Ruby Sharma

Welcome! I’m Ruby, a multi-instrumentalist and singer specialising in European Romantic flute music. I began studying music and piano 14 years ago at 5 years of age, eventually finding my passion in Classical flute two years later. Since then, I have gone on to perform in various orchestral venues such as the Royal Albert Hall, achieve my Grade 8 at Distinction, ARSM Diploma in Flute performance, study the instrument with world-leading professor, Anna Noakes, and will be studying music full time this September at the Royal Academy of Music. Being a student myself, I am consistently learning the newest advancements in Music, allowing me to teach my students the most up to date techniques and methods in a broad variety of styles.

I believe you must know a breadth of genres before you can specialise in one, so I picked up Jazz saxophone and Electric Bass in my early teens to explore various modern music styles, and took vocal lessons to support my singing performance in Jazz/R&B, Gospel, Musical Theatre, Choral and Classical settings. For the last four years, I have been directing music ensembles (30-person Gospel choir and Flute Ensembles) and helping younger students find their specialism in music; I cater to beginners to music of all ages, adults who are returning to music after many years, musicians looking to pick up a second instrument or established flautists up to Grade 8 level. I look forward to working with you!

The process:

• You’ll be asked what your specific goals are for these lessons, whether that may be to take Grade exams, to be able to play a favourite melody, to simply to explore a new skill, or even to prepare yourself to study music at school or university.

• We’ll decide what lesson length and time works for you/your child; I typically suggest 30m lessons weekly for children under 13 (they have smaller lungs!), 45m weekly for adult/teenage beginners and 45-60m weekly for anyone with prior music experience.

• If you’re a beginner, you’ll learn the basics of hand and body positioning, breath control, and embouchure shaping.

• If you are already a Flautist, looking to improve musicianship/technicality with a new teacher, I’ll ask you to play a favourite passage/piece that you are comfortable with so I can gauge our starting point.

• My lessons incorporate both technical (finger technique, breath control and diaphragm support, articulation) and expressive (phrasing, tone, dynamics) aspects of music.

• As you progress, I’ll introduce you to music of various origins and styles so you can find your favourites. I’ll recommend, but you’ll always have a say in what music you learn.

I am of the opinion that performing any music should be rooted in both your own musical instincts and interests and an understanding of fundamental harmonic and melodic aspects to whatever it is you may be performing. This means my lessons will incorporate basic music theory, allowing you to actually understand why we do what we do when performing!