TEACHING

PHILOSOPHY

IN-PERSON & ONLINE LESSONS

Hello! Welcome to my Teaching Page!

In addition to my performing and recording schedule, teaching is a deep passion for me. I feel it is a true vocation to be able to give back in this way, sharing my enthusiasm and experiences with each student, giving them a chance to have that joy of learning that I had and continue to have through the legacy of my great and very generous mentors. The wealth of knowledge, awareness and inspiration they give to me continues to completely enrich my life.

There is a great joy and a wonderful reciprocity of discovery for me in teaching individuals of any age and at any level. And with this, the only prerequisite I ask of my students coming to me for lessons is to have a good attitude, an open mind and a yearning heart for learning, having a thirst for deepening one’s understanding with in this vast musical universe. Be willing to receive and embrace information designed to be helpful and inspiring, with the desire to create a new experience and an exciting adventure, to reach a new potential. May there be a true appreciation of this journey of improving on the flute and learning more deeply about music – all with the valuable awareness of how these improvements and knowledge can be applied to one’s everyday life with, or without, the flute in hand.

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SHARING MUSIC FROM THE HEART & TEACHING PHILOSOPHY:

My philosophy is based in a good attitude, open mind and open heart and from there, I believe it is a strong foundation in fundamentals, whether one is opening their flute case for the first time, or beginning a master’s degree, it is important to keep the focus of the important fundamentals always in the forefront of one’s mind with consistency and discipline of good habits.

BREATH IS THE BASIS OF LIFE, and in turn, it is the basis of solid flute playing. So, with that, I have developed extensive and varied breathing exercises that are based on a very natural approach – exercises everyone can do and can relate to that are connected to one’s everyday living.

Same idea with tone exercises, OUR TONE IS OUR VOICE. We all have a voice of some kind, whether it is speaking out loud, our inner thoughts, though singing or in sign language. It is the way we communicate. It is vital to sharing what is in our soul without words. We want to be able to DEVELOP NECESSARY SKILLS to be able to express freely what we feel the music wants to say — we are its vessel to the audible world and each other’s souls. There is much that goes into developing “necessary skills”. It is a COMBINATION OF FLUTE SKILLS AND IMPORTANT LIVE EXPERIENCE. And in my teaching approach, I encourage both to rise and expand, going deeply into each component of these vast topics to realize our higher potential. And with that, in developing our “flute skills”, we will include a multitude of TECHNICAL EXERCISES covering the full range of the instrument, as well as incorporating MELODIC AND PHRASING STUDIES and technical ETUDES of all kinds, all building greater LUNG CAPACITY, EMBOUCHURE STRENGTH AND FLEXIBILITY, VARIED DYNAMIC SPECTRUM and COLOR PALETTES, advanced TECHNICAL FACILITY, improved SIGHT-READING abilities, and over-all ENDURANCE. And it is very important to mention the special topic of VIBRATO that is so key in “OUR COMMUNICATION OF EXPRESSION” – varying vibrato speeds, wave height, depth, to very pure, non-vibrato tone, to help “DEEPEN THE MESSAGE” depending on the style and character of a given piece or passage. It is crucial to understand and incorporate in one’s playing. All of this combined with encouraging the study of multi-style solo material in proper progression, is to continue to broaden the depth of one’s musical awareness and interpretation.

In addition, I am also a great proponent of LISTENING TO RECORDINGS and ATTENDING CONCERTS, not only of great flute music, but of ALL DIFFERENT KINDS OF INSTRUMENTAL AND VOCAL PERFORMANCES, recordings of artists and ensembles of MANY STYLES. This is in addition to immersing oneself in the study of great POETRY, DRAMATIC PRODUCTIONS, PAINTINGS, PHOTOGRAPHY, DANCE, and ALL OTHER FORMS OF ART, as well as PHYSICAL EXERCISE, and being aware of NATURAL SURROUNDINGS, and its VISUAL SHAPES AND SOUNDS. Being able to incorporate and INFUSE MULTI-DIMENSIONAL APPROACHES and PARALLEL TECHNIQUES from these different worlds gives a NEW LIFE and NEW DIRECTION to our expression and performances, whether one is new to the flute or a seasoned professional artist. It is these elements that will help us to be more creative and engaging on both a tangible and intangible level, connecting deeper to ourselves, and to our audience, psychologically and emotionally. And in this journey, we will continue to improve mind, body and spirit, becoming more WELL-ROUNDED people and musicians, as well as more COMPASSIONATE human beings.

In closing, I want to say my love for music and my love for teaching come directly from my parents Albert and Violet Andon. Even though they were not professional musicians, their deep love for music shined through to me with all kinds of music being played in the house daily and taking us to local concerts and productions, as well as having me and my two older siblings take piano lessons starting at age 5 and also sing in local youth choirs, in addition to me learning the flute. They were selfless human beings and dedicated their lives to their family and helped countless people of their community and were devoted educators themselves. Their unwavering love and support for me and for my music, and music and the arts in general, gave me the chance to pursue this great passion and allowed me to connect and share with others throughout the world in this unique way. And my dear Sister Lisa and my brother Mark, like my parents, both inspire me so much with their kindness, compassion, and deep love for music, as well as their individual successes in the fields of medicine and science. My whole family taught me very important things that I carry with me in life and I find so helpful, especially in teaching and being in the field of music: unconditional love, patience, perseverance, having a great thirst for learning and a deep curiosity about life, as well as, being grateful and seeing the beauty in everything. And with all of this, it brings me true joy to share these kinds of values with my students on their journey through this life. It is so wonderful to observe that every student has such a unique spirit and special gifts and endless promise. I find I learn so much from each one of them, as well, in countless ways.

Sara Andon teaching a young student about the bass flute. Riot Games Los Angeles 2020-min

I also want to express my immense gratitude for all of my teachers that continue to inspire me every day. Every single musical note and every loving word of advice have gone straight to my heart to stay. Through crucial lesson time, joyous master classes as well as through stunning live and recorded performances, all of these life-changing moments are always with me, guiding me in my everyday musical life and life in general. I want to continue to share what I can of these precious experiences from my teachers with my students and to others, in the hope that together, we can continue to make this world a better place through the love and the healing power of music. Along with my great mentors, I want to thank ALL of my dear flute friends and colleagues. You continue to enrich my life immeasurably through your beautiful souls and heart-filled music – whether it be in your breathtaking performances, invaluable lessons, engaging seminars, master classes, getting to make music together at various musical events, and our cherished friendship.

Thank you, Candice Palmberg, Janet Ferguson, Roger Stevens, Ransom Wilson, Jim Walker, Stephen Kujala,
Gary Woodward, Anne Diener Zentner, Mindy Kaufman, Jeanne Baxtresser, Renée Siebert, Julius Baker,
Sarah Jackson, Walfrid Kujala, Jeffrey Khaner, Erica Peel, Julia Bogorad-Kogan, Emily Beynon, Robert Langevin,
Paul Edmund-Davies, Judy Mendenhall, Paula Robison, William Bennett, Mark Sparks, Marina Piccinini,
Larry Rachleff, Daniel Lewis, Doug Lowry, Carolyn Neff, James Newton, Raymond Torres-Santos,
Richard Saylor, Roger Nye, Frank Morelli, Anthony Parnther, Jacob Druckman, Martin Bresnick, Ben Verdery,
Joan Panetti, Richard Lalli, Samuel Baron, Demarre McGill, Ben Smolen, Cindy Ellis, Jerry Pritchard, Debbie Thalberg,
Sandy Kipp Iles, Larry Kaplan, Jamie Pedrini, Valarie King, Patricia Cloud, Kathleen Dyer, Eileen Holt, Nancy Marfisi,
Meredith Shambaugh, Jena Plourde, Sandra Plourde, Donald Jaramillo, Cynthia Kelly, Steven Finley, Karen Moratz,
Heinrich Schmidtt, David Andersen, Grace Silvers, Marjorie Holtzendorff, Karlin Coolidge, Bryan Pezzone,
Simone Pedroni, Elisa Petrarulo, Jean-michel Bernard, Kimiko Bernard, Mike Lang, Billy Childs, Dave Loeb,
Tom Ranier, Aron Kallay, Vicky Ray, Gloria Cheng, James Lent, Rob Thies, Althea Waites, Daniel Szabo,
Sophie Tait, Doug Ashcraft, Lara Urrutia, Stephanie Lovell, Louanne Long, Mitsuko Morikawa, Jeanette Louise Yaryan,
Michael Tacchia, Alan Steinberger, Todd Barber, Cathy Venable, Elaine Davidson, Donald Crockett, Gerry Willis,
Larry Roberson, Jon Robertson, Stuart Robertson, Cathy Ransom, Elise Shope Henry, Julien Beaudiment,
Robert Stallman, Ulla Miilmann, David Shostac, Susan Greenberg, Heather Clark, Dan Higgins,
Gene Cipriano (Yo,Cip!), Sal Lozano, Gary Foster, Bud Shank, Sam Most, Jeremy Steig, Joe Soldo, Chris Bleth,
John Yoakum, Rory Mazzela, Phil Feather, Greg Huckins, Mike Vacarro, Jeff Driskell, Jay Mason, Bob Crosby, Bob Carr,
Bob Sheppard, Mark Hollingsworth, Greg Patillo, Laurel Zucker, Rachel Rudich, Ali Ryerson, Claire Chase,
Phil O’Connor, Carol Wincenc, Paul Fried, Gareth McLearnon, Stephanie McNab, Marianne Gedigian, Amy Porter,
Pam Vliek Martchev, Kaylene Peoples, Kathryn Kuby, Patricia George, Nicole Esposito, Jake Fridkis, Amy Taylor,
Ian Clarke, Robert Dick, Andrée Martin, Jennifer Keeney, Todd Mason, Rosy Sackstein, Mary Karen Clardy,
Matthew Roitstein, Paul Rabinov, Rik Noyce, Charles Wheeler, Carolyn Beck, Kathryn Nevin, Francisco Castillo,
Rena Urso, Sergio Pallottelli, Cindy Ann Broz, Jill Felber, Linda Chesis, Rachel Mellis, Amy Tatum, Vince Peña,
Angela Weigand, Diana Morgan, Alexandra Miller, Nora Curtin, Sarah May Robinson, Kiki Larsen Joel, Linda Kordek,
Ruth Kasckow, Kathy Marsh, Linda Staum, Gary Shocker, Robert Shulgold, Damjan Krajacic, Janelle Barrera,
Patricia Nagle, Lisa-Maree Amos, Peter Sheridan, Kate Prestia-Schaub, Susan Craig Winsberg,
Laura Halladay Crigger, Joanne Lazzaro, Ellen Burr, Janice Tipton, Cathy Larson, Victoria Batta,
Michelle Chavez, Gerardo Lopez, Jacob Miner, Ashley Somers, Coco Hu, Christopher Figueroa, Eduardo Mejia,
Zalene Acosta, Emily Barton Sipes, Dani Guilmette, Alicia Forrest, Paige Scalise, Briana Berastain,
Alyssa Fejeran, Kimberly Ross, Rome Ababat, Tanner Shimkus, Emily Redman Hall, Kira Diaz,
Alisha Piete Ruffin, Nicole Hans, Stacie Lindenbaum, Regina Morishige, Sheila M. Igbal, Scott Quirk,
Jingying Peng, Adam Holdridge, Serina Harvey, Justin Thai, Shannon Canchola, Jennifer Day, Hillary Cole,
Etsuka Tomonga, Kaely Verduzco, Kelly McGrath, Val McGlasson, Jennifer Yoon, Lauren Cho, J’noi Parker,
Mary Lazarian Oppermann, Emily Senchuk, Suzanne Duffy, Shiela Zimmerman, Shanshan Wu, Ryan Wu,
Patricia Surman, Elizabeth Jolly, Jenn Dean-Knapp, Tara O’Connor, Candice Armstrong, Jaime Johnson,
Angela Noakes, Hope Watts, Britney Lovell, Gina Luciani, Kathy Hamilton,Rachel Hoffman, Charlotte Ford,
Cathy Miller, Ethan Lin-Schwartz, Jennifer Grim, Conor Nelson, Kaoru Hinata, Kathy Hickey,Eddie Smith,
Phil Swanson, Joachim Becerra Thomsen, Sandy Hughes, Sooyun Kim, Diane Allen-Craig, Rosa Jang, Helen Park,
Olivia (Can) Xu, Eva (Meng Ge) Zhang, Lisa (Zelin) Wang, Maron Khoury, Ivy Yu, Yajie Wang, Jiwon Min,
Yi-Hsien Liao, Tee Nitha Viraporn, William Cedeño, David Ordovsky, Nick Stavros, Johanna Borenstein,
Rachel Beetz, Horacio Parravicini, Jenni Olson, Catherine Baker, Sarah Wass, Sarah Weisz, Lisa Edelstein,
\Julie Miller Burkert, Melba Levick, Brian Walsh, Katisse Buckingham, Hubert Laws, José Valentino,
Néstor Torres, Denis Bouriakov, Erin Bouriakov, Robert Townson, Arthur Gleghorn, Sheridon Stokes,
Louise DiTullio, Geri Rotella, Joseph Mariano, Ian Anderson, Andrea Griminelli, Timothy Hutchins,
Gareth Davies, Jasmine Choi, Bonita Boyd, Marcel Moyse, Michel Debost, Paul Taffanel,
Philippe Gaubert, Jean-Pierre Rampal, Sir James Galway, Lady Jeanne Galway and Emmanuel Pahud.

Again, I am grateful to you all and to our ever-expanding world of inspirational connections and experiences.

For those interested, I teach privately online and in-person and give master classes and seminars on a regular basis. I am currently the Artist Teacher of Flute at the University of Redlands School of Music, as well as the Instructor of Flute at the Idyllwild Arts Academy, an internationally recognized high school of the arts.

For inquiry about private lessons, master classes, clinics and seminars, online or in-person, please contact me here.
I look forward to connecting with you!

I also want to express my immense gratitude for all of my teachers that continue to inspire me every day. Every single musical note and every loving word of advice have gone straight to my heart to stay. Through crucial lesson time, joyous master classes as well as through stunning live and recorded performances, all of these life-changing moments are always with me, guiding me in my everyday musical life and life in general. I want to continue to share what I can of these precious experiences from my teachers with my students and to others, in the hope that together, we can continue to make this world a better place through the love and the healing power of music. Along with my great mentors, I want to thank ALL of my dear flute friends and colleagues. You continue to enrich my life immeasurably through your beautiful souls and heart-filled music – whether it be in your breathtaking performances, invaluable lessons, engaging seminars, master classes, getting to make music together at various musical events, and our cherished friendship.

Thank you, Candice Palmberg,
Janet Ferguson, Roger Stevens,
Ransom Wilson, Jim Walker,
Stephen Kujala, Gary Woodward,
Anne Diener Zentner, Mindy Kaufman,
Jeanne Baxtresser, Renée Siebert,
Julius Baker, Sarah Jackson,
Walfrid Kujala, Jeffrey Khaner,
Erica Peel, Julia Bogorad-Kogan,
Emily Beynon, Robert Langevin,
Paul Edmund-Davies, Judy Mendenhall,
Paula Robison, William Bennett,
Mark Sparks, Marina Piccinini,
Larry Rachleff, Daniel Lewis,
Doug Lowry, Carolyn Neff,
James Newton, Raymond Torres-Santos,
Richard Saylor, Roger Nye,
Frank Morelli, Anthony Parnther,
Jacob Druckman, Martin Bresnick,
Ben Verdery, Joan Panetti,
Richard Lalli, Samuel Baron,
Demarre McGill, Ben Smolen,
Cindy Ellis, Jerry Pritchard,
Debbie Thalberg, Sandy Kipp Iles,
Larry Kaplan, Jamie Pedrini,
Valarie King, Patricia Cloud,
Kathleen Dyer, Eileen Holt,
Nancy Marfisi, Meredith Shambaugh,
Jena Plourde, Sandra Plourde,
Donald Jaramillo, Cynthia Kelly,
Steven Finley, Karen Moratz,
Heinrich Schmidtt, David Andersen,
Grace Silvers, Marjorie Holtzendorff,
Karlin Coolidge, Bryan Pezzone,
Simone Pedroni, Elisa Petrarulo,
Jean-michel Bernard, Kimiko Bernard,
Mike Lang, Billy Childs, Dave Loeb,
Tom Ranier, Aron Kallay,
Vicky Ray, Gloria Cheng,
James Lent, Rob Thies, Althea Waites,
Daniel Szabo, Sophie Tait,
Doug Ashcraft, Lara Urrutia,
Stephanie Lovell, Louanne Long,
Mitsuko Morikawa,
Jeanette Louise Yaryan,
Michael Tacchia, Alan Steinberger,
Todd Barber, Cathy Venable,
Elaine Davidson, Donald Crockett,
Gerry Willis, Larry Roberson,
Jon Robertson, Stuart Robertson,
Cathy Ransom, Elise Shope Henry,
Julien Beaudiment, Robert Stallman,
Ulla Miilmann, David Shostac,
Susan Greenberg, Heather Clark,
Dan Higgins, Gene Cipriano (Yo,Cip!),
Sal Lozano, Gary Foster, Bud Shank,
Sam Most, Jeremy Steig, Joe Soldo,
Chris Bleth, John Yoakum, Rory Mazzela,
Phil Feather, Greg Huckins, Mike Vacarro,
Jeff Driskell, Jay Mason, Bob Crosby,
Bob Carr, Bob Sheppard,
Mark Hollingsworth, Greg Patillo,
Laurel Zucker, Rachel Rudich,
Ali Ryerson, Claire Chase,
Phil O’Connor, Carol Wincenc,
Paul Fried, Gareth McLearnon,
Stephanie McNab, Marianne Gedigian,
Amy Porter, Pam Vliek Martchev,
Kaylene Peoples, Kathryn Kuby,
Patricia George, Nicole Esposito,
Jake Fridkis, Amy Taylor,
Ian Clarke, Robert Dick,
Andrée Martin, Jennifer Keeney,
Todd Mason, Rosy Sackstein,
Mary Karen Clardy,
Matthew Roitstein, Paul Rabinov,
Rik Noyce, Charles Wheeler,
Carolyn Beck, Kathryn Nevin,
Francisco Castillo, Rena Urso,
Sergio Pallottelli, Cindy Ann Broz,
Jill Felber, Linda Chesis,
Rachel Mellis, Amy Tatum, Vince Peña,
Angela Weigand, Diana Morgan,
Alexandra Miller, Nora Curtin,
Sarah May Robinson, Kiki Larsen Joel,
Linda Kordek, Ruth Kasckow,
Kathy Marsh, Linda Staum,
Gary Shocker, Robert Shulgold,
Damjan Krajacic, Janelle Barrera,
Patricia Nagle, Lisa-Maree Amos,
Peter Sheridan, Kate Prestia-Schaub,
Susan Craig Winsberg,
Laura Halladay Crigger,
Joanne Lazzaro, Ellen Burr,
Janice Tipton, Cathy Larson,
Victoria Batta, Michelle Chavez,
Gerardo Lopez, Jacob Miner,
Ashley Somers, Coco Hu,
Christopher Figueroa,
Eduardo Mejia, Zalene Acosta,
Emily Barton Sipes, Dani Guilmette,
Alicia Forrest, Paige Scalise,
Briana Berastain, Alyssa Fejeran,
Kimberly Ross, Rome Ababat,
Tanner Shimkus, Emily Redman Hall,
Kira Diaz, Alisha Piete Ruffin,
Nicole Hans, Stacie Lindenbaum,
Regina Morishige, Sheila M. Igbal,
Scott Quirk, Jingying Peng,
Adam Holdridge, Serina Harvey,
Justin Thai, Shannon Canchola,
Jennifer Day, Hillary Cole,
Etsuka Tomonga,
Kaely Verduzco, Kelly McGrath,
Val McGlasson, Jennifer Yoon,
Lauren Cho, J’noi Parker,
Mary Lazarian Oppermann, Emily Senchuk,
Suzanne Duffy, Shiela Zimmerman,
Shanshan Wu, Ryan Wu,
Patricia Surman, Elizabeth Jolly,
Jenn Dean-Knapp, Tara O’Connor,
Candice Armstrong, Jaime Johnson,
Angela Noakes, Hope Watts,
Britney Lovell, Gina Luciani,
Kathy Hamilton,Rachel Hoffman,
Charlotte Ford, Cathy Miller,
Ethan Lin-Schwartz, Jennifer Grim,
Conor Nelson, Kaoru Hinata,
Kathy Hickey,Eddie Smith, Phil Swanson,
Joachim Becerra Thomsen, Sandy Hughes,
Sooyun Kim, Diane Allen-Craig,
Rosa Jang, Helen Park,
Olivia (Can) Xu, Eva (Meng Ge) Zhang,
Lisa (Zelin) Wang, Maron Khoury,
Ivy Yu, Yajie Wang, Jiwon Min,
Yi-Hsien Liao, Tee Nitha Viraporn,
William Cedeño, David Ordovsky,
Nick Stavros, Johanna Borenstein,
Rachel Beetz, Horacio Parravicini,
Jenni Olson, Catherine Baker,
Sarah Wass, Sarah Weisz,
Lisa Edelstein, Julie Miller Burkert,
Melba Levick, Brian Walsh,
Katisse Buckingham, Hubert Laws,
José Valentino,
Néstor Torres, Denis Bouriakov,
Erin Bouriakov, Robert Townson,
Arthur Gleghorn, Sheridon Stokes,
Louise DiTullio, Geri Rotella,
Joseph Mariano, Ian Anderson,
Andrea Griminelli, Timothy Hutchins,
Gareth Davies, Jasmine Choi,
Bonita Boyd, Marcel Moyse,
Michel Debost, Paul Taffanel,
Philippe Gaubert, Jean-Pierre Rampal,
Sir James Galway,
Lady Jeanne Galway and Emmanuel Pahud.

Again, I am grateful to you all and to our ever-expanding world of inspirational connections and experiences.

For those interested, I teach privately online and in-person and give master classes and seminars on a regular basis. I am currently the Artist Teacher of Flute at the University of Redlands School of Music, as well as the Instructor of Flute at the Idyllwild Arts Academy, an internationally recognized high school of the arts.

For inquiry about private lessons, master classes, clinics and seminars, online or in-person, please contact me here.
I look forward to connecting with you!

Idyllwild Arts Academy and Summer Program_RT-min
Screen-Shot-2020-07-29-at-09.54.21

Sara Andon, Artist Teacher of Flute
University of Redlands School of Music
Idyllwild Arts Academy

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