Meet Anne Saunders, flutist, pianist, vocal coach &

Co-Director of Flute Troupe Yakima

Hello!  My name is Annie Saunders, and I want to share my love for lifelong music learning with you!  I offer online or in person private lessons in flute (all levels), piano (beginning through intermediate/advance) or voice (beginning/intermediate), and I also direct an in person community youth choir in the Yakima Valley.  

Virtual lessons are convenient and create independent self-learners.  They are a lot of fun & engage the students with games and activities.  Each lesson is crafted differently for every person.  I strive to teach in a way that suits individual learning styles, and inspires students to grow to their potential.  

Please click on the button below if you’re interested in a free meet and greet to learn more about lessons.

Sign up for 30 Minute Meet & Greet

What People Are Saying

  • Erika F.

    “

    I started taking bass flute lessons on-line from Annie 7 months ago. What difference it has made for polishing my technique and getting comfortable recording myself. After sending her a weekly video of my music projects, she carefully analyzes each piece and gives me helpful comments and areas to work on. For each piece she mentions 3 things to work on. It makes improving fun and manageable.

    ”

  • Ravi S.

    “

    Anne is an absolutely amazing teacher, musician, and person. I (and my brother) had the pleasure and privilege of studying the flute with Anne for over a decade. She cares deeply about her students and is masterful at helping each one achieve their potential. I cannot recommend Anne highly enough (if I could give 10 stars, I would)!”

  • Darien F

    “

    I took flute lessons from Anne for seven years and highly recommend her as a teacher. She was fantastic in developing my technical abilities, musicality, and understanding of music theory. She approaches teaching with lots of structure and clear steps for her students to follow, which is great especially for students who are just starting out. She also built community in her studio through public masterclasses, and frequently encouraged her students to perform publicly. I have continued to play flute throughout adulthood and recently had the pleasure of taking a virtual lesson from Anne when I was working on a particularly tricky work with extended technique. I was amazed at how much Anne could pick up through Zoom. She was able to hear small mistakes I was making, and offered suggestions for trill fingerings and flutter tonguing. My performance went smoothly and I am confident I would not have gotten through the piece without Anne's help!

  • Alicia Lewis

    As the parent of a flutist, I can highly recommend Annie Carlson! A superb musician, she brings such a wealth of gifts to her teaching. Annie works conscientiously to bring out the best in every student. Cultivating a strong work ethic, she has equipped her students to achieve outstanding levels of excellence in every possible performance context. All of her students gain a solid grounding in theory and develop a high level of appreciation of the flute and its repertoire. Her warmth, humor, integrity and commitment to her students’ musicianship make her a very special teacher!

My Background

I started taking piano lessons when I was seven years old. Three years later I started playing the flute in my school band.

When I went to college, I didn’t know if I would major in flute or piano, so I took lessons in both instruments all the way through my degree program. I received a Bachelor of Music and a Master of Music both in flute performance. I studied flute with Mary Louise Poor at North Park College in Chicago, and Richard Hahn at the University of Idaho.  I studied piano at North Park with Dr. Elizabeth Buccheri.

With Mrs. Poor, I started my journey of musical pedagogy. I am so grateful for her passion to teach her own students how to teach other budding flutists ! Since then I have continued learning the craft of teaching effectively. At North Park, I took pedagogy classes for teaching group piano, which I was able to continue later on in my public school teaching job.

I have participated as a board member and officer for the Seattle Flute Society, as well as performed in several National Flute Association conventions.  I have subbed piccolo & 2nd flute with the Honolulu Symphony, and have made four CDs. 

I have taught K-8 music in the Yakima Valley, where I discovered a love for choir teaching & group keyboard lessons.  

I currently teach at the Montessori School in Yakima, and maintain a full private studio of flute, piano, and group voice lessons. In my spare time, I make videos for my youtube channel, and co-direct the Flute Troupe of Yakima.

I’m so grateful to have music in my life. Because of teaching and playing, there is a richness that brings satisfaction and fulfillment, and I can’t imagine what life would be like without it!

Click on the button below for your free 30 minute meet & greet if you would like me to help you start or continue your own musical journey.

Free 30-min Meet and Greet