~Located in Croton-on-Hudson, NY
~Studio Recital: Saturday, April 20, 2024 @ Greenburgh Library
~Solo Flute Recital: Fall 2024 (TBA)
About
Taiwanese American flutist Dr. Lynn Tsai is a versatile performer of flute solo, chamber, and orchestral repertoires from all musical periods. She made her Carnegie Hall Solo Recital debut in Weill Recital Hall in 2009 as a Winner of the Artist International Competition. She was awarded Second Prize and Third Prize in the state-wide College Concerto Competition sponsored by the Reno Chamber Orchestra in 2015 and 2016 respectively. Also in 2016, she won the annual Concerto Competition at the University of Nevada Las Vegas, and performed the Otaka Flute Concerto as the soloist with the school orchestra the following year. She is also an active freelance musician (flute and piccolo) in the NYC metropolitan area, with regular performances at major concert venues, including Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center.
As a flute teacher, Dr. Lynn Tsai is devoted to helping every student find their own voice. She is passionate about the fundamentals of tone, technique, and playing posture. She has over 15 years of experience teaching flute to students of all levels. Many of her private flute students participate in the annual NYSSMA (New York State School Music Association) Spring Festivals, and have all earned the top scores in their grade levels. In addition to teaching privately, she has taught collegiate level flute masterclasses at Columbus State University. While she was a Graduate Teaching Assistant at UNLV, she taught Music Fundamentals courses to undergraduate students at UNLV, and served on the Board of Directors for the Las Vegas Flute Club from 2014-16. Her article about the LVFC was featured in the National Flute Association’s Flutist Quarterly magazine (Winter 2016 issue). To read more about her as a music teacher, please click on Testimonials.
Dr. Lynn Tsai began her musical studies on the piano at the age of four, and added the flute as a second instrument at the age of ten. She trained on both instruments simultaneously for several years, but made the transition to full-time flute studies during her first year of college. Throughout her education she was very fortunate to have studied the flute intensely under several world-class flutists and pedagogues, including Dr. Tara Helen O’Connor (Yale University & Manhattan School of Music), Dr. Jennifer Grim (University of Miami), Professor Keith Underwood (New York University), Dr. Andrée Martin (Columbus State University), and Dr. Carol Wincenc (Juilliard). Each of them has made a significant impact on her craftsmanship, and they have all collectively helped shape for who she is as a performer and an educator today. She holds a Bachelor of Music in Flute Performance (CSU), a Master of Arts in Flute Performance (NYU), and a Doctor of Musical Arts in Flute Performance (UNLV).
Dr. Lynn Tsai resides in Croton-on-Hudson, NY with her epidemiologist husband and two boys. When not performing or teaching, she can be found with her crew doing family things, practicing the flute, or attempting to make French macarons.
To inquire about private lessons, masterclasses, and educational outreach events, please click here.
