Lisa’s Bio

Lisa Carlson has performed and taught flute in Central Vermont since 1985. She currently maintains an active independent flute studio in Montpelier, Vermont.

As a performer, Lisa plays with some of the top musicians in Vermont, and has spearheaded several small ensembles, including “Passeri” flute, violin, cello trio as well as “Turidae” trio with her two young adult daughters, among others. Her work has featured world premieres of two composers, with works composed by Erik Nielsen and Michael Close specifically for “Passeri,” as well as a full concert of exclusively 21st century composers.  She has performed with the Montpelier Chamber Orchestra since 2008, in addition to other featured performances with large ensembles, recently including the Onion River Chorus. She has recorded three televised full hour music programs, two with her daughter Mariah and one with Passeri Trio, and several radio programs, as well as numerous solo, duo and trio performances throughout Vermont.

Lisa has also been the staff writer of wedding music articles for Vermont Bride Magazine since 2010.

She teaches students of all ages and levels.  Specializing in Suzuki Method, she also teaches through more traditional instruction, tailored to individual needs. She explores wide ranging angles of music ranging from purely classical to jazz, Celtic, world music, and other styles, depending on student interest, while ensuring that students develop a solid foundation.

Lisa has independently developed and maintained her website, http://lisaflute.com, containing a flute studio blog, a branch featuring ensembles for all occasions, and a wedding music blog, as well as links to her YouTube channel at lisaflutevermont. She holds memberships in the National Flute Association, the Suzuki Association of the Americas, the National Association for Music Educators, and  the Vermont Association of Wedding Professionals.

After graduating from Oberlin in 1984, with coursework through Oberlin’s conservatory which included private flute lessons with Katherine Borst Jones, a variety of ensembles, music history, ethnomusicology, and more, she went on to take classes at UVM from 1986 to 1988, rounding out her music teaching credentials.  Vermont music teacher’s certification was earned in 1988, followed by a few years of teaching elementary music classes in public schools. Lisa taught private flute lessons, flute ensembles and camps through the Preparatory School of Music and Dance at Vermont College from 1987 until 1997. She taught general music in local elementary schools from 1989 until 1992. In 1992, teaching private flute lessons became her primary occupation. Also in 1992, she took her first Suzuki Flute Teacher Training classes at the East Tennessee Suzuki Flute Institute (ETSU) and the Kingston Ontario Suzuki Institute and became a devoted enthusiast of Suzuki philosophy and methodology. In 1996 and 1997 she also served as treasurer on the board of directors for the music school during the transition into becoming the independent Monteverdi Music School. In 1997, she became an independent flute teacher in order to teach at home while her children were young. Studies since 1997 have included teacher training at Institut Suzuki Montreal, The Great Lakes Suzuki Flute Institute, and two additional sessions at ETSU, as well as private study in Suzuki pedagogy with Jerilee Kechley in Williamstown, MA,   master classes with Robert Willoughby, Toshio Takahashi, and Louis Moyse, and several months of intensive private study of Alexander Technique.  Since June of 2013, she has also taught lessons online to students all over the world.