Teaching philosophy:
I specialize in teaching flute, piano and music theory. Teaching and playing instruments still bring me great joy! I believe in the transformative power of music and love seeing my students’ joy and enthusiasm develop as they grow as musicians. My teaching style is based on proven western classical techniques, and I believe each student has the ability to make progress and more importantly, to make beautiful music.
Short resume:
Maretha graduated from California State University East Bay with a Master of Arts in Composition in 2022. She is currently pursuing a Certificate in Music Composition through Juilliard Extension. She also holds a Master of Music in Music Education from the University of Pretoria, South Africa. During her undergraduate and graduate studies, she passed the Flute and Piano Licentiate level examinations with distinction through the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music and the University of South Africa.
Experience:
Maretha’s international education and experience have equipped her to teach in various capacities at institutions worldwide, from prestigious schools such as The National School of the Arts (NSA) in South Africa, to schools in special measures in the United Kingdom. With over 25 years of private teaching experience, her students have consistently excelled in exams, festivals, recitals, and auditions.
Maretha and her family relocated to California in 2011. Her students continue to achieve high grades in the Certificate of Merit (CM), Royal College of Music (RCM) and Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music (ABRSM) examinations. In 2019, one of her former students from South Africa, Khanyisile Mthetwa, received the Myrna Brown International Scholarship from the National Flute Association of America.
Other:
Maretha is a member of the Southern Alameda Branch of the Music Teacher’s Association of California, specializing in piano, flute, and music theory. In 2024, she was appointed Music Director of a Lutheran Church in in the Bay Area, initiating a unique concert series, “A Concert Experience,” focused on presenting local and original music and art. She is a founding member of an interactive composer’s collective, collaborating with fellow Juilliard students to support composers in delivering their works. Additionally, she is active as a flutist and accompanist, and teaches music at a local public school.
