Caroline R
Instruments: Piano, Flute, Keyboard
Styles: Classical
Caroline R
Instruments: Piano, Flute, Keyboard
Styles:
Classical
Where I Teach:
Ages Taught: 10-80
M.M. - instrumental Conducting (UW-Milwaukee) 2018
B.A - flute performance (Colorado Christian University) 2014
Certification - Teaching English as a Second Language (International TEFL Academy) 2014
Certification - Nonprofit Management (UW-Milwaukee) 2019
2017-2018 Shared principle flute in UWM’s wind ensemble.
2014 - Stolba - Schanta Music Excellence Award (Scholarship + Concert)at Colorado Christian University
2011 - Outstanding Freshman Award for the music department at Lakeland University (where I began my Bachelor’s program)
I am a flutist turned conductor turned accompanist who loves to pass on a love for music! My philosophy is to teach of broad spectrum of musical skills, thoery, history and application in order to let the student personalize their love for the arts. I know that it took me a while to decide to be a music major and then even more to decide how I wanted to integrate music into my life - but I had teachers who inspired me to make music a driving force in every area of my life and I want to pass that same love on in my student’s lessons. I teach beginner to intermediate piano, and up to beginning to advanced flute. I can also teach music theory and conducting for anyone interested. I hope to work with you soon :)
I have been teaching private piano lessons for almost ten years and flute for one. I love being able to work with students of all ages :) I worked for a time as the events coordinator in a nursing home and got to use music as therapy and even teach some of the senior residents! I am currently the basket ball pep band director for UW - Mikwaukee, which puts a lot of energy and fun in the way I approach music directing and teaching. I also am an accompanist for a few violin sukiki programs and have a passion for directing my students (piano and flute) from the piano. I love to accompany my flute student’ solos and love playing piano duets with my piano students!
For piano, I typically start of using Faber Piano Adventures paired with Edna Burnam's "A Dozen A Day." I like pairing the traditional lesson book - which focuses on the fundamentals and using familiar tunes to teach basic theory, note recognition, early technique, etc. with the Burnam exercises which gives the student tools to start incorporating other musical elements into their playing because these exercises become a warm-up routine instead of something to be checked off of a list.
Another important method that I utilize - at any stage/instrument - is ear training and singing as much as possible. Pairing our voice with our physical movements to interpret what is on the page at an early stage of learning provides a solid foundation on which to grow musically. After that, I try to introduce simple classical pieces to work on finger crossing, scales, and building the motor skills to keep increasing the intricacies
For flute, I have used the Royal Conservatory Method Book along with starting on scales as soon as possible. Developing tone needs to be paramount from the beginning, with using slower exercises to build the muscles and develop the ear. I will also have the student work with a tuner relatively quickly, but the ultimate goal is to develop the ear relative to other pitches, so I mostly work with drones playing in the background so that the student can play a passage with the root tone as a constant reference. There are many great unaccompanied solo repertoire that is excellent to help players develop confidence.
I love it when my students ask questions. Being curious is one of the most important elements of learning an instrument and fostering the students innate curiosity and giving them a space to personalize their interest in the instrument is vital to my teaching style. Of course, there are basic expectations, which grow from year to year, but I don't mind straying from classical rep into other genres or experiments with sound because it allows them to connect what they are learning in lessons, to their inner voice that needs a vehicle of expression. That is why I will have my students improvise often, play duets with me - in many genres - and have a say in certain aspects of their lesson structure. If I had to summarize, my method is like a choose your own adventure book. All paths lead to a more capable, confident and musical student, but the way they get there is personal.
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