How to Find an
Exceptional Flute Teacher
The Ultimate Guide to Choosing the Best Flute Instructor
Rose Park
3/10/23 • updated 3/25/24 • 4 min read
When you’re searching for a flute teacher, whether online or in person, it can be tough to figure out if they’re experienced, likeable, and the right fit for you.
What should you look for in a flute teacher who is friendly and professional? Are there any qualifications, tips, or questions to ask when booking the first lesson?
Here is a list of ideas and considerations to make before signing up for flute lessons with your potential teacher.
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The sooner you connect with a professional flute instructor, the quicker you’ll improve your flute skills with a strong foundation. You don’t always need to spend extra money to find someone with great qualifications. Whether they teach online, in person, or a mix of both, just make sure your potential flute teacher will:
- tailor your flute learning plan with strategy
- inspire a love of music
- motivate you to challenge and grow as a flute artist
- give accurate and detailed live feedback
- help broaden your repertoire
Many flute learners make mistakes by trying to start with an ordinary teacher who charges less, and then switching to a more experienced instructor. This shifting process may cause a confusion in learning, which can take up to years to get rid of any bad habits including posture, breathing, technique and tone.
Every flute teacher has their own teaching style, and they might emphasize different aspects of the lesson plan. For example, some flute instructors focus on refining technical skills one piece at a time, while others encourage creativity through multiple songs. Some also prioritize exercises.
The key is to find a flute teacher whose style matches what you want to achieve in your learning journey.
Check the teacher's educational background
Degree Requirements
It’s always a good idea to look into a potential teacher’s qualifications, especially when it comes to finding the right flute instructor. Ideally, you’ll want someone who has at least a Bachelor’s degree in flute performance. And if you can, try to find someone who has lots of experience performing live and touring, as this can be a great indicator of their skill level as a musician. Here are some questions you might want to ask about their qualifications:
- Are you majored in flute or non-flute performance fields?
- Do you have a Bachelor’s degree in flute?
- Did you take any courses in composition, music education, music theory or music history?
For Parents: If you’re looking for a flute teacher for your child, you can also look for someone who majored in music education with a focus in flute. These teachers can teach some basic flute concepts and techniques for reading music. They also have some performance experience as a flutist in the band or orchestra. When your child is ready to advance, possibly within a year or so, we recommend you to start thinking about switching to an instructor with advanced degrees in flute.
Performing Experience
When looking for the ideal flute teacher, it’s always good to check if they have shared any performance achievements, such as live performances or touring with both national and international musicians and orchestras.
You can check out their professional website and read their bio to learn more. If they’ve uploaded any live performance recordings, take a few moments to watch and listen.
Try readying descriptions of their experience performing in woodwind ensembles, orchestras, competitions, and masterclasses. These can be great indicators of their artistry and dedication to playing the flute.
Teaching Experience in Flute
It’s also a good idea to look for an instructor with at least three years of teaching experience in flute. The best flute teachers will almost certainly teach a variety of styles such as the Classical, Pop, and Contemporary.
While some teachers may offer lessons in other woodwind instruments like clarinet or saxophone, it’s usually best to look for a flute teacher who has specialized in the flute exclusively. This can demonstrate that they’ve dedicated ample time to studying the flute and developing their skills on this particular instrument.
Background Check
Not every flute teacher lists this online, but you should check if the teacher has done and passed a comprehensive background check, especially if the lesson is for your child. Some online flute lesson websites, such as Lesson With You, offer free trial lessons with expert flute instructors who are fully background checked.
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Questions to ask when contacting a flute teacher
About the lessons
Once you’re done with narrowing down a number of potential flute teachers, the next step is to talk with the instructors. Here are some recommendations for questions to ask:
- How much does each lesson cost?
- Which payment method do you prefer?
- Is there a cancellation policy? If so, are there any fees?
- Can I reschedule lessons?
- Do you offer weekly lessons or package?
- Is there a family discount available?
About the lesson curriculum
- How many students do you typically teach, and what are their ages and skill levels?
- Can you explain how you develop lesson plans? Are they customized to each student?
- Are students expected to participate in recitals, juries, or competitions?
- What are your practice expectations for both beginner and advanced students?
- Do you use flute method books, or do you have other materials students will work on?
- How do you inspire students to practice and strive for improvement?
- Do you assign practice tasks on a daily or weekly basis?
Take a trial lesson next
When you’re reaching out to teachers, ask if they do trial lessons. Some might offer them for free. Taking a trial lesson will give you fresh insights on a couple of things:
- Does the teacher speak clearly and ask appropriate questions to the student? How does the teacher respond to the answers the student provided and vice versa?
- How does the teacher initiate and lead the lesson? Is the lesson engaging and fun? How frequent does the teacher play flute and show the technique to the student?|
- What’s the teacher like? Happy, quiet or rather moody? Is the teacher likeable?
- How often does the teacher give feedback? Does the teacher pay enough attention to detail and correct the student? It’s also important to see how the student responds to the compliment and criticism.
- How does the lesson end? When the instructor gives assignments or homework, does the student leave the lesson clear on what to work on next?
- What’s the pace of the lesson like? Too fast, moderate, or slow
How to choose a right flute teacher after a trial
Lesson Costs
According to our recent flute lesson cost guide, the average cost for a half hour flute lesson is $35. Live online lessons using video chats typically charge between $25-35 for a half hour lesson. Local private lessons averages $40 per half hour lesson, while in-person group lessons can cost $20 per half hour.
Flute instructors without music degrees will charge as little as $35 an hour, and professional teachers with advanced degrees in flute charge between $50-$70 per hour lesson.
Before signing up for regular lessons, plan your budget and timeline for how long you’ll take the lessons. On average, students, regardless of age and level, should dedicate at least 10 months to see a significant progress.
Flexible Scheduling
It’s always great to find a flute teacher who offers a flexible schedule that works for you or your child! While it’s best to avoid frequent cancellations and rescheduling, having the option to reschedule without extra fees is reassuring. This flexibility is especially convenient for online lessons, making it easier for both teachers and students.
Lesson Reviews
When searching for a flute teacher online or in-person, you should always check and read their lesson reviews. If you’re particularly looking for a live online lesson, you will notice the reviews left in the teacher profile. If 8 or 9 out of 10 reviews are positive, that means the teacher is great and able to teach a high-quality flute lesson.
If you want to get local in-person lesson recommendations, you can ask friends, neighbors or even find a flute teacher online and ask if they offer lessons in person.
Contracts
Not many flute lesson providers require long-term commitments or contracts these days, but you’d still want to make sure if a contract is required before scheduling the first lesson. It’s also recommended for students to check the type of payment the teacher prefers and when payment should be made. Additionally, review the general cancellation or rescheduling policy.
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Rose Park
Rose Park is a graduate of the Jacobs School of Music at Indiana University where she studied Piano Performance and Arts Administration, receiving both Bachelor's and Master's degrees before co-founding Lesson With You. As a pianist, Rose was a prizewinner in many international piano competitions and performed at various summer programs and festivals across the United States, Italy, and Japan.