You learn more than just how to play the flute when you study with Dr. Cate Hummel. Students learn to set goals, manage their time, solve problems, build effective habits and succeed. These are important skills not only to for being a great flute player, but for life and a career in as a professional in a wide range of fields. Provided a student practices regularly as instructed, you will see more progress in less time and advancement to higher ensembles in school at an earlier age.
Now in six distinct tracks of study:
- College preparatory
track - this track is for kids from beginner
through advanced high school level who want to excel in band
and expect to go to college. We focus first on basic skills
like tone, breathing, intonation, scales and arpeggios,
rhythm, note reading and problem solving. As the student
progresses, we will learn about phrasing and musicianship as
time permits. It will be recommended,
but not required, that the student take the ILMEA district
auditions at both the junior high and school level.
Opportunities will be available to participate in flute
specific competitions and to audition for local youth
orchestras. Student will be expected to practice a minimum
of 30-45 minutes daily.
- Music education track
- This track of study is for you if you think you want to be
a school music educator and plan to go to college for music
education. If you have decided to join the music education
track, you will receive all of the instruction you get from
the college prepartory track focusing on playing
fundamentals, along with a deeper exploration of music
theory and music history, as well as ensemble skills. You
will be required to take the ILMEA
district auditions in high school. It is strongly
recommended that you audition for local youth orchestras as
well. You will also be encouraged to participate in flute
specific competitions and festivals as they are available.
Student is expected to practice a minimum of one
hour daily and complete listening assignments.
- Conservatory
preparatory track - Students who choose the
conservatory preparatory track want to major in flute
performance in college. A desire to lay a strong foundation
in playing fundamentals is a given. We will cover basic
music theory, ear training and music history, along with
musicianship, phrasing and ensemble skills. Besides all
these benefits, you will begin your study of the solo
liturature of the flute, including sonatas, concertos, solo
works, orchestral excerpts and more. You will be expected to
audition for district ILMEA, youth orchestras and flute
competitions and festivals. Student is expected to
practice a minimum of one and a half hours daily and
complete listening and research assignments.
- Professional coaching
and audition preparation - One lesson or
lessons over a period of time as mutually agreed upon for
the purpose of exploring standard repertoire of the flute
for an understanding of musical language, phrasing,
inflection, tone color and communicating the composer's
intent to an audience.
- Flute pedagogy for
band directors - If you are a band director
whose primary instrument is anything other than flute, I can
help you gain a deeper understanding of flute embouchure,
tone production, controlling intonation, starting beginners
and mentoring the flute students in your band program. We
can do anything from one lesson to an entire semester,
depending on your needs and available time.
- Adult enrichment - Whether you are an absolute beginner on the flute or returning to playing after a long absence, you will find that together we can devise a plan to help you focus on the basics of good playing, explore solo and duet literature and most importantly, fit the flute into your busy life. Expect to practice a minimum of 30 minutes a day. You will be offered opportunities to play in public, but you are neither expected or required to do so. Whether you do or not is entirely up to you.
Dr. Cate's students regularly participate and win prizes in the Chicago Flute Club's Student Competition. Her students go to the District IX ILMEA High School and Jr. High School Festivals and go to the IMEA All State Honor's Band and Orchestra. Dr. Cate's students play in the Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestras, Elgin Youth Symphony Orchestras and and Youth Symphony of DuPage. Dr. Cate's students participate and win prizes in the Society of American Musicians and Union League competitions. Former students have finished graduate and undergraduate degrees in flute from Indiana University, Illinois State University, DePaul University, Northwestern University, Butler University, University of Illinois/Champaign-Urbana and DePauw University as performance majors and music education majors. Former students are band directors at junior high and high schools all around Chicagoland. Former students have gone on to be successful chemists, biologists, lawyers, electrical engineers, nurses, special education teachers, writers and many other professional fields.