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Woodwind Teachers
Woodwind Teachers
The Music Shoppe of Normal
Whether you're ready to get started with lessons or just want more information, please check out our Lesson Studio Contact Form.
Rachel Bailey (She/Her)
Flute Instructor | Normal, IL
Flute Lessons:
-In person and virtual lessons
-All ages and ability levels
-Solo and Ensemble works for flute, piccolo, alto, and bass flutes (all genres)
-ILMEA, solo & ensemble contests, and other audition prep
Specialty flutes include:
-Native American Flute
-Irish Flute and Tin Whistle
-Chinese Dizi
-Indian Bansuri
-Peruvian Quena
-Pan Pipes
-Ocarina
-Fife
-Recorder
Biography:
Rachel Bailey began lessons at age 9 with Sue Gillio in the LaSalle-Peru area of Illinois. She then went on to study with Patricia George at Brigham Young University-Idaho where she received her Bachelor’s of Arts in Music Performance. She also earned her Master’s of Music Degree in flute performance and studied with Dr. Adah Toland-Jones at Texas State University. Ms. Bailey was a winner in the Concerto Competition at Texas State in 2008 and soloed with the orchestra on the Liebermann Flute Concerto in 2009. She was also a student at Trevor Wye’s flute studio in Ashford, Kent UK, where she completed her certificate in 2011.
Rachel has performed with the Illinois Valley Symphony Orchestra, the Sewanee Symphony, Texas State Symphony, and Brigham Young University-Idaho Orchestra. Rachel currently performs with the Irish music group, Paddy’s Favorite Sons.
She currently plays on a handmade custom silver Jack Moore flute with an Arista head joint. She also performs on a variety of flutes including Irish tin whistle, Native American Flute, and many more!
When asked about her teaching style, she states that her goals are always to shape the lessons around the student’s needs and preferences, but will generally be a more relaxed environment than a stressful one. She believes music should be learned for enjoyment, even if someone has more advanced goals. Rachel strives to create a welcoming place for all people in different walks of life to share in the art of music making. No matter the age or ability level, she believes solid fundamentals are key, she ensures her students are well-versed in scales and technique, can create a good tone, and play expressively. She is founder and director of the Bloomington-Normal Flute Club, an all-abilities, adult flute choir.
Rachel is listed in Prairie Pride Coalition's Bloomington-Normal Area LGBTQIA+ Business and Resource Directory and has pledged to provide an inclusive, welcoming environment and to serve our community fairly and equitably.
You can hear some samples of Rachel’s playing on any of the following sites:
https://linktr.ee/rachelbailey.flute
Sally Hoffmann
Flute Instructor | Normal, IL
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Sally Hoffmann is a private flute teacher of students in Bloomington Normal and the Central Illinois area. She is from Pontiac, IL and has a Bachelor of Music Education, Illinois State University, 1978. She studied with Max Schoenfeld and has 40+ years of teaching experience. She has extensive performance experience in bands, orchestras and chamber music. She also has music-directed and conducted in numerous theatres throughout the region. She is also a composer and arranger.
Flute teaching is specialized in beginner, intermediate and advanced intermediate levels. Instruction places emphasis on music reading, flute performance, and music theory. Sally works with students of all ages including adults. She starts students as young as 7 on smaller curved headjoint flutes.
The lesson plans are tailored to meet individual levels of talent and desire. Recitals are held frequently. Flutists are prepared for auditions and competitions such ILMEA and band/chair placements. Extensive preparation for solo and ensemble contest – Sally accompanies her own students on piano as needed.
Sally’s personal website can be found here: http://musicwithsally.com/
Veronica Ervin
Bassoon Instructor | Normal, IL
Veronica Ervin is currently attending Illinois State University studying music and elementary education. At ISU she has performed with the ISU orchestra and Wind Symphony band. She has over 10 years experience in performing on bassoon with orchestras and bands primarily performing locally in the Central Illinois region and is an experienced reed-maker, creating her own reeds. Additionally, she has also previously performed for solo competitions such as through the Midwest Double Reed Society, and additionally participated in the 2019 National Association of Music Educators All-Nationals Honor Band. She has performed locally with MiOpera. Veronica aims to make learning and developing mastery of the bassoon a fun and positive experience for all learners, regardless of skill level!
Bill Toovey
Clarinet Instructor | Normal, IL
Bill Toovey is music educator and clarinetist. In ‘retirement’, he continues to be an active educator and performer with community-based ensembles.
