University of Arizona | Flute Performance

Musical training through product creation

© 2024 Arizona Board of Regents

Studio

The University of Arizona Flute Performance program includes students from across the world engaged in undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral degree programs. Flute studies at UA include weekly private lessons, a weekly studio master class, small group technique classes, recording sessions, flute pedagogy, guest artist master residencies, and the Flutefinity ensemble. Along with applied study, students perform solo, chamber, concerto, orchestral, and wind ensemble repertoire for live performances, competitions, and recordings. In addition, students perform as members of Flutefinity, the chamber music program focused on performing and recording large and small chamber works. Flute students are encouraged to seek national and international recognition through young artist competitions, festival/master class performances, and scholarly publications.

Method


Students engaged in flute performance studies:
  • focus on performance objectives in a longitudinal manner.
  • develop kinesiological habits that ensure success.
  • condense music theory, history, and physiology into a simplified interpretative algorithm.
  • train the body’s physical performance mechanisms to reinforce the joy of performing.

Teacher


Brian Luce is a highly regarded performer and teacher with experience as a competitor, chamber musician, orchestral musician, freelance performer, recording artist, and recording engineer. This experience, coupled with over 30 years of teaching in the private studio and classroom at universities, high schools, junior high schools, and fine arts festivals, has led to the development of a curriculum that focuses on students’ product creation. All students in every major are required to:
  • create a professional recording portfolio suitable for commercial release in the state-of-the-art School of Music Recording Studio.
  • create a series of teaching and mentoring materials to specific clientele.
  • learn to function as a producer and arranger in the creation of recordings in the commercial and classical recording studio.
  • develop professional marketing materials including a web presence.
  • teach younger students using the apprenticeship model.
  • exploit market gaps in order to secure future employment.
Studio Techniques Class outdoors during the pandemic
Julia after her senior recital
Mary Karen Clardy and Miranda
Melissa plays in a Master class with Susan Milan
Nicole after her senior recital
Julia plays Mozart for Susan Milan
Katelyn plays for Robert Dick
After Kate’s 3rd DMA recital
Lauren with Eva Amsler
Mary Karen Clardy and Julia
Jim Walker after a master class
Alysonn plays for Susan Milan
Kate Nichols, Miranda DeBretto, and Carol Wincenc
The 2016 Fred Fox Graduate Wind Quintet
Susan Milan works with Erin
Lauren and Diane Schultz
Chelsea in a lesson
Emily, Pablo, Chelsea, Sierra, and Ana Laura with Katherine Hoover
Julia plays for Julieta Cedilo Blanco
Mary Karen Clardy and Alysonn
Rachel and Kelsey put the NFA Library to good use
After Wendy Rolfe’s illuminating class

Alumni

Elyse Davis, B.M. 2014
Patricia Bradley, B.M. 2015
Victoria Hauk, B.M. 2011
Ana Laura González, D.M.A. 2007
Erica Schiller, M.M. 2007