It’s that time of year. Solo & Ensemble state contest is quickly approaching! You might be dealing with some nerves and feeling overwhelmed in your practice right now, and I want to help make it a little easier on you by giving you some tips that have helped me. I’ve been in this same situation, and I’ve learned a few things that have helped me immensely throughout the years.

The 2024 Ball State Flute Day is coming up on October 19th, and I am so excited to attend again as an exhibitor along with Flute Specialists! You don’t want to miss this FREE event. Dr. Watanabe and her flute studio have a full day of masterclasses, flute choir, warmup sessions, and recitals planned. If you haven’t registered yet and are free on October 19th, here are some reasons why you should attend:  You will get to learn from Guest Artist Austin Brown and Dr. Mihoko Watanabe  Principal Flutist of the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra, Austin Brown, will be Ball State’s featured Guest Artist this year! He will be leading a masterclass and Q&A session, and he will be performing a recital for everyone attending. This is the perfect opportunity to learn from Austin and get to know our new ISO Principal Flutist!   Flute Professor at Ball State University, Dr. Mihoko Watanabe, is not only hosting this event, but she is leading the mindful warmup session and flute choir reading in the morning as well as leading an open clinic to close the flute day.   Play with other flutists in the warmup and flute choir session.  Flute choir reading sessions are

The beginning of the school year is here! As the excitement of the new term settles, you may hear from your student’s band director or teacher that it’s time to upgrade their flute—especially if they’ve been playing for at least a year. Choosing the right step-up flute can feel overwhelming, but we’re here to make it easier for you! How to Start the Flute Upgrade Process

It’s almost my favorite time of the year: the National Flute Association 2024 Convention! At the end of July, I will be traveling to San Antonio, TX to be surrounded by all things flute! My first time attending the NFA convention was in 2023, and it was one of the most inspiring events I have ever been to. Flute players from all over the world come together for sessions, masterclasses, performances, and exhibits. It is a time where online friends meet in person for the first time, and people get to meet flutists they have always looked up to. While I’m still working on finalizing which sessions I will attend, here are a few I’m SUPER excited about: Involve yoga for musicians Irish flute (one of my favorite sessions from last year!), Orchestral auditions and masterclass, extended techniques, and And a ton of concerts by various flute ensembles and soloists throughout the convention. I’m also excited to try out some flutes by the wonderful exhibitors and see what I would like to bring into our flute shop. Stay tuned! Are you attending the NFA Convention this year? Let me know and I’d love to meet you!