During his 35-plus years in music education, Bill taught in both Colorado and Illinois. Additionally, he has a diverse performance background with collegiate and community ensembles, orchestras, ‘pit’ ensembles for musicals and operas, jazz, and chamber groups.
Lesson essentials center on your goals in combination with…
- Producing a characteristic clarinet tone
- Proper playing mechanics
- Improved performance skills
- Clarinet maintenance
- Introduction to a variety of clarinet literature
- Strategies for ensemble playing
- Mentoring for contest and audition preparation
Beth Hildenbrand
Clarinet Instructor | Normal, IL
Beth Hildenbrand is an up-and-coming clarinetist and music educator based out of Central Illinois. A native of Fairbury, Illinois, Beth holds a master’s degree in Music Performance as well as Bachelor of Music Education and Performance degrees from Illinois State University. Notable for her unique sound and expressive playing, Beth obtained extensive performance experience at ISU playing all manners & within all settings of music as a clarinetist, an E-flat clarinetist, and a bass clarinetist within the university’s most prestigious ensembles. Beth can be heard on numerous albums of the ISU Wind Symphony performing works by David Maslanka, Jennifer Higdon, Thomas Trachsel, Martinez Gallego, and many others. Currently, Beth performs as the principal clarinetist in the Midwest Institute of Opera (MiO) Festival Orchestra. She also regularly performs for small ensembles & organizations throughout Central Illinois.
In addition to her life as a performer, Beth is a passionate music educator & clarinet teacher. As the clarinet teaching assistant during her graduate studies, she taught university students privately, taught courses in clarinet technique, and assisted in teaching music history survey courses. Beth has taught privately since she was 14 years of age and has maintained a dedicated studio of clarinetists, bass clarinetists, and saxophonists since 2005. Beth regularly adjudicates auditions for ILMEA, IESA, IGSMA, IHSA, and various schools through Illinois. She is a member of the International Clarinet Association, the National Association for Music Education (NAfME), and the Bloomington-Normal Music Teachers’ Association. Beth’s students have gone on to perform & pursue degrees in music at the university level, placed within ensembles at both the district & state levels for ILMEA, achieved “Superior” and “Best of Day” honors for Solo & Ensemble events, and placed highly within their respective schools’ music programs.
Beth teaches clarinet & bass clarinet students of all ages and levels ranging from beginner through advanced college undergraduate. She helps students develop strong foundations in tone production, music literacy, audiation, and ensemble playing. She works to help students build confidence, intention, and independence within themselves through every facet of performing. Her goal is to help each & every one of her students find joy and fulfillment through making music.
Beth is available for lessons in-person at The Music Shoppe and virtually via Zoom, FaceTime, etc.
In addition to her life as a musician & music teacher, Beth works for The Music Shoppe, Inc. and is an avid cook & pie-baker!
Brett Thole
Saxophone Instructor | Normal, IL
Brett Thole is a saxophone performer and educator in the Bloomington-Normal area. He holds a Bachelors of Music in Saxophone performance from Illinois State University, and is currently continuing his education there as the saxophone Graduate Assistant. Brett is a student of Dr. Paul Nolen, and prior to attending ISU he studied with Adrianne Honnold. Throughout his time at ISU, Brett has consistently placed in the top ensembles for both Jazz and Concert Bands. He also was selected to participate in the Symphony Orchestra when they performed works involving saxophone. Brett has performed in several recitals and masterclasses with world renowned saxophonists. Being a member of the North American Saxophone Alliance (NASA), he attended and competed in the 2010 conference in Athens, GA. As a member of the Viridian Sax Quartet, he advanced to the regional round of the Music Teachers National Association chamber competition in 2013. He also was a semifinalist with this quartet for the NASA conference at the University of Illinois in 2014. Brett appeared as a soloist with the Illinois State University Wind Symphony after winning the Band Concerto Competition in 2013. In addition to his academic performing, Brett is also a member of the Heartland Jazz Orchestra and is often asked to perform for musicals at Illinois Wesleyan University.
While Brett is an active performer, he is also in high demand as an educator. While at Illinois State University, Brett has taken multiple courses in saxophone pedagogy. He is often asked to give masterclasses in the Bloomington-Normal area, while simultaneously maintaining a private studio. His students consistently place high in their schools’ ensembles as well as honor bands and solo and ensemble contests. Brett is a judge for the IHSA Solo and Ensemble contests and also invited to be a judge for the Illinois Music Educators Association District 3 contest. He works with students of all ages and ability levels. Some of his students continued on and pursued music careers of their own. Lessons with Brett are tailored to meet each students’ individual needs and interests.