Wellington
Flute Lessons | Artist development, Ensemble Coaching, Online Lessons, Posture for Singers and Instrumentalists
Bio
Barbara grew up in Auckland and was first flute in the Auckland Symphonia, the forerunner of today’s Auckland Philharmonia. As a member of the trio which won first prize in the CMNZ competition, she toured New Zealand before beginning post- graduate study at the Guildhall School of Music in London, followed by a year in Montreux, Switzerland and further studies with James Galway in Berlin.
She was to spend most of her adult life in Berlin, as a flute teacher and ensemble coach at the Berlin State Music School, as well as an orchestral musician and player in numerous chamber music ensembles. She initiated and led the Berlin Flute Choir Flötissimo, which enjoyed annual rehearsal and concert sojourns at the Landesmusikakademie Hessen near Frankfurt, and in San Vito near Venice, Italy. At the yearly summer music courses near Detmold she taught flute at all levels and coached chamber music.
While touring China for solo concerts and masterclasses she was awarded a guest professorship at the University of Shenyang. Other concert tours were in Germany, Italy, Poland, South Korea and two tours of New Zealand for CMNZ.
Together with guitarist Laurie Randolph she released two CDs of Flute and Guitar repertoire. The Sea Suite and Carmen and Other Surprises received international acclaim.
To maintain and progress her skills as a player and teacher she regularly attended masterclasses given by Denis Bouriakov, Davide Formisano and Felix Renglii at the Brahms Conservatorium in Hamburg.
Barbara moved back to New Zealand nearly two years ago and lives in Wellington. She teaches and performs chamber music concerts with the Aurum Trio, the Zephyr Flute Quartet, the Duruflé Ensemble and others.
For details about upcoming concerts please see Barbara’s website under Events.
Teaching Info
For students of all levels much attention is paid to developing the embouchure, as well as posture and good breathing, so that a clear and expressive flute sound in all registers can be formed with ease.
The lesson begins with warmups for breathing and sound, often using Barbara’s own exercises as well as those of Taffanel, Moyse, Andersen, Bernot and more. For beginners the books by Simon Hunt and Robert Winn are often used. The next section of the lesson can be used for learning and preparing pieces for the grade examinations, however if this is not requested by the student then pieces from the flute repertoire are chosen together with the student. The lesson finishes up with duets or trios, depending on the possibility of overlapping the lesson with the next student. In Barbara’s lessons the aspect of playing together is strongly encouraged. As soon as the student has passed the elementary basics of playing and can also read easy music reasonably fluently, playing together with others is the next step.
Students are encouraged to practice flute at least four times a week for 30 minutes, depending on their level of playing. For beginners 15 minutes is recommended.
For more information please see my website.