Austin Area Flute Instructors

Dr. Julie Koidin
Areas served: Austin ISD, Hays CISD and online
Age Groups: Elementary, Middle School, High School, College, Adults
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Originally from Chicago, Dr. Julie Koidin teaches for the Austin and Hays ISDs. Her past positions include those at the University of Illinois-Chicago and Loyola University Chicago. Through the U.S. State Department’s Fulbright program, she taught and performed in Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Serbia, Sweden, Norway and New Zealand. Other international work includes 23 Brazilian tours and 3 German tours. Her recordings received Latin Grammy and Grammy nominations. Her doctorate and master’s in flute performance are from Northwestern University and BM from the University of Illinois. Her aim in teaching is opening doors for each student to explore music’s amazing communicative possibilities.

Ann Kjerulf Knien
Areas served: North Austin, Cedar Park, and Round Rock area
Age Groups: Elementary, Middle School, High School, College, Adults
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Ann Kjerulf Knien holds a M.M. from Boston Conservatory and a B.A./B.M. from University of Washington in Flute Performance, with additional studies at El Conservatorio de Granada. She is the Adjunct Professor of Flute at Concordia University, heads the KjKn Flute Studio, and is a former Austin Flute Society President. An enthusiastic music educator, Mrs. Kjerulf Knien is passionate about teaching, leading masterclasses, and coaching chamber ensembles.

Jennifer Keeney
Areas served: Austin, Round Rock
Age Groups: High School, College, Adults
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Ms. Keeney, "Creative Flutist" has been joyfully teaching the flute for over 30 years. She was principal flute with the New World Symphony, Hong Kong Philharmonic, Second flute in the Detroit Symphony, River Oaks Chamber Orchestra and Houston Grand Opera. Former flute professor University of Houston. Now loves teaching High School and Professional students along with her Creative Flutist Classes. Her degrees are from Univ. of Michigan, USC and Rice University.

Kim Hart
Areas served: Round Rock ISD
Age Groups: Elementary, Middle School
A lifelong flutist with a passion for teaching middle school and beginners and intermediate students. I attended the University of North Texas and studied with Dr. Mary Karen Clardy.

Seetha Shivaswamy
Areas served: Central & East Austin (Mueller area)
Age Groups: Middle School, High School, College, Adults
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Seetha has over 20 years teaching experience in flute and chamber music. She holds a Master’s Degree in Flute Performance from the University of Texas at Austin and is a 500-hour Certified Yoga Teacher from her studies with Rodney Yee & Colleen Saidman of NYC. She intertwines her knowledge of music, breath, & posture throughout her challenging, yet kind approach to flute teaching. Her teaching philosophy is ‘one size does not fit all’ and each lesson is uniquely personalized to each student’s goals. She enjoys teaching all ages and levels.

Dr. Hilary Janysek
Areas served: Austin/Pflugerville
Age Groups: Middle School, High School, College, Adults
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Dr. Hilary Janysek is an active flutist and educator specializing in entrepreneurship, group creativity, and positive psychology. She currently serves as the assistant professor of flute and music history at Texas Lutheran University and the flute instructor for Lake Travis ISD. Her students have advanced to region, area, and state competitions, and have placed in local Young Artist Competitions. Dr. Janysek holds a B.M. in Music Education from Texas State University and a D.A., M.M., and Entrepreneurial Music Certificate from Ball State University. Her primary teachers include Dr. Adah Toland Jones and Dr. Mihoko Watanabe.

Sarah Jane Hargis
Areas served: Austin & surrounding areas
Age Groups: Elementary, Middle School, High School, College, Adults, Improvisation and Theory classes too!
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Sarah Jane Hargis is an internationally-acclaimed performer, teacher, and composer of classical, modern, and improvisational music. She is an artist for Altus Flutes and Earthquaker Devices. Sarah Jane has been a university professor/lecturer, guest lecturer, and performer in schools and universities around the U.S. for over twenty years. Sarah Jane's adventurous spirit has brought her to take a full, rich, classical flute tone and combine it with a passionate exploration of electronic sound effects creating compositions like none other. Sarah Jane continues to keep a full teaching studio as well as performs actively around the world as a soloist and with various groups.

