Lessons & Ensembles
Learning to play the flute is not just all work and no fun. Playing together with others in groups, no matter how big or small, or how elementary or advanced, is good for stabilising tone and intonation, increasing confidence, and enjoying a larger dimension of musical experience.
Lessons
Barbara has taught the flute for many years at all levels, from 8 to 80 year-olds and from beginners to advanced. To hear how she plays, listen to her recordings.
Through her own studies, she has experienced many different teaching styles and ideas, and this has contributed to the development of her own methods and ways of inspiring pupils to become good flute players.
For this purpose, she has created exercises for breath control and support, tone development, intonation, finger technique and articulation that are not just effective but also pleasurable to play. Some of them are available as free downloads.
For children under 10, in-person or online lessons can start with 30 minutes weekly, progressing to 45 minutes for teenagers and 60 minutes for those wanting full immersion and quick progress.
Ensembles
As soon as a moderate and reliable level of flute playing has been reached, many players want to experience the next dimension of music-making: playing with others.
Barbara has an extensive collection of repertoire for trios, quartets, quintets and, of course, flute orchestras.
The larger groups need time to get established, but with excellent arrangements of the Grieg Suites, Rossini overtures and orchestral works by Smetana, Ravel, Saint-Saëns and Khachaturian, to name but a few, everyone can have fun while increasing their skills and confidence with the instrument.
Smaller groups often form simply by having two or three players in one extended lesson. A large collection of works is available for all levels, featuring music from the Renaissance, Baroque, Classical and Romantic periods through to Latin jazz and film music.
Barbara also directs Vivo Flutes, a Wellington flute choir. Ensembles are based in Wellington only.
Flute lessons, ensembles and concerts
After a long and inspiring stay in Berlin, Barbara has moved back to New Zealand and now offers flute lessons, ensemble playing and chamber music performances.