Rachel Bailey - Flute Player and Instructor

Offering private lessons at The Music Shoppe in Normal, IL.

~In person and virtual availability~

Lessons are designed to help students gain strong fundamentals to help meet their goals. Each student has unique needs and lessons are tailored to each individual. Rachel's teaching philosophy is that music should be fun and bring both the musician and audience joy. In learning music, while there can be many different kinds of challenges, she believes we should not forget why we create art and strives to instill that in her students. No matter what skill level or personal goals a musician may have, you should not have to endure any emotional abuse or neglect by a mentor to achieve those goals. She is also passionate about bringing adults back to music who may have studied earlier in life as well as teaching adults who may have never learned an instrument. Specialties:

-Solo and Ensemble works for flute, piccolo, alto, and bass flutes, all genres on the Western Classical flute

Flute ensembles are also offered for junior high and high school students which are part of the comprehensive program for flute study with Rachel. Lessons are also available on wooden flutes such as:
-Native American Flute
-Irish Flute and Tin Whistle
-Chinese Dizi
-Indian Bansuri
-Peruvian Quena
-Pan Pipes
-Ocarina
-Fife
-Recorder

Bio:

Rachel Bailey began lessons early in life with Sue Gillio in the LaSalle-Peru area of Illinois. She then went on to Study with Patricia George at Brigham Young University-Idaho where she received her Bachelor’s of Arts in Music Performance. She also earned her Master’s of Music Degree in flute performance and studied with Dr. Adah Toland-Jones at Texas State University. Bailey was a winner in the Concerto Competition at Texas State in 2008 and soloed with the orchestra on the Liebermann Flute Concerto in 2009. She was also a student at Trevor Wye’s flute studio in Ashford, Kent UK, where she completed her certificate in 2011. Rachel has performed with the Illinois Valley Symphony Orchestra, the Sewanee Symphony, Texas State Symphony, and Brigham Young University-Idaho Orchestra. Rachel currently performs with the Irish music group, Paddy’s Favorite Sons. Rachel is also the founder and director of the Bloomington-Normal Flute Club, an all-abilities adult flute ensemble as well as Flute Fledglings, a junior flute ensemble, and Flutes of a Feather, a high school flute ensemble. She currently plays on a handmade custom silver Jack Moore flute with an Arista head joint. She also performs on a variety of flutes including Irish tin whistle, Native American Flute, and many more! Rachel is the winner of the Best Of, Reader's Choice Awards, 2024, by The Bloomington-Normal Pantagraph.