Meet Your Flutists
Gretchen L. Germann
Gretchen enjoys performing, but her true passion lies in teaching. Dedicated to seeing her students succeed in music and in life, Mrs. Germann believes that learning a musical instrument should be invigorating and rewarding.
Whether helping students move up a few chairs in band, qualify for a more advanced ensemble, compete at a regional/state/national level, or broaden their knowledge of the instrument, Mrs. Germann has enjoyed working with flutists of all ages and ability levels for the last thirty years. She covers musical fundamentals such as tone, technique, posture, ear training, and music theory in every lesson.
As the owner/operator of GIFT Flute Studio in Kettering, Mrs. Germann teaches both in her home and online where she offers private lessons, group lessons, masterclasses, small ensemble opportunities, and solo opportunities for her students. Praised for her “patience, knowledge, and compassion,” she strives to build a community of flutists by offering a safe space in which students can explore all aspects of the flute and music-making without fear.
Mrs. Germann is well versed in local, state, and national competitions and helps each student seek out the opportunities that will best help them achieve their individual goals. Her professional affiliations in the National Flute Association, The Ohio Federation of Music Clubs, the Dayton Music Club, the Washington Flute Society, Flute Play, and the Suzuki Association of the Americas give her students a wide array of opportunities both in-person and online.
In addition to her private studio teaching, Mrs. Germann currently serves as adjunct faculty at Stivers School for the Arts and the New Horizons adult music program through the University of Dayton. She also stays active as a performer playing with her flute trio Syrodesy, as well as playing flute for the Yellow Springs Chamber Orchestra and the Dayton Playhouse. She is always continuing to advance her own professional growth with a multitude of experiences that ensure that her teaching remains vibrant and cutting-edge.
Sarah Robertson
Sarah holds a Bachelor of Music in Flute Performance from Indiana University of South Bend and a Master of Music in Music Education from Wright State University. She has studied with flutists Darlene Dugan, Rebecca Hovan, and Dr. Christopher Chaffee and has been praised for her musical clarity and tone. She has over twenty years of professional experience as a performer, conductor, freelance musician, solo and ensemble adjudicator, and music educator. Sarah has worked as a pre-k-6th grade music teacher, 5-12 band director, MS choir director, and served on the adjunct faculty at Edison Community College. She has been a guest on the Full Voice Podcast, Flute360 Podcast, and was interviewed on the Sound Espressivo live broadcast on the importance of music education and student support during a pandemic.
Performing is a love of Sarah’s and in 2019 she founded her flute trio, Syrodesy, which has become a sought-after group in the Dayton area because of the unique style in which they present their music. She loves collaborating with fellow musicians and creating performances that captivate audiences. Sarah also plays in the Springboro Wind Symphony, maintains performance contracts with local businesses, and plays frequently in local pit orchestras.
Teaching brings incredible joy to Sarah. Whether she’s teaching a private lesson, flute choir, group class, masterclass, studio class, or workshop, her goal is to let her students take ownership of their music and musicality! She is well versed in the available flute curriculum and is known for creating a lesson environment centered on each student’s learning style, both in group classes and private lessons.
Her professional affiliations and certifications include the National Flute Association, Kinderflute, The Flute Society of Washington, Flute Play, and the Dayton Music Club. She also serves as secretary on the board of the Springboro Wind Symphony. When not teaching or performing, you can find her playing with her four boys, running, hiking the trails of Ohio, and biking with her family.
Jodi Boeddeker
Jodi Boeddeker is a performer and teacher in Dayton, Ohio. She earned her degree in music from Moorhead State University and her Masters of the Arts in Education from Lesley University in Boston, MA. She currently performs in several groups throughout central Florida, and Ohio, including Syrodesy Flute Trio, Miami Valley Symphony, Springboro Wind Symphony, Florida Teacher’s Orchestra, Space Coast Flute Orchestra, and the International Flute Orchestra. She specializes in low flutes including the contra base flute. Most recently she won an audition to play with the professional flute choir at the 2021 National Flute convention.