Flute lessons
See below for more information about booking a lesson with Roderick.
"Rod is an excellent teacher - he's able to identify in detail what's holding back your playing and work with you to improve it. He's got a supportive and fun vibe when teaching. I'm making a much better sound and am able to play more expressively since I've been learning with him."
In-person lessons
Lessons available at your house, at a studio in London, or at my house in Burgess Hill, a 3-minute walk from Wivelsfield Station. Fees for the London studios are inclusive of studio fees and travel expenses. I typically use JS Pianos near Marble Arch for lessons in London, but other studios are available.
Nearest tube stations: Marble Arch, Edgware Road, or Paddington.
1 hr
65 British pounds
Lesson fee varies depending on travel expenses.
1 hr
From 55 British pounds
Nearest station: Wivelsfield. Free parking available.
1 hr
50 British pounds
Online lessons
Lessons available via Zoom. Link sent via booking confirmation email. You are welcome to record the lesson and I can provide hand-written notes.
1 hr
50 British pounds
FAQS ABOUT MY TEACHING
WHO DO YOU TEACH?
I give flute lessons to students of all ages and abilities. I enjoy teaching a variety of students, from orchestral players and teaching professionals, to adult amateurs and beginner students
WHERE DO YOU TEACH?
I teach in-person lessons in London, Sussex, and Surrey. I also teach online via Zoom.
WHAT DO YOU TEACH?
I offer lessons tailored to your individual needs. Whether you are looking for regular lessons to improve your sound and find greater ease and enjoyment in your playing, or if you wish to book a few lessons to prepare for a concert, audition, exam, or competition, I am happy to help you with your musical journey. There is always something that we can learn and I am grateful to have such open-minded students. Mastering the flute is a lifelong journey and I encourage students to work on all aspects of their flute technique (tone, finger coordination, flexibility, etc) to find greater ease and enjoyment in their musical expression. I give a range of different exercises designed to help with a student's specific technical issues. There is never a one-size-fits-all approach in learning the flute!
WHAT MATERIALS DO YOU USE?
Materials that I use for more advanced students: Taffanel & Gaubert Daily Exercises, Moyse De La Sonorite, 24 Little Melodic Studies, Daily Exercises, Tone Development Through Interpretation. Etudes by Andersen, Boehm, Köhler, Paganini, Gariboldi and others. My books: Mastering the Flute with William Bennett and 7 Daily Vocalises. Practice Books by Trevor Wye, Reichert Daily Exercises, and more.
Feel free to check out my teaching videos here and read my flute blog posts here
WHAT IS YOUR MUSICAL BACKGROUND?
After studying with some of the greatest flute players and teachers at the Royal Academy of Music and abroad, it is a great privilege to help my students master their instrument. I am particularly fortunate to have studied with William Bennett, who learnt from Geoffrey Gilbert, Jean-Pierre Rampal, and Marcel Moyse. Being part of this musical lineage is something I shall always be grateful for. At the Royal Academy of Music, I also learnt a lot about harmony, aural, music history and analysis, in addition to the skills associated with playing chamber music and orchestral music, which all feed into how I approach music. I have since given classes and lessons around the world.
WHAT IS THE ALEXANDER TECHNIQUE?
Much of my teaching is inspired by the Alexander Technique, which has helped many musicians, actors and athletes with injury prevention. For flute playing, it especially helps with breathing, tone, resonance, and finger coordination by being more aware of how we use ourselves (body and mind) and inhibiting habits which are less efficient. There are no wrong answers and I seek to positively encourage the student to find their voice and true potential, working on finer details as well as the bigger picture.
HOW MUCH IS A LESSON?
Online lessons are £50.
In person lessons start at £50 and will vary depending on travel expenses and room booking fees.
Multiple lessons discounts:
5% off for 2 lessons.
To be used within a month.
10% off for 5 lessons.
To be used within 2 months.
15% off for 10 lessons.
To be used within 3 months. It is a good value option for those wishing to have weekly lessons.
Please feel free to get in touch if you have any further questions.
WHAT STUDENTS SAY
"I've learnt more in one hour than I have in a lifetime!"
(Student, UK)
"I've never learnt so much in one lesson!"
(Catherine, UK)
"A fantastic player and teacher. Very patient and knowledgeable. If you want to make progress with your playing and achieve the sound you've always dreamt of I would highly recommend giving him a try!"
(Caroline, UK)
"As a teacher, Roderick gets right to the middle of any problem, whether technical or musical, and knows just how to work on it. He is kind, patient, generous of spirit and always works on building you up. In the year I have been having lessons with Rod I have learned so much and my playing has been transformed. I understand things now that I have never understood before. My only regret is that I didn't start having lessons with him ages ago."
(Hazel, UK)
"Rod is an excellent teacher - he's able to identify in detail what's holding back your playing and work with you to improve it. He's got a supportive and fun vibe when teaching. I'm making a much better sound and am able to play more expressively since I've been learning with him."
(Tandy, UK)
"Roderick is an acclaimed, prize-winning performer who possesses an encyclopaedic command of how the flute functions as an instrument and the techniques for exploiting its richness and expressivity, as his book ‘Mastering the Flute with William Bennett’ clearly demonstrates. As a teacher and player, Roderick imparts his knowledge and experience calmly, encouraging the student to think about how best to communicate the musicality of pieces of the repertoire under study through the development of tone and technique, sensitively drawing out from the student the very best possible performance he/she is capable of and encouraging the development of an individual voice as a flute player. A polished performer and sympathetic, inspirational teacher, such as Roderick, is a rare breed indeed!"
(David, UK)
"I am a student with Roderick Seed and have been taking lessons with him for approximately one year. He is a wonderful teacher and is a very talented musician. Rod never "tells you what you want to hear", he teaches with great precision and excellence. He is the best teacher that I have ever had!"
(Shere, USA)
"I’ve been taking lessons with Rod via Skype for about a year. I’ve learned so much. His knowledge of the flute and how to teach is inspiring. He has limitless exercises and solutions for combatting problem areas. I consider myself very lucky to be one of Rod’s students"
(Sylvia, USA)
"I have been blessed to work with Rod for the past year and a half. Before my time with Rod, I was self taught on the flute for a few years. In the little time I had with Rod, I was given the opportunity to skyrocket in my music abilities. Rod has prepared me for numerous auditions and performances and has inspired me to pursue my passion for music. As my world of music is rapidly expanding, I have still yet to meet another flutist as knowledgeable and genuine as Rod. I will forever be grateful for his amazing teaching and the time he has spent with me."
(Isabella, Canada)
"I can definitely recommend Roderick. He is an incredibly patient, supportive and inspiring teacher."
(Lynsey, UK)