Nicole Riner
My twenty years of teaching experience include one-on-one instruction in the public schools, at the university level, and of all ages in community music schools and in my home. I have also taught public masterclasses, groups lessons, large group seminars, and workshops. In each of these venues, I have strived to encourage not only technical and musical mastery over the instrument, but critical thinking and application skills, as well. I wish to foster a greater love for music and flute-playing specifically, and in every class or lesson I teach, I hope students can leave with another piece of knowledge that they can use repeatedly, in multiple forms as musicians.
Another important key to my teaching and mentoring style is creating a nurturing yet stimulating environment in which students are encouraged to take risks and try new things in their lessons. I strive to maintain a relationship with my students in which they are inspired to work hard but feel comfortable enough in lessons to know that they can experiment with new ideas and take the risk of making mistakes at first in the quest to improve their playing. It is crucial that they develop their own style and artistic voice, which can only be done by synthesizing ideas and applying the skills they develop in new and creative ways.
I devise exercises and assign literature to help students realize their potential in being able to successfully complete those tasks amongst their peers. And in everything I teach, my goal is to make myself, as the teacher, obsolete. Successful musicians must eventually learn how to teach themselves by making connections and applying what they learn to other situations.
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