Whether you are a beginner or an actively performing musician, our woodwind teachers offer you one-on-one instruction customized to help you achieve your musical goals.  Our instructors teach clarinet, flute, and saxophone in a wide variety of classic and contemporary styles.

Our complete current class schedule with session dates and times is published quarterly and available upon request in hardcopy and e-versions. 

A number of our instructors lead bands (or “ensembles”) in a variety of styles.  These bands provide opportunities for woodwind players to learn how to play better with other musicians, gain valuable performing experience, and pick up new repertoire.  Visit our Bands page for more details.

Please contact our office with any questions, or to sign up for lessons, or classes today.

CLARINET INSTRUCTORS

FLUTE INSTRUCTORS

Julie Johnson - Flute, Ensembles
www.julieflute.com
Julie Johnson began playing the flute at the age of 10 in Graceton, MN. At 15, she studied with Susan Nelson, professor of flute at Bemidji State University through an Artist-Mentor scholarship. At AugsburgCollege in Minneapolis, MN, she studied with Trudi Anderson, and played principal flute in both the orchestra and band. She was also a two-time winner of the Concerto/Aria Competition, and served as principal flute of the Minnesota Inter-Collegiate Honor Band under the direction of Frederick Fenell. In 1999, Julie served as co-principal flute of the Rome Festival Orchestra, assisted by a Career Opportunity Grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board. She has also performed with the Duluth/Superior Symphony Orchestra, the Metropolitan Orchestra of Minneapolis, and the Minneapolis Civic Orchestra. She has served as Artist-in-Residence at Patrick Henry High School, St. Francis Middle School, and the Minneapolis Jewish Day School. She also recorded the Native American flute music for the PBS documentary Return to the Circle. In the spring of 2004, she was invited to study with Sibel Kumru-Pensel in Antibes, France, where she was a featured soloist in two chamber recitals. She returned to France in the spring of 2005 to play at the Fete de la Flute in Menton.

Maggie Roston - Flute, Saxophone
Maggie has been teaching professionally and freelancing for many years. She started teaching at the West Bank School of Music in the early 70’s. After graduating from the U of M in French and music, she soon left for Los Angeles, where she played with the L.A. Actors Theater, the Hollywood Orchestra, Maiden Voyage, a 17-piece all-woman big band, Passion, an all-girl Top 40 group, and many other groups. She moved to Santa Barbara where she played with the Civic Light Opera and formed her own jazz quartet, after which she moved to France and continued teaching flute, saxophone and jazz workshops at the CIAM in Bordeaux, as well as continued playing with her jazz quartet, in big bands, and in reggae, rock, and Creole groups. After returning to the U.S. in 2000 she has played with the Children’s Theater, the Chanhassen Dinner Theater, the Prophets of Soul (R&B), Ticket to Brasil (Latin), continuing to freelance with a variety of groups and teach.

Tasha Baron - Piano, Flute, Trombone
www.myspace.com/blackblondiemusic
www.myspace.com/ourhipsdontlie
www.myspace.com/sfericwitch
Tasha has experience teaching people of all ages and abilities in diverse settings . She teaches a range of styles from jazz to classical music, to pop, rock, r&b, soul, blues etc. She can help you learn to read music as well as how to improvise/play by ear, and she can help you to acquire knowledge of jazz and/or classical theory. Her music studies credits include a B.A. in Music from the University of Minnesota, where she studied jazz piano and classical trombone. She also attended the School for Improvised Music in Brooklyn, NY and the Tanglewood Institute for the Arts in MA. She plays keyboards with Black Blondie (a band that juxtaposes soul, hip hop, dancehall and jazz) and Hips Don't Lie (an instrumental trio centering on original song writing and improvisation in the styles of jazz, hip hop and drum'n'bass). She has also played with and/or recorded with such bands as Atmosphere, Sferic Witch (an electro-acoustic improvisation two piece), Heiruspecs, P.O.S. of Doomtree, the Omaur Bliss band, Traditional Methods, Edupoetic Enterbrainment, Brother Ali, Oddjobs and Kill the Vultures. Websites for Tasha's music projects:

SAXOPHONE INSTRUCTORS

Maggie Roston - Flute, Saxophone
Maggie has been teaching professionally and freelancing for many years. She started teaching at the West Bank School of Music in the early 70’s. After graduating from the U of M in French and music, she soon left for Los Angeles, where she played with the L.A. Actors Theater, the Hollywood Orchestra, Maiden Voyage, a 17-piece all-woman big band, Passion, an all-girl Top 40 group, and many other groups. She moved to Santa Barbara where she played with the Civic Light Opera and formed her own jazz quartet, after which she moved to France and continued teaching flute, saxophone and jazz workshops at the CIAM in Bordeaux, as well as continued playing with her jazz quartet, in big bands, and in reggae, rock, and Creole groups. After returning to the U.S. in 2000 she has played with the Children’s Theater, the Chanhassen Dinner Theater, the Prophets of Soul (R&B), Ticket to Brasil (Latin), continuing to freelance with a variety of groups and teach.

WOODWIND CLASSES  (See current class schedule for dates and times)

Recorder Class for Kids Level I, II, and III  Maggie Roston

For children, grades K to 5, who want to a peek into how much fun it is to make music, and to get a head start on all the other wind instruments, including the flute, saxophone,clarinet, oboe and bassoon, which all have the same basic concepts and fingerings. There will be an option to continue to the next level at the end of each six week session.  Level I starts with play-by-ear exciting, well-known songs.  Level II advances to concepts of reading music. Level III moves on to reading fun & fantastic music. 

Chamber Music for Recorder, or Other Woodwind Instruments  Maggie Roston

This class offers adults or more experienced youth aninformal setting to enjoy playing music together! The

recorder group will play renaissance and baroque music.  OR the Wind group, any combination of flute, clarinet, saxophone, oboe, bassoon or French horn will play duos to Choirs, from Bach to Beethoven to Bartok. Classes formed according to instrument, experience level and interest. Groups can be ongoing.

If you don't see a class that fits your needs, Contact the Director to see if we can create a class for you.