Lessons

All flute majors and minors take a weekly one-on-one lesson with Dr. Thompson. Flute students develop their artistry in lessons through study of solo repertoire, etudes, and exercises for tone and technique. In lessons, students work to prepare for recitals, competitions, end-of-semester juries, and other performances. Dr. Thompson works closely with each student to help them develop effective practice habits, healthy playing posture, and a mindful approach to self-assessing their playing.

Studio Class

In addition to private lessons, all flute students attend an hour of studio class each week. Studio class time is divided between masterclass performances, flute choir rehearsals, and occasional special presentations from Dr. Thompson and guest artists. Performing for peers in a "masterclass" setting gives students the opportunity to improve their performance abilities, develop their communication skills and entrepreneurship, and foster a supportive sense of community. The entire studio performs together as a flute choir for studio recitals and other events. In flute choir, students will have the opportunity to play auxiliary instruments such as piccolo, alto flute, and bass flute! 

Technique Class

Technique Class is an hour-long class which all flute students attend weekly. The focus is on essential fundamental aspects of flute playing: scales, arpeggios, articulation, tone quality, intonation, and more. Students are challenged to excel at the technically difficult aspects of flute playing, and will acquire a model for their daily personal practice of fundamentals. Working on technical exercises as a group further develops the flute studio's atmosphere of camaraderie. 

Chamber Music

Each semester, flute students have the opportunity to participate in a small flute ensemble, such as a trio or quartet, or a mixed ensemble such as a woodwind quintet. Small flute ensembles receive a weekly coaching with Dr. Thompson and will perform in studio recital, student recital hour, and other events. Chamber ensemble participation greatly enhances a student's leadership abilities, sense of musical communication, sensitivity to intonation and balance, and much more!

GVSU Flute Day

You can find out what it's like to study the flute at GVSU by joining us for the inaugural Flute Day on Sunday, November 9, 2025! This event is free and open to flutists of all ages and ability levels, including middle school students, high school students, and community members. This year's Flute Day will feature guest artist Dr. Mihoko Watanabe, Professor of Flute at Ball State University, as well as GVSU Flute Professor, Dr. James Thompson, and current GVSU flute students. The day's events will include a masterclass and recital given by the guest artist, as well as a participatory flute choir reading session and workshop led by Dr. Thompson. Visit the Flute Day webpage for more details and to register. Advance registration is required by November 2. 

Additional Performance Opportunities

There are many fantastic performance opportunities at GVSU. All flute students are placed in one of GVSU’s three major instrumental ensembles (Wind Symphony, Concert Band, Symphony Orchestra) by audition each semester. Flutists can also participate in the collaborative piano class, Marching Band, Early Music Ensemble, and GVSU’s nationally renowned New Music Ensemble.

The flute studio regularly hosts renowned guest artists on campus who present masterclasses and recitals for our students. Recent guest artists have included Mafer Guglielmina (UT-El Paso Flute Professor), Daniel Cueto (Flutist/Composer, Faculty at Indiana University), and Christian Glascock (GVSU Alum, Flutist/Composer). Flutists also compete in the annual GVSU Concerto Competition, and participate in off-campus service through the Community Engagement Music Project.

To learn more about the performing opportunities at GVSU visit: https://www.gvsu.edu/mtd/performance-opportunities-at-gvsu-37.htm

About the Faculty

Dr. James Thompson enjoys an active career as a flutist and teacher. He has performed on three continents in diverse venues ranging from LA's Walt Disney Concert Hall to medieval Italian churches to the Great Wall of China. James has appeared as a soloist with the Southern Illinois Symphony Orchestra, New Chicago Chamber Orchestra, Grand Valley State University Symphony Orchestra, Ball State Symphony Orchestra, Illinois State Symphony Orchestra, Sewanee Festival Orchestra, and Truman State Concert Band. He has participated in such festivals as Festival Suoni d'Abruzzo (Italy), Domaine Forget (Canada), the Southern Illinois Music Festival, the Fresno Summer Orchestra Academy and the Sewanee Summer Music Festival. 

Dr. Thompson is in demand as an educator, having recently given masterclasses and clinics at Truman State University, Indiana State University, Valley City State University, Texas Lutheran University, Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville, Ball State University, Southeast Missouri State University, East Central College, and numerous high school programs.

Dedicated to the expansion of the standard flute repertoire, Dr. Thompson was awarded grant funding from the Friends of Flutes Foundation and Ball State University to travel to France for his dissertation research on the flute music of living French composer, Nicolas Bacri. This dissertation was subsequently named a winner of the National Flute Association’s (NFA) prestigious Graduate Research Competition. Dr. Thompson also gave the American premiere of Bacri’s Concerto pour flûte. He has also performed works by Robert Fruehwald, Roy Magnuson, Lindsey Wiehl, and Daniel Cueto at several National Flute Association conventions, the College Music Society National Conference, and the American Viola Society Conference. 

Alongside numerous chamber and solo appearances, Dr. Thompson has performed with regional orchestras including the Holland Symphony, Orchestra Indiana, Kokomo Symphony, Anderson Symphony, Illinois Symphony, and the Paducah Symphony Orchestra. He currently holds the 3rd Flute/Piccolo chair with Symphony of the Lakes in Warsaw, IN.

Raised in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, Dr. Thompson began studying the flute with his father at the age of 12, who instilled in him a love of playing and teaching the flute. He obtained degrees from Truman State University, Illinois State University, and Ball State University, studying with Mihoko Watanabe, Kimberly McCoul Risinger, and Julianna Moore. He has performed in masterclasses for celebrated flutists including Jim Walker, Mathieu Dufour, Philippe Bernold, Bonita Boyd, William Bennett, Ian Clarke, Patricia George, and many others.

Dr. Thompson joined the faculty of Grand Valley State University in Fall 2024 as Affiliate Faculty in Flute and Music History, and now resides in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Previously, he was on the faculties of Ball State University, Earlham College, and Taylor University, and also managed Orchestra Indiana’s education programs. Aside from his many musical and professional activities, James enjoys traveling, hiking, and birding. You can learn more about him by visiting his website.