Nicholas Goodwin
Areas served: North and Central Austin
Age Groups: Middle School, High School
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Nicholas Goodwin enjoys building a varied career as a professional flute performer and educator. He currently teaches private lessons in Round Rock ISD and Leander ISD, and regularly presents masterclasses and clinics in Austin-area schools. Nick has also served on faculties of Floot Fire Austin and UT’s Longhorn Music Camp. In addition to his position with the Central Texas Philharmonic, Nick frequently performs with the Austin Symphony, is a former member of the Ohio Light Opera, and has recently performed with National Broadway Tours (including The King and I, The Phantom of the Opera and The Sound of Music). Nick studied flute at the University of Hartford with Janet Arms and went on to earn a graduate degree from The University of Texas at Austin, where he studied with Marianne Gedigian.

Thomas Horter
Areas served: Lakeway, Central Austin, Round Rock
Age Groups: Middle School, High School, Adults
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Thomas Horter is an accomplished flute performer, teacher, and repair technician based in Austin, Texas. He is currently the principal flutist of the Williamson County Symphony Orchestra. Thomas is a former "Talent Grant" student of the Conservatorium van Amsterdam in the Netherlands. He has performed a variety of works ranging in style from Marin Marais to Maurizio Pisati. As a soloist, chamber, and orchestral musician, he has performed in venues all over the world from the 89.5 KMFA Draylen Mason Music Studio in Austin to the Muziekgebouw aan 't IJ in Amsterdam.

Beth Galiger
Areas served: South and Central Austin
Age Groups: Elementary, Middle School, High School, Adults
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Beth Galiger has been teaching and performing in Austin for 35 years. Her professional experience playing and performing with many bands and ensembles has been accented and complemented by her love of music, creativity, impeccable ear, and improvisational skills. Her vast experience with many genres from Jazz to Folk, Rock to Latin, Classical and Big Band spill over into her teaching style. She encourages students to explore and grow into their own confident, independent musicianship.

Jessica Melas
Areas served: North Central Austin, Greater Austin Area
Age Groups: Elementary, Middle School, High School, College, Adults
Jessica Melas (Billitteri) is a dedicated and passionate music teacher who brings the joy of music to students of all ages and backgrounds. With her extensive musical knowledge and a warm, engaging teaching style, she has inspired countless individuals on their musical journeys.
As a certified Texas Music teacher with Kodaly training, Jessica brings years of experience teaching elementary school music in NYC and Texas. She specializes in beginners and offers private lessons and masterclasses in the Greater Austin Area and virtually.
Jessica holds a B.M. in Flute Performance from CUNY Brooklyn College Conservatory of Music, an M.A. in Flute Performance from Montclair State University, and studied at the Conservatorio di Milano, "G. Verdi," Milan, Italy.

Dr. Rebecca Poole
Areas served: Cedar Park, Round Rock, Leander Areas
Age Groups: Middle School, High School, College, Adults
Rebecca Poole is an active freelance flutist and music educator. She teaches private lessons, masterclasses and workshops, and directs the Austin Youth Flute Choir. On the private lesson faculty at schools in Round Rock ISD, Rebecca also maintains a thriving private home and online studio. Her aim is to help students discover their own solutions, finding real-life strategies to break down any challenge into manageable pieces. Dr. Poole holds a DMA and a MM degree from the University of Houston, and a BME from Stephen F. Austin State University.

Alison Baker
Areas served: South Austin
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Age Groups: Middle School, High School, College, Adults
One of Ms. Baker’s real joys is teaching. A sought after flute teacher, her students regularly participate in the Texas State Honor bands and orchestra, have won national level competitions, and have gone on to study at top universities and conservatories in North America.
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Alison Baker holds a Master of Music degree from Florida State University and a Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Wisconsin - Madison, both in flute performance. Her teachers include Eva Amsler (Florida State University), Stephanie Jutt (University of Wisconsin - Madison), Thomas Robertello (Indiana University), Rebecca Gilbert (Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra), and Sophia Gibbs-Kim and Mary Krusenstjerna (Eastman School of Music - Preparatory).
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