusetts, he started playing flute at the age of nine. He went on to study flute at the collegiate level, receiving a Bachelor of Music degree from The Hartt School (University of Hartford), and a Master of Music from The University of Texas at Austin, studying under Janet Arms and Marianne Gedigian, respectively. 

 

Nick has been a member of the Central Texas Philharmonic since 2017, where he currently holds the chair of 2nd Flute & Piccolo. He also frequently performs with the Austin Symphony Orchestra, and has appeared with the Waco Symphony and the Ohio Light Opera. In addition to symphonic playing, Nick enjoys playing musical theater, having performed with the National Tour of Wicked in 2024, and in prior years with the National Tours of The Phantom of the Opera, The King & I, and The Sound of Music. He can be heard playing flute on various television commercials and documentary films. 

 

Accolades include First Prize in the 2018 National Flute Association (NFA) Orchestral Audition and Masterclass Competition, and Third Prize in the 2017 Texas Flute Society Myrna Brown Competition, for which he also was awarded “Best Performance of the Newly Commissioned Work.” He has twice been a semifinalist in the NFA Young Artist Competition.

 

Nick currently teaches private flute lessons for the Leander Independent School District. He enjoys being a mentor to young musicians, leading his students to foster a love of music and develop confidence as performers. He has aided a number of students in becoming prizewinners in local and regional level competitions. Nick was formerly a private instructor for Round Rock ISD and has served on the faculties of Floot Fire Austin and the Longhorn Music Camp. He was Vice President, Competitions Coordinator, and Flute Festival Co-Chair for the Austin Flute Society during the 2018-19 academic year, and currently serves as Chair of the Central Texas Philharmonic Players Committee. Apart from his professional activities, Nick enjoys reading, hiking, playing video games, cooking, cleaning, singing, and learning to speak different languages.

Areas served: North Austin, Cedar Park, and Round Rock area

Age Groups: Elementary, Middle School, High School, College, Adults

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Ann Kjerulf Knien holds a M.M. from Boston Conservatory and a B.A./B.M. from University of Washington in Flute Performance, with additional studies at El Conservatorio de Granada. She is the Adjunct Professor of Flute at Concordia University, heads the KjKn Flute Studio, and is a former Austin Flute Society President. An enthusiastic music educator, Mrs. Kjerulf Knien is passionate about teaching, leading masterclasses, and coaching chamber ensembles.

Areas served: Austin, Round Rock

Age Groups: High School, College, Adults

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Ms. Keeney, "Creative Flutist" has been joyfully teaching the flute for over 30 years. She was principal flute with the New World Symphony, Hong Kong Philharmonic, Second flute in the Detroit Symphony, River Oaks Chamber Orchestra and Houston Grand Opera. Former flute professor University of Houston. Now loves teaching High School and Professional students along with her Creative Flutist Classes. Her degrees are from Univ. of Michigan, USC and Rice University.

Areas served: Round Rock ISD

Age Groups: Elementary, Middle School

 

A lifelong flutist with a passion for teaching middle school and beginners and intermediate students. I attended the University of North Texas and studied with Dr. Mary Karen Clardy.

Areas served: Austin/Pflugerville

Age Groups: Middle School, High School, College, Adults

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Dr. Hilary Janysek is an active flutist and educator specializing in entrepreneurship, group creativity, and positive psychology. She currently serves as the assistant professor of flute and music history at Texas Lutheran University and the flute instructor for Lake Travis ISD. Her students have advanced to region, area, and state competitions, and have placed in local Young Artist Competitions. Dr. Janysek holds a B.M. in Music Education from Texas State University and a D.A., M.M., and Entrepreneurial Music Certificate from Ball State University. Her primary teachers include Dr. Adah Toland Jones and Dr. Mihoko Watanabe.
 

Areas served: Lakeway, Central Austin, Round Rock

Age Groups: Middle School, High School, Adults

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Thomas Horter is an accomplished flute performer, teacher, and repair technician based in Austin, Texas. He is currently the principal flutist of the Williamson County Symphony Orchestra. Thomas is a former "Talent Grant" student of the Conservatorium van Amsterdam in the Netherlands. He has performed a variety of works ranging in style from Marin Marais to Maurizio Pisati. As a soloist, chamber, and orchestral musician, he has performed in venues all over the world from the 89.5 KMFA Draylen Mason Music Studio in Austin to the Muziekgebouw aan 't IJ in Amsterdam.

Areas served: Cedar Park, Round Rock, Leander Areas

Age Groups: Middle School, High School, College, Adults

 

Rebecca Poole is an active freelance flutist and music educator. She teaches private lessons, masterclasses and workshops, and directs the Austin Youth Flute Choir. On the private lesson faculty at schools in Round Rock ISD, Rebecca also maintains a thriving private home and online studio. Her aim is to help students discover their own solutions, finding real-life strategies to break down any challenge into manageable pieces. Dr. Poole holds a DMA and a MM degree from the University of Houston, and a BME from Stephen F. Austin State University.

Areas served: Austin, Round Rock, Cedar Park

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Age Groups: Elementary, Middle School, High School

 

Maryssa Chartier, an accomplished flutist and devoted music educator in Austin, TX, holds a Master of Music from Texas State University and a Bachelor of Music Education from Southeastern Louisiana University. Serving as Principal Flutist and Associate Artist Director with the SMART Orchestra, she draws on seven years of teaching experience, including her impactful role as an elementary music educator. Passionate about fostering a love for music, she molds well-rounded musicians by seamlessly integrating music history, theory, and ear training into her lessons.

Areas served:

Round Rock, Leander, North Austin, online

Age Groups: Elementary, Middle, High School, Adults

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Nicole teaches flute lessons for all ages and abilities in person from her home in Round Rock (near the IKEA), in the Leander ISD school district, and online. 

As a teacher Nicole has taught at all levels, including as a faculty member of the Gifted Music School in Salt Lake City (2015-2018) where she taught flute lessons, woodwind literature and coached chamber music. Ms. Elkins regularly teaches masterclasses and has been a guest lecturer at Florida State, Utah State, Snow College and for the Austin Flute Society and the Florida Flute Association. She is a former President of the Utah Flute Association, and one of the initial founders of the MountainWest FluteFest, hosted annually in Salt Lake City, UT. Ms. Elkins is Kinderflute certified, and loves teaching young flutists starting as early as age 5 in her Little Flutes program. Ms. Elkins holds a BM and MM in Flute Performance from Brigham Young University.  Primary teachers include: Lisa Byrnes, April Clayton and Wendy Hohmeyer.

Areas served:

Georgetown

Age Groups: High School, Middle School, Elementary

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I have a bachelor's degree in music education and have spent 5 years teaching full time in public elementary schools. In 2024 I will be teaching lessons in the schools for Round Rock ISD.