Kay Risley

I won a scholarship to study flute and piano at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire in the UK on the Performer’s Course with Colin Lilley of the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra.

After leaving music college I started my career as a professional flute player and gave flute, piano and recorder lessons in the UK, Italy and the Dominican Republic where I was appointed principal flute in the Filarmónica del Cibao, a national orchestra and visiting flute professor at the Casa de la Cultura in La Vega. My responsibility was to help elevate the standard of playing of western classical flute music.

Many of my pupils have won national competitions, music scholarships to private schools or have been accepted at music colleges and universities throughout the UK and abroad, including Julliard school in New York, Chetham’s in the UK, Cambridge and Oxford.

Others have played in the National Children’s Youth Orchestras in the UK or in their respective countries.

I love teaching my pupils. My lessons are tailored to the needs of my students.
in addition to teaching flute, I am also happy to teach piano, keyboard, music theory and tine whistle.

I enjoy solving technical problems and inspiring my students to find their own sound and musical expression in order to realise their full potential.

As a teacher, I focus on beautiful tone and solid technique.

I had amazing teachers when I was a student and I work diligently to give the same experience to my pupils. Teaching my students for 40 years has been a deeply fulfilling, invigorating and joyful process and as a result I have gained an understanding and depth into flute, piano and recorder playing, problem solving and music repertoire which I wouldn’t have had otherwise.

I would be happy to meet you, motivate and inspire you and help you achieve your musical goals.

Students of all ages and abilities are welcome, from the ages of 4 to 80, beginners or children with special needs, adults or the retired who would just like to play for fun.

I specialise in teaching aspiring professional flute players gain their flute diplomas and professional qualifications before possibly entering the music profession via music college or university.  However, I am just as happy to teach you if this is your first time picking up the flute!

I am passionate about working out together with the student, the approaches that work best for them in line with their own goals, aspirations and situation in life.