The Author

Irena Mitevska Mileva is a flutist, educator, and author of Toot & Hoot Flute Method and Books designed to make learning music an inspiring and enjoyable experience. She teaches flute to students of all levels, with a special focus on very young beginners, starting as early as four or five years old. Through her method books and teaching resources, she wants to help both teachers and students discover the joy of learning the flute through play, creativity, and engagement.

How It All Began

Soon after completing her studies in Macedonia, Irena moved to Dubai, where she spent around 12 years teaching and performing. During this time, she worked with students of all ages, but she was particularly drawn to teaching young beginners.

At the start of her teaching career, she found it challenging to locate suitable materials for very young students. Most existing flute method books were designed for older learners, so she started to adapt and create her own resources in order to create engaging lessons for younger children.

 

 

She began creating short tunes, writing exercises, and designing games to make lessons more dynamic and enjoyable. Over time, this creative process naturally evolved into a unique teaching approach, one that guided children to learn through play, movement, stories, and exploration. The lessons became more fun for everyone — and most importantly, the children were excited to return week after week. That’s how the Toot & Hoot Flute Method was born.

At the heart of Irena's method and books lies a simple idea: children need to experience music before they can meaningfully analyze it. When early lessons prioritize curiosity, playful engagement, and imagination, young flutists develop confidence, resilience, and a deeper connection to their instrument.

 

 

From Idea to Publication

When Irena moved to Singapore in 2020, she decided to bring together all the materials and ideas she had developed over the years into a structured method. This became the Toot & Hoot Flute Method Book Series, which today includes more than 12 titles:

Toot & Hoot Flute Method Book 1; Three Flute and Narrator Storybooks;  Winter Tunes song collection; Toot & Hoot Flute Headjoint Songs; and The Music Monsters Book Series — eleven playful books co-authored with her colleague Anne Fontenay.

Since 2024, Irena lives and works in Vienna Austria with her family. Her method and approach continues to expand into more books, it has been translated into multiple languages (German, Dutch, French) and it's being discovered by more and more teachers and flute students. 

 

 

To have a look at my full resume please click HERE

To check my books please go HERE