Pamela Endsley at DU's Lamont School of Music

[stewyflute13]

Dear Flute Friends,


I have been accepted to the University of Denver's Lamont School of Music on a HUGE music scholarship but then I went to the school to have a lesson w/ Pamela Endsley on monday and the lesson was not so good. I don't think she and I were a good fit for each other. The facilities and everything else was perfect! Does anyone know Pam or has anyone studied w/ her and can provide some insight for me that might put me at ease and make me realize that she's a nicer person than I got to see in that particular 90 min.'s? Do you guys think the student/ teacher relationship is so important that I should give up a huge scholarship to a highly expensive Private school? Thanks so much!

Stewyflute13

[az1983]

Hello, tough decision, BUT I gave up my full scholarship because of the flute instructor. After one year, I knew she was not the right teacher for me. I still believe I made the right decision to leave. It's a lot to think about, but please explore your options. One bad experience can ruin everything else . If you can, request another lesson, or meeting with her and see how that goes before you're locked in for the upcoming semester.

[stewyflute13]

hey there, i went to your my space link-- were you in a flute studio with Erika Salcido? I was a stand partner with her in all-state in New Mexico, and she posted some pictures on facebook through which i totally recognized you on ur myspace! is that right or am i wrong?? let me know,

stewyflute13

[az1983]

I just saw Erika last night at rehearsal!!! I definitely know Erika, what a great flute player. We play in a quartet together and a few flute choirs around the Phoenix area. She's going to Arizona State University for Music Ed.

[Shirley L. Stafford]

Hello everyone, I had studied with Pamela Endsley for two years during 1979-1981. Those lessons didn't go very well either. I was constantly berated, talked down to, and otherwise humiliated. For a long time I thought it was just me. But then I noticed she had a very high turn-over of students. Turns out, she treated everyone badly. I attended Metropolitan State College of Denver, earning a degree in music ed. Over the years, I studied with Rod Garnett, Karen Yanovitz, Renita Roeder, and Heather Davis. They were great teachers. Several times, local news stations interview the Colorado Symphony Orchestra. Pam usually fusses about something. She hates performing Dvorak's New World Symphony because "it's overdone". Is bored with Beethoven anything. Tired of handel's Messiah. Perhaps she should retire and allow someone to have the job that would really appreciate it.

[stewyflute13]

I wonder if that's why I got a huge scholarship. Wow. Btw, I also applied to Metro-State, and have had lessons with Nancy Andrew who teaches there, and grew up in the same town I did, and she is a GREAT teacher and a GREAT woman. I need to PM you.

[Shirley L. Stafford]

Stewyflute 13 Glad to hear you've got a great flute teacher to study with and that it is working out well for you. Currently I play flute/piccolo/alto flute/bass flute with the Celebration Orchestra at Denver First Church of the Nazerene. Maurine is our principal flutist and also plays piccolo and several different penny whistles. Tawnya plays flute. And there I am with two flutes, three piccolos, alto flute, bass flute and penny whistle in D. And grateful for the wonderful opportunity. We start playing again in late August. A fourth flutist, Marylin, comes when she can.

[stewyflute13]

Actually I did decide on DU. I was a little freaked out earlier today when I read your post because it is so close to school starting and I can't change my school this close to the fall. But I called Nancy, and she encouraged me to go into Lamont (DU music school) with no pre-conceived expectations and to give a try.. so that's what I'm doing! I think I'm gonna take advantage of their study-abroad program and study in Vienna though, so I'm sure I'll enjoy myself then!! =)

[Arvadaflutist]

I had a similar experience studying with Pamela in 1977. I tremendously admired her playing, especially her tone! My previous teacher had moved to the SF Bay Area, so I auditioned for her and was accepted into her studio. I could not meet her expectations most of the time so we ended up parting ways. In hindsight, part of it was my responsibility, but even so, there was bullying behavior that left me in tears too many times. I thought it was all my fault. I ended up studying for a semester with a wonderful teacher at Metro (regret I don't remember her name) who was terrific and she helped me recover from a negative experience. Her teaching style encouraged empowerment and continual, incremental improvement and helped pave the way for me to study with Frances Lapp Averitt at Shenandoah Conservatory (part of Shenandoah University) and to go in first chair in the freshman class. On the other hand, there was a fabulous flutist (!) whose lesson was before mine, and Pamela and he had a terrific student-teacher relationship. I would arrive early to lessons to hear the two of them. I often wonder if she only had good relationships with the most exceptional students.