Teaching Philosophy
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Our teaching philosophy is to foster a healthy and rewarding relationship with music, self discipline, personal growth, compassion, family, and community building.
While many of my students are successful in competitions, this is not the goal for every student, nor is it a requirement to compete to be in the studio. The only requirement is the desire to be better tomorrow than you are today! As your teacher, we work with you to build short and long term goals, and then show you how to meet those goals with methodical regular practice and self discipline. We believe in working smarter, not harder, and it all starts with a plan and a little commitment.
As flute teachers, we are fortunate to spend more years with most students than any other teacher in their life. We believe music is a wonderful tool to express our emotions, and many emotions do appear in lessons! Excitement, nerves, pride, embarrassment, disappointment, frustration, relief, joy, and happiness for example. Through the journey as your teacher, we believe it is important to not just play music, but use it as a healthy way to express our emotions (even when the flute is causing said emotions!) It is to no surprise to us, that many of our students show strong growth in emotional maturity. Lessons are a safe space to express emotions, because as Hans Christian Anderson said, "Where words fail, music speaks."
Music is a gift, and here at the studio, we love to keep giving! We are a family, and we also have a beautiful extended family that is the greater Tampa Bay area. In addition to our formal spring studio recital, we perform holiday music and Christmas carols at local businesses and nursing homes, and we offer many community performance opportunities to give back.
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Ready to begin taking lessons?
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Sign up for your free first lesson and visit the studio, meet with Mr. Irelan, and discuss the opportunities The Tampa Flute Studio can offer you and your child! The consultation lesson is 45 minutes, and from there, a lesson plan will be agreed upon. We offer weekly lessons in increments of 1 hour, 45 minutes, and 30 minutes. Lessons are billed monthly (flat rate), and include weekly private lessons, participation in all group studio classes, recitals, studio activities, and more!
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Lessons can also be booked on a per lesson basis in hour increments with approval only.