A Flute Spa is a participatory masterclass designed for Advanced High School flutists through adults (amateur and professional). The curriculum is constructed so that the basics of flute playing and pedagogy are laid out in a comprehensive form.  Participants should bring a flute, a music stand, note-taking materials, and 17 Big Daily Studies by Taffanel & Gaubert. Optional: 40 Studies, OP 101 by Luigi Hugues (International).

Topics may include:

• Warming up – aligning the flute with information about how the flute is made and how to work with the flute that you have  (Major tips on making your flute sound better.)
• How to stand and how to hold the flute
• Body Awareness and mapping
• Breathing
• Shape of a note and why this is an important concept
• Why practicing harmonics is the key to a ringing sound
• Short Scales – conquering the 3rd octave, plus creative ways to teach and play the third octave
• Basics of phrasing – contour, sigh figures, repeated notes, use of silence, etc.
• Articulation
• Vibrato
• Color
• Taffanel & Gaubert Routine
• Chunking and eye movement (Robert Jourdain's MUSIC, THE BRAIN AND ECSTASY)
• Creative uses for the 40 Studies, Op. 101 by Luigi Hugues
• 25 Basic Plug-Ins for clearing up most problems
• The Art of PractiSING
• Beyond the Notes – Ideas on the total performance
• Repertoire/Curriculum Ideas
• Extended Techniques

Internationally known flutist and teacher Patricia George travels extensively performing and teaching her "Famous Flute Spa" masterclasses. Recent engagements include the San Diego (CA) Flute Guild, Rochester (NY) Flute Association, Greater Portland (OR) Flute Society, Texas Flute Society (North Texas State University), Texas Women's University, Northern Arizona University, University of Nevada: Reno, Southwest Texas University, Millikin University (IL), Ball State University (IN), Madison Flute Society (University of Wisconsin), Raleigh (NC) Flute Society, Philadelphia (PA) Flute Society, and the National Flute Conventions in Dallas, Las Vegas, Nashville, and Pittsburgh. She has presented clinics for public school music programs in Alaska, California, Illinois, Idaho, Missouri, New York, South Carolina, Texas, Washington and Wyoming.

As a performer she has toured the United States, Europe, Russia and the Middle East. Her performances have been heard on National Public Radio affiliates in Tennessee, Idaho and Utah. With Trio Terra Nova, she has appeared at the International Double Reed Conventions held in Arizona, Wisconsin, and at the Centre for the Arts in Banff, Canada, in addition to regularly scheduled performances at Temple Square Assembly Hall in Salt Lake City, UT; Brigham Young University - Provo; Brigham Young University - Idaho, and throughout the Intermountain West.

Ms. George is the Principal Flute of the Idaho State Civic Symphony and Sewanee Festival Orchestra. Previously she performed as an orchestra member and concerto soloist with the Elkhorn Music Festival, the Sun Valley Summer Symphony, the Quincy (IL) Symphony, Rochester (NY) Philharmonic, Eastman-Rochester Symphony and the Amarillo Symphony.

A Consulting Editor for Flute Talk magazine, she writes the monthly column The Teacher's Studio. She has written for Idaho Music Educator's Notes, the National Flute Association's Flutist Quarterly, Chamber Music America, Idaho Falls Post Register, and the Idaho State Journal. Ms. George is a regular contributor to FLUTE, a 2200-member international internet flute list. Of her writing's Sir James Galway wrote: "This is a public note of thanks to Patricia George for all the time she took to write her words of great wisdom on the list. I thought her postings were really great, very wise and experienced based." He also wrote: "I have to tell you how much your enthusiasm inspires me and I am sure I speak for other on the list in this regard."

She performs on sterling silver Verne Q. Powell Flutes, one made in 1964 and the other in 1997. The results of her experiments into the acoustics of the flute, particularly those relating to the crown, are now being used by many flute manufacturers. She is a Clinician for Conn-Selmer, Inc. – Armstrong Flutes and is a Verne Q. Powell Artist.

Ms. George is the Flute Professor at Brigham Young University - Idaho, the Sewanee Summer Music Festival (The University of the South, Sewanee, TN) and the American Band College (The University of Southern Oregon). Previously she served on the faculties of the Eastman School of Music of The University of Rochester and Idaho State University where she was awarded the ISU Faculty Achievement Award in 1995 for outstanding teaching and service. She earned the Bachelor of Music degree (with distinction) in Applied Music, the Master of Music degree in Performance and Musical Practice, and the Performer's Certificate in Flute from the Eastman School of Music. Her teachers include the legendary American flutists Joseph Mariano (Rochester Philharmonic), William Kincaid (Philadelphia Orchestra), Julius Baker (New York Philharmonic) and Frances Blaisdell.

She is married to American composer Thom Ritter George. During their 41 year marriage, he has written extensively for her and her flute choirs. These compositions include: SIX CANONIC SONATAS, CN 226; DUET FOR TWO FLUTES (PATADAH), CN 239; SONATA FOR FLUTE AND PIANO, CN 252; PASTORALE FOR FLUTE AND ORGAN, CN 287; THE MINSTREL'S SONG, CN 296; DIVERTIMENTO NO. 3 ("Three Sea Songs"), CN 316; SIX AMERICAN FOLK SONGS, CN 341; CIMAROSA SUITE, CN 332, as well as numerous transcriptions.

Ms. George has been active in the 6,000 member National Flute Association serving first on the Long Range Planning Committee. Currently she is completing a term as Secretary and a member of the Executive Committee.