Zoom Lessons – Online

Private Lessons with Barbara LaFitte

Learn about the topics you can study with Barbara through online private instruction.

Audition Workshop offered on a private lesson basis

An intensive performance experience that prepares students for professional auditions for musical organizations, particularly orchestras. Learn to recognize what is necessary to successfully prepare, study, and practice for auditions. Mock auditions and study of audition repertoire will help the student become more confident with the audition process. Students will also learn to assess performances by understanding criteria for evaluation.

Private Lessons on Phrasing in music

The art of phrasing is becoming a lost skill. What makes a good musical phrase? What makes musical interpretation convincing? With the advent of computer-generated files such as DAWs, the ability to understand and notate the language of music is diminishing with each generation. Although it is classically based, the ability to translate notated music into a breathing phrase transcends style; interpretation is a critical element of good musicianship. In these lessons, students will learn the classical definition of phrasing and use musical études to improve the execution of musical sentences. They will improve their understanding of scores and interpretation through the study and performance of written music in any genre.

Private lessons on Circular Breathing

This is open to all students on an individual basis. This is best for wind and brass players. I can help you learn how to circular breathe, the basic philosophy and integration. Here’s an article that describes the process from Berklee Today.

Berklee Online

https://online.berklee.edu/courses/practicing-techniques-for-musicians

Practicing Techniques for Musicians:

My Berklee Online course teaches efficient and mindful practice techniques in order to maximize the outcome of students’ practice sessions. Practicing is often a lonely and unfocused state. To become more efficient and connected to practicing, students share their practice journeys with each other. We begin by structuring your practice with a practice journal, a warm-up routine, and a plan. You will monitor your practice journal, identify issues, and find suggestions for improvement based on the techniques explored in the course. The students will discover how to effectively and efficiently practice their instruments to better retain the musical information in their journey.

Testimonials

Barbara LaFitte is one of the most enthusiastic and nurturing teachers that I have ever worked with. She consistently does an incredible job of supporting her students and making sure that every learning outcome is reached. With an extensive performance resume as a high level performer, Barbara brings years of experience (in several styles of music) to everything that she does. Her excellent communication skills, spirit of collaboration, and high level musicianship make Barbara LaFitte an extremely valuable teaching resource!

Walter Smith III, Internationally renowned sax guru and chair of the Woodwind Department at Berklee College of Music in Boston.
I took lessons from Barbara awhile back and was thrilled when she was willing to take me on again despite her busy schedule. She is an outstanding musician, making the oboe sing so beautifully when she plays, as she demonstrates what a particular piece might sound like. The lessons are always interesting, fun, light hearted and filled with lots of laughs. No matter how I might play a piece she always finds a positive aspect of my playing to highlight. She is a teacher to her core, often throwing in information about music theory that helps me understand the music on a higher level. Because she is so personable and easy to connect with, she makes practicing and playing the oboe fun. My lessons with Barbara are truly a joy.
Candy, Adult Amateur Oboe Student

From my experience, Barbara makes her students feel like colleagues rather than just students because she values every musician’s potential to be a professional in the music industry. Through Barbara’s encouragement, I had the opportunity to study as a clarinetist in the Prague Summer Nights Music Festival and continue my passion for performing in addition to composing. Barbara is a teacher who embraces students from every musical background and creates a welcoming space for everyone’s goals.

Ana Miriam Vázquez Landeros, Composer and Clarinetist, Berklee Graduate

Barbara LaFitte is a consummate artist-educator. She has spent a career reflecting on how best to guide her fortunate students on their pathways to
artistry. Barbara LaFitte has a wealth of knowledge and has brilliantly developed tangible tools to teach the students to teach themselves. I am in awe!

Marianne Gedigian, Professor of Flute, Rice University, Houston, TX

Barbara is a dynamic, passionate, knowledgeable and truly enjoyable teacher. She’s the type of instructor that you get excited about learning with. She’ll help
you learn how to improve your playing and career with her vast tool box of ideas, inspirations, creative thinking, connections and insights. She’s not afraid to try
new things, go down unexplored paths and research unique possibilities. She truly does “Think Outside the Bachs” (her phrase)

Nancy Rumbel, GRAMMY Award-Winning Oboist and Composer