Testimonials
“Lynn, I absolutely loved everything about the lessons you gave Melania. You are professional, encouraging, patient, knowledgeable, objective, and also a really nice person. You have a great way of explaining little things to improve technique. If there was a place to give you a rating and a recommendation, I would give an A++. With gratitude for all of your help with Melania." ~Renee, 8/23/2023
“Lynn was recommended to us by a couple of different parents in our community. Her gentle positive approach makes learning flute fun and engaging. Throughout the lessons, Lynn incorporates rhythm, sound, pitch, sight reading trainings as well as correct posture for healthy playing. My daughter was one of the youngest players to try out for NYSSMA this year and achieved a perfect score. She has been taking lessons from Lynn for about a year and a half, will keep on going for sure." ~Jiayi, 7/17/2023
“When I first picked up the flute in September of 2019, I knew nothing. However, over the last three years Lynn has helped me slowly work my way up to where I am now. This past Spring, I auditioned for NYSSMA (Level II) and scored 27 out of 28. Lynn is kind and patient, never getting upset when I play a wrong note. She also kept my passion for flute going when I felt frustrated. I always feel excited to join her class. Now going into sixth grade I can play a variety of pieces with Lynn’s guidance.” ~Scarlet, 8/17/2022
"Lynn clearly knows what she is doing. She's very patient with my eight-year-old son and quite knowledgeable with flute and other instruments. She is very organized with her assignments, knows how to motivate the kids, and in addition to teaching them to learn the instrument, she's also trying to teach them musicality and the ability to enjoy good music. She's one of the top tier music teachers my kids have had the luck to learn from. In the last two years, which also coincides with the pandemic, she has been flexible in scheduling, and has tried her best to accommodate the kids and the parents' needs. She is a great pleasure and very easy to work with, which is very important in this trying time. In the last two years I have seen my son from barely making sounds off the flute to playing some complicated pieces and sustained a great interest in playing the flute, which is quite heartwarming. I can't say enough thanks!" ~Matt, 8/23/2021
"My daughter, Claire (age 7) had a great time in Lynn's virtual flute summer camp today. Her lesson was well structured and her instruction was very clear. Although we can't have face-to-face lessons right now, Lynn's demonstration and scaffolding are clear and helpful. The pacing is right for the kids. Claire was excited that she could make a sound blowing the headjoint. Thank you for the wonderful lesson! We are looking forward to having more lessons with you!" ~Su, 6/30/2020
"I have been so amazed with my daughter, Faedra's (age 15) improvement. She has learned so much from Lynn. Now she practices without me reminding her, and more importantly she looks forward to her weekly lesson! Lynn is very patient, extremely well qualified, and has rekindled my daughter's love for the flute. They work so well together. Her technique, tone, and musicianship has improved so much she is doing NYSSMA this year. Lynn has been invaluable for my daughter's skill and love for music." ~DPH, 1/11/2020
"My daughter, Lila (age 11) has developed so well and so quickly in the time with Lynn, and that she’s so motivated to continue is fantastic. Music is very important in our family and it’s a joy to see how Lynn has facilitated her connection to it and boosted her confidence. Thank you for being such a wonderful teacher and inspiration to Lila. It makes me so happy to see her grow and enjoy playing with your influence and teaching." ~Cara, 1/6/2020
Lessons
FLUTE
One-on-one instruction tailored to the student’s flute playing ability. Each lesson will cover the fundamentals of tone production, technique, and etude/solo pieces appropriate for the student.
Meets once per week for 1 hour or 45 minutes.
MUSIC FUNDAMENTALS | BEGINNER PIANO
One-on-one instruction on the fundamentals of music and piano playing. The student will learn how to read music, understand the different elements of music and their functions, establish an awareness for musical expressions, and learn to play simple songs on the piano with proper posture and technique.
Meets once per week for 1 hour or 45 minutes.
~~Click here for Studio Policies.~~
Teaching Philosophy
I continually strive to improve my ability to communicate and recognize students’ learning styles and musical capabilities in order to teach effectively and efficiently. The teachers I have had who stand out in my memory all shared key traits; i.e., they were personal, encouraging, supportive, patient, and respectful. They were effective at providing explanations of musical concepts from different viewpoints to suit my learning style. These teachers remain a source of inspiration for me as I endeavor to be the best instructor I can be.
I encourage my students to think on their own, regardless of age and level of playing, rather than making every decision for them. I aim to guide each student by explaining and comparing different ways of playing (e.g., articulation, tone, rhythm, etc.), and afterwards asking them to state their preferences and support their choices. These interactions allow me to understand how the student processes information, letting me adapt to their learning style and perceptions. From the student’s perspective, when they are encouraged to think through a problem on their own, they enhance their ability to understand the logic underlying alternative approaches. When a student truly understands the reason for a particular adjustment and has full buy-in to the approach, they are more likely to internalize the modifications and personalize them to develop their own identity.
I want every one of my students to walk away from their lessons feeling a sense of accomplishment, and keeping their excitement and curiosity for music intact. It is crucial to balance technical fundamentals with selections of interesting repertoire. By providing constructive criticism, setting short-term goals with students, and reinforcing the importance of muscle memory, students will appreciate the improvement process that comes along through the habit of regular practicing.
