teaching

 My deep passion for teaching younger generations in public schools has driven me to become a better person and musician alike. While studying to attain my Masters Degree, I was selected to join the Yale School of Music’s outreach program, Music in Schools Initiative. My duties there included instructing a flute choir, smaller flute ensembles, school band, as well as individual lessons. It was clear that I discovered the power of music education and exposure. It was a truly amazing experience to witness first-hand how learning an instrument can improve a person’s life. Many of my students needed this attention, and playing an instrument gave them the special feeling they needed to succeed and grow. I found that as I continued to develop deeper relationships with my students, their determination to progress grew; and subsequently, their playing improved faster than usual. As such, I made of point of fostering these relationships with my students. What I believe to be an incredibly important aspect of teaching, and while slightly cliché to say, is that I learn so much about my playing and myself as a person through my teaching. Upon gaining more experience teaching in public schools, I was invited to be a flute faculty member for the Morse Academy Summer Program by Yale School of Music. It is here that I earned the title of “flute mom” from my students, which was heartwarming and encouraging. It was incredibly powerful to sense that I had become such an inspiration and influence to my students.