I took flute lessons from Bill Larsen for six years, beginning in 2000 at the age of 12. Lessons with Bill were always an extremely comfortable and supportive environment. His repertoire choices were always right on target; the pieces challenged me and gave me courage and confidence to grow as a musician. His emphasis on playing with a variety of tone colors and expressive musicality from the beginning have proven to be invaluable skills which often give me the upper hand and are vital to professional orchestral and solo performances. Taking lessons from Bill afforded me opportunities which include playing with the Southwest Florida Youth Symphony and holding numerous leadership positions in the music program at Fort Myers High School. Ultimately, both Bill and Beth have acted as wonderful mentors for me through both musical and life decisions and I now consider them dear friends. They have helped me along my path of graduating from the School of Music at Florida State University and now completing my final year at Valdosta State University with a Graduate Assistantship pursuing a Masters of Music Performance degree. I now have a flute studio of my own and perform with the Valdosta Symphony Orchestra.
Nicole Kessler
Nicole Kessler
Nearly twenty years ago, Bill and Beth Larsen came into my life and they have been an important part of my life ever since. So impressed with and humbled by their talent, I felt so fortunate for the opportunity to learn from them. Along the way, they taught me discipline, technique, theory and musicality. Always encouraging and supportive, they helped me navigate my musical journey as well as my personal one, and I find that I've applied their lessons to all areas of my life ever since. I consider it a great gift to have been a part of their studio, a studio that felt, and continues to feel, like my flute family.
Jessica Randolph Burbank
Jessica Randolph Burbank
My name is Kelsea and I took flute lessons with Mrs. Larsen for 5 years. Not only did Mrs. Larsen help me improve immensely, but she also was a wonderful role model. Mrs. Larsen always inspired me to achieve my goals as well as reach my full potential. After spending five years with all of the Larsens, I felt as though they were a part of my family. They are very inspirational people who work extremely hard to help their students succeed in the musical world. It was a great pleasure to have worked with them for so long, as well as get to know them as the wonderful individuals that they truly are.
Kelsea Livingstone
Studying with Bill and Beth was arguably the best thing I could have done for my self as an aspiring young flutist. In a world where cookie-cutter instructors are a dime a dozen and often used only to fulfill fleeting curiosities, the Larsen's tutelage has proven invaluable in my ongoing discovery of music and growth as a musician. But, their effectiveness as instructors goes beyond the study of music and musicianship. During my time as their student I learned a great deal about confidence, diligence, and integrity. Traits that have helped me achieve more than I ever thought possible. Their friendship and guidance continues to help define my life to this day.
Jacob Farnsworth
Jacob Farnsworth
I studied with Bill Larsen for 7 years, from the ages 11-18. Even now, if I am in the Fort Myers area, I call Mr. Larsen to set up a lesson because the level of his skill both as a flutist and teacher awes me. Each and every flute lesson with Mr. Larsen was (and still is) an encouragement and inspiration. Mr. Larsen is one of the primary reasons why I am a flutist who has the smarts, skills, and talents that are needed to be successful in the music business. I am forever indebted to him for his continuous support. Whenever I meet young flutists in Fort Myers, I tell them to study with Bill or Beth. Both are fabulous musicians and teachers!
Darbi Elliot
Darbi Elliot
Hello! My name is Amy Colbert and I had lessons with Beth Larsen, sprinkled with occasional lessons with Bill, for three years from 1998-2000, my three remaining years of high school. They were wonderful teachers with lots of patience helping a teenaged kid navigate through life's lessons as well as some pretty complicated flute music. I still remember these times fondly. My path through music has been rather interesting: I went on to earn a degree in Music Studies from the University of South Florida in 2006, and after a few years of teaching music in my own studio and working in customer service, I ended up becoming a respiratory therapist. I now work at Sarasota Memorial Hospital as an RRT but due to the wonderful musical tutelage of the Larsens, I still enjoy playing music at church and in performing groups to this day. Thank you both for your friendship and wonderful music lessons that I carry with me still today!
Amy Colbert
Amy Colbert
During my time as a student of the Larsens, my technical skills and musicality blossomed as a result of their high standards and strong pedagogy. Their teaching and guidance led directly to my admittance (with scholarship) to the North Carolina School of the Arts (Bachelor of Music) and the Indiana University (Masters of Music). I currently freelance with many orchestras, teach flute at Guilford College in Greensboro, NC and have a successful private studio. I think daily about my lessons with the Larsens and consider their teaching essential to my path as a professional.
As a student of Mrs. Larsen, I received very strong technical training and an in-depth study of challenging repertoire. She completely overhauled my embouchure and as a result, the quality of my sound improved dramatically. Additionally, Mrs. Larsen was an inspiring mentor regarding my choice to become a professional flutist and offered excellent guidance in the college audition process.
During this time, I had the opportunity to take many lessons with Mr. Larsen as well. These lessons were very valuable to me in learning how to shape a musical phrase, and control my breathe and tone color Mr. Larsen has an uncanny ability to explain these somewhat nebulous aspects of our craft in a remarkably clear way.
The Larsens are inspirational teachers who demonstrate and set a high artistic standard for their students.
Peter Shanahan
As a student of Mrs. Larsen, I received very strong technical training and an in-depth study of challenging repertoire. She completely overhauled my embouchure and as a result, the quality of my sound improved dramatically. Additionally, Mrs. Larsen was an inspiring mentor regarding my choice to become a professional flutist and offered excellent guidance in the college audition process.
During this time, I had the opportunity to take many lessons with Mr. Larsen as well. These lessons were very valuable to me in learning how to shape a musical phrase, and control my breathe and tone color Mr. Larsen has an uncanny ability to explain these somewhat nebulous aspects of our craft in a remarkably clear way.
The Larsens are inspirational teachers who demonstrate and set a high artistic standard for their students.
Peter Shanahan
I studied the flute with Mrs. Larsen for 7 years, during which time I developed not only a better understanding of music theory and performance but also a deep appreciation of music that inspired me to complete a double major in music and chemistry at Yale University. Although I performed mainly on the piano, my primary instrument, I found myself employing many of the strategies that I learned in the Larsen studio to perfect difficult technical passages and shape expressive phrases in piano repertoire. Since graduating in 2011, I have begun graduate studies in chemistry at Caltech but still keep active in music by performing regularly in chamber ensembles.
Looking back on my years studying with the Larsens and afterwards, I feel very fortunate to have benefited from their tutelage. In my experience with both Mr. and Mrs. Larsen, I have found them to be some of the most supportive people I have met, not only in musical endeavors but also in anything else that may be going on in your life. I'm so glad to have had the Larsens in my life as teachers, mentors, and friends. Thanks for everything!
Kelly Kim
Looking back on my years studying with the Larsens and afterwards, I feel very fortunate to have benefited from their tutelage. In my experience with both Mr. and Mrs. Larsen, I have found them to be some of the most supportive people I have met, not only in musical endeavors but also in anything else that may be going on in your life. I'm so glad to have had the Larsens in my life as teachers, mentors, and friends. Thanks for everything!
Kelly Kim
