Music Lessons in North Chicago, IL

Instruments: Drums

I apply the concepts I learn in my lectures to my private teaching. Though no longer a performance major, I'm still an active drummer on and off campus. Along with other musicians, I've worked with the Wirtz center for the performing arts to provide live pit orchestra for their musical productions for the past 3 years. I'm also an active freelancer for bands, playing with student groups at Evanston and Chicago venues such as Beat Kitchen. Read More

Instruments: Saxophone Flute Clarinet Piccolo Oboe English Horn

As I said earlier I tend to use the Rubank and Essential Element books in lessons. I start with seeing what the students goals are and making a goal sheet. For instance if a student is interested in Musicals. We will start with our basic warm up and techniques but on top of that I would assign an excerpt from a musical that correlates with the current lesson. So that way the student is working toward their goal and having fun doing so. Read More

Instruments: Piano Voice Violin Viola

For piano I use the Alfred series, and for violin and viola I use a combination of Essential Elements and Suzuki books.  As students advance I introduce additional solo repertoire.  My voice students learn from a variety of sources.  I usually start with a song they know well and work from there.  Students also learn a variety of warm-ups and sight-singing techniques.   Read More

Instruments: Piano Voice Organ Synthesizer Keyboard

Her song, "Lullaby," was also a Regional Winner in Flavorpill's A Band Apart competition and was featured on the Chicago Regional Winners mixtape. She was chosen as a Semi-Finalist in the Intel Superstars Competition and as a regional Semi-Finalist in the OurStage Warped Tour Competition. She has opened for Marky Ramone the Speed Kings, D.I., Rev. Norb the Onions, and Val Emmich. In 2015, Mary released a 5-song EP with her band, Mary The Immaculate Rejