Carol Adee

I grew up in a musical family where singing around the piano or campfire was a regular part of life. When I was 9 I was given the choice of an instrument in our school program. The only way a child could get to play the flute was if you could make a sound on the first try: I was lucky and so I began. It was a new experience to play an instrument at home by myself and to find out how much I enjoyed practicing! Before I found a private teacher, I played every book of music I could find: my mom's piano music, songbooks, violin music, anything! My band teacher (Mr. Bigoski) gave me lots of encouragement and extra books to build my skills. At 15, I auditioned for the United States Honor Band and toured Europe with this ensemble. I also began studying cello and playing in the string orchestra.

In college, I studied all of the solo flute repertoire with Paul Renzi and Arthur Hoberman and gave solo recitals. I played in lots of different chamber music groups, orchestra and avant-garde groups. Every kind of music interested me so I had lots of experiences playing great pieces as well as new compositions and experimental pieces. In the summers I went to Master Classes to study with Frances Blaisdell and Julius Baker. To prepare to become a professional musician, I went to the Yale School of Music and studied with Thomas Nyfenger. I loved going into New York City to hear concerts and to study avant garde techniques like multi-phonics and circular breathing with Robert Dick.

In San Francisco, I became a freelance musician and played extra and substitute for San Francisco Symphony, Opera and Ballet Orchestras among others. As principal flutist with Women's Philharmonic for 15 years, I performed and recorded many pieces by women composers from historical periods and the present time. Still interested in new music, I played for the San Francisco Symphony's "New and Unusual Music" series and with small ensembles such as George Coates Performance Works, ISKRA, Composers' Cafeteria, Composers Inc., Alternate Currents Performance Ensemble, the Bellavente Quintet and lots of projects put together by composers, artists, dancers and musicians. As a soloist, I recorded the cd "Bach to Nature", three of Bach's cello suites played on flute.

In 2004, I was hired to teach music and orchestra at Marin Waldorf School. To deepen my understanding of child development and teaching, I enrolled in the Bay Area Center for Waldorf Teacher Training, earning the 3 year Teacher's Certificate, studied Werbeck singing with Cristiaan Boele and Instrument Building with Manfred Bleffert.

All of these experiences have led me to teach flute with a strong individual focus. Building a beautiful sound, smooth facility and engagement in the character of the music are my priorities with my students. We work on school and other ensemble music as well as solos, duets and pieces by ear. It is a unique exploration with each student and I am always interested in building skills that can take the student wherever he or she wants to go musically. My students have attended Stanford, Oberlin, UCLA, UCSD, Occidental, Carleton, Brown, Whitman, Williams, Swarthmore and other colleges.