Today we’d like to introduce you to Amber Underwood.
Hi Amber, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I grew up in a household of educators, so teaching, mentoring, and community have always been part of my foundation. Both my mother and father were educators, and watching the impact they had on their students deeply shaped how I see the world. Music was always present in my life too, and over time it became clear that it wasn’t just something I enjoyed — it was part of my purpose.
I’m now a Kansas City–based flutist, educator, and creative entrepreneur, and my journey has really been about building spaces where music, education, and community come together. I began my career in the classroom, teaching band and orchestra at Central Middle School, where I helped grow the music program from the ground up. Working with young musicians shaped me just as much as I shaped them — it taught me leadership, patience, and just how life-changing access to the arts can be.
At the same time, I was developing my voice as a performer. As a flutist, I wanted to challenge expectations and show that the flute could live at the front of the stage in jazz, soul, R&B, and contemporary music — not just in the background. That vision grew into my performance brand, Flutienastiness, and opened doors to performing across Kansas City and beyond, collaborating with amazing artists and creating original, genre-blending work.
One of the most important realizations in my journey has been that performance itself can be a form of teaching. Teaching through performance has become the bridge that allows me to merge education and artistry into one. Whether I’m performing for students, leading workshops, or simply modeling what creative possibility looks like on stage, I see every performance as an opportunity to inspire, educate, and open doors for the next generation.
As my performance career expanded, so did my work in arts leadership and entrepreneurship. Today, I serve as an applied flute professor at Kansas City Kansas Community College, mentor private students, and run my own creative business producing shows, educational programs, and community-centered music experiences.
The thread connecting everything I do is a desire to make music feel alive, relevant, and accessible. Whether I’m on stage, in a classroom, or developing a new project, my goal is the same: to create meaningful experiences, open doors for others, and reflect what’s possible when artists are encouraged to fully be themselves.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It definitely hasn’t been a completely smooth road. Like many artists and educators, I’ve had to navigate uncertainty, burnout, and moments where I had to rebuild parts of my career from the ground up.
Balancing life as both an educator and a working musician has been one of the biggest challenges. Teaching is deeply rewarding, but it also requires so much time, energy, and emotional investment. There were seasons where I felt stretched thin trying to show up fully for my students while also building a performance career, creating original work, and running my own business. Learning how to set boundaries and protect my creative energy was a process.
I’ve also had to push against expectations of what a flutist “should” be. Stepping into genres like jazz, soul, and R&B as a lead instrumentalist meant carving out space where there weren’t always a clear path or many examples ahead of me. There were moments of doubt, financial instability, and times when opportunities didn’t come as quickly as I hoped. Building something unique often means moving forward before the support or recognition catches up.
On a personal level, there have been life transitions and losses that reshaped my perspective and forced me to slow down, reflect, and redefine success for myself. Those experiences deepened my purpose and reminded me why I do this work in the first place — not just for stages and accolades, but for connection, healing, and impact.
Looking back, the challenges have actually shaped me into a more compassionate educator, a stronger leader, and a more authentic artist. The road hasn’t always been easy, but every twist has helped me grow into the work I’m doing now.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I’m a flutist, educator, and creative entrepreneur, and my work lives at the intersection of performance, education, and community impact. I specialize in contemporary flute performance — blending jazz, soul, R&B, and modern genres — while also designing educational experiences that make music feel accessible, relevant, and inspiring.
As a performer, I’m known for bringing the flute to the front of the stage in spaces where it’s not traditionally centered. Through my performance brand, Flutienastiness, I focus on genre-blending shows, original music, and collaborations that highlight the flute as a lead voice with power, personality, and presence.
As an educator, I work with students from beginners to college-level musicians. I currently serve as an applied flute professor at Kansas City Kansas Community College, teach private students, and create workshops and programs that connect classroom learning with real-world artistry. I’ve also launched my own Education & Arts Consulting business, where I partner with nonprofits, arts organizations, and school districts to support program development, curriculum design, and creative learning initiatives. One of my specialties is teaching through performance — using the stage itself as a classroom where students and audiences can see what’s possible.
What I’m most proud of is building pathways. I’ve helped grow school music programs, mentored young musicians who didn’t always see themselves represented in the arts, and created performance opportunities that center community and culture. Seeing students gain confidence and artists step into their voice because of something I helped create means more to me than any single show.
What sets me apart is that I don’t separate being an an artist from being an educator. My performances inform my teaching, and my teaching gives deeper purpose to my performances. I’m not just focused on playing music — I’m focused on creating experiences, opening doors, and showing that the arts can be both innovative and deeply rooted in community.
Let’s talk about our city – what do you love? What do you not love?
What I love most about Kansas City is the creative community. It’s a city where artists genuinely support each other, collaborate across genres, and show up for one another’s work. There’s a deep respect for the arts here, especially with the city’s rich jazz history, and that legacy creates space for innovation today. I also love that Kansas City feels big enough to have opportunity, but small enough that relationships truly matter. You can build something meaningful here and see the impact of your work in real time.
What I like least is that the arts don’t always receive the level of funding, infrastructure, or visibility they deserve. There aren’t enough stages for the number of talented artists in the city, which means many of us are competing for the same opportunities. I also think Kansas City doesn’t always fully know who its local artists are — there’s so much incredible talent here that isn’t always highlighted or supported in the way it could be. I’d love to see more intentional investment in creative spaces, arts education, and platforms that elevate local voices year-round.
At the same time, those challenges are part of what makes the community so resourceful, collaborative, and passionate. Artists here don’t wait for perfect conditions — we build, we connect, and we find ways to make meaningful work happen.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.Flutienastiness.com
- Instagram: @Flutienastines
- Facebook: Flutienastiness
- LinkedIn: Amber Underwood
- Youtube: Flutienastiness
