Flute

Monica Patti

Music making was such a family activity growing up with a music teacher for a mom! I began playing piano at four years old and picked up the flute at age 9, starting private lessons almost immediately. I loved the instrument and worked hard with my private teacher - I had the same wonderful teacher from 4th grade through the end of high school! During my high school years, I was extremely competitive, placing high in Region and New Jersey All State Bands and Orchestras all four years on both flute and piccolo. My senior year, I even played as principal of the All Eastern Orchestra, comprised of the best players from 13 states on the east coast. 

I went on to major in both Music Education and Flute Performance at Mason Gross School of the Arts at Rutgers University. I had many wonderful performance experiences, from large and small ensemble performances to several solo recitals. Commuting from home afforded me the opportunity to teach privately and work with small ensembles and marching bands of several area high schools. During my junior year, I began teaching at Raritan Music Center!

January 2022 marked 10 years working at RMC! It has been an incredibly fulfilling experience to work in a place with such wonderful students and lovely staff. It’s all part of the “job”, but it is always a hard day saying goodbye to students as they graduate and move on to college! 

Teaching has always been extremely rewarding, being able to pass my love of music on to children, and to help them gain confidence and new ways to express themselves. I have taught the most shy, quiet students who develop the most loud, expressive tone- it’s almost a fun alter ego they create for themselves! I have taught children who struggle with dyslexia find a confident new voice in their playing. I have worked with high schoolers who have crippling stage fright overcome their fears to be able to take auditions and perform solos in front of their peers. In small and large ways, teaching children all that music can offer them is just, simply, the best. 

I remain very passionate about my own playing as well. For the past nine years, I have performed with The Eastern Wind Symphony on both flute and piccolo, as well as at church services and concerts. With four young children at home, I am very thankful to my husband for entertaining them during all of my Saturday morning rehearsals! 

If given the opportunity, my biggest hope is to instill in your children the same lifelong love of creating music. I hope to see you around RMC soon!