Piano Lessons in Western Springs, IL

Instruments: Piano Drums Mallet Percussion Orchestral Percussion Conga Latin Percussion

I am a passionate musician and performer, and that passion is met with an equal passion for passing on the knowledge and inspiration I have had the opportunity to gain to others. I am a recent graduate of the University of Kentucky with degrees in Music Performance and Arts Administration and am now working on a Master of Music with a focus on jazz and world music at Northern Illinois University.I have had many invaluable opportunities so far in my life, but a few that stand out include opportunities to study and perform overseas (West African Drumming in Ghana, Steel Pan in Trinidad) and opportunities to perform and work with artists such as Jeff Coffin, Bob Mintzer, Wycliffle Gordon, Brad Dutz, Chris Wabich, Liam Teague, and many others. Read More

Instruments: Piano

My teaching dates back to my high school days, as I began teaching private lessons in my students' homes. I learned as I went along the different ways to engage different types of students, and I loved seeing the growth from week to week. I've found that my students took a lot of pride in learning to play a song they thought was too difficult for them, or in overcoming a specific hurdle. Read More

Instruments: Piano Drums Keyboard Djembe

I am an innovative artist, teacher, and spiritual worker in Chicago. I play in several groups (Bassel & The Supernaturals, Gramps The Vamp, Abud: A Band, Sosha Wolf), and lead projects of my own (Here & Now, Presence Jazz, False Gods, Cold Seasons). My projects tour nationally, and have released several original albums. I graduated from Loyola University Chicago in 2010 with a Bachelor's Degree in Psychology, and have since been working as a professional musician. Read More

Instruments: Piano Voice

For beginning piano students, I typically have them start with the Alfred series. Depending on their growth, we can move onto solo repertoire shortly thereafter. Read More

Instruments: Piano Guitar Electric Guitar

My teaching style is that I set a plan for every student I have. For instance, I will apply reading notes, but that will not work for each student, each student is different and would prefer another style of teaching. That's when i would test their own level of memorization. I would teach each student chord structure of memorizing maximum 2 chords. Once each student fully has the 2 chords memorized I would hand them a sheet of paper, giving them instructions on top of the paper, stating Now that you have mastered memorizing the chords I would want you to come up with a small melody by building a staff with a time signature and writing the notes on the sheet of paper. Read More

Instruments: Piano Synthesizer

My beginning students start out by learning music theory. We definitely have to establish and learn the fundamentals. Once they begin to learn the piano, I throw in modern day music to keep them interested. We start applying the concepts and theory into what they enjoy playing to continue to build the strong foundation. With my advanced students, I work on advanced chord knowledge, theory, improvisation, and training of the ear. Read More

Instruments: Piano Trumpet Trombone Music Keyboard

I was fortunate enough to receive partial scholarship to attend the DePaul University School of Music and concentrate my work there in Jazz Studies. During my time at the university, I had the opportunity to broaden my perspective on the trombone by studying with several of the trombone faculty. I spent most of my time working with Tim Coffman, but was able to work with composer and arranger, Thomas Matta, and Charles Vernon, the bass trombonist in the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. Read More