Lessons

All Flute majors and minors take a weekly one-on-one lesson with Dr. Thompson. Flute students develop their artistry in lessons through study of solo repertoire, etudes, and exercises for tone and technique. In lessons, students work to prepare for recitals, competitions, end-of-semester juries, and other performances. Dr. Thompson works closely with each student to help them develop effective practice habits, healthy playing posture, and a mindful approach to self-assessing their playing.

Studio Class

In addition to private lessons, all flute students attend an hour of studio class each week. Studio class time is divided between masterclass performances, flute choir rehearsals, and occasional special presentations from Dr. Thompson and guest artists. Performing for peers in a "masterclass" setting gives students the opportunity to improve their performance abilities, develop their communication skills and entrepreneurship, and foster a supportive sense of community. The entire studio performs together as a flute choir for studio recitals and other events. In flute choir, students will have the opportunity to play auxiliary instruments such as piccolo, alto flute, and bass flute! 

Technique Class

Technique Class is an hour-long class which all flute students attend weekly. The focus is on essential fundamental aspects of flute playing: scales, arpeggios, articulation, tone quality, intonation, and more. Students are challenged to excel at the technically difficult aspects of flute playing, and will acquire a model for their daily personal practice of fundamentals. Working on technical exercises as a group further develops the flute studio's atmosphere of camaraderie. 

Freshman Mentoring

Each freshman works with an upperclassman once a week on improving flute skills. In turn, upperclassmen continue to develop their teaching skills. Students rotate partners so everyone in the studio develops invested, personal relationships that contribute to the warm and friendly atmosphere of the studio. These relationships are important for the transition from high school to college as freshmen receive support on processes and institutional knowledge vital to being a successful member of the music program.

Chamber Music

Each semester, flute students have the opportunity to participate in a small flute ensemble, such as a trio or quartet, or a mixed ensemble such as a woodwind quintet. Small flute ensembles receive a weekly coaching with Dr. Thompson and will perform in studio recital, student recital hour, and other events. Chamber ensemble participation greatly enhances a student's leadership abilities, sense of musical communication, sensitivity to intonation and balance, and much more!

Extra-Musical Skill Development

Flute students develop performance, pedagogical, entrepreneurial, and administrative skills by participating in flute events hosted at GVSU, flute studio recitals, performing for their music major peers in recital hour on Friday afternoons, and through extracurricular opportunities such as the Great Lakes Flute Festival and school and community outreach performances.

Performance majors take performance pedagogy and performance literature classes with Dr. Thompson in order to develop a robust teaching method for private students from beginning through collegiate study and create professional materials related to running their own private studio business and building a career in music.

Additional Performance Opportunities

There are many fantastic performance opportunities at GVSU. All flute students are placed in one of GVSU’s three major ensembles (Wind Symphony, Concert Band, Symphony Orchestra) by a blind audition each semester. Flutists also can participate in chamber music of mixed instrumentation, collaborative piano class, Marching Band, Early Music Ensemble, and GVSU’s nationally renowned New Music Ensemble. In addition to performing in studio class, students will have the opportunity to perform for guest artist masterclasses throughout the year, and students can compete in the GVSU concerto competition. Half and full hour recitals are open for students to schedule with Dr. Thompson.

To learn more about the performing opportunities at GVSU visit: https://www.gvsu.edu/mtd/performance-opportunities-at-gvsu-37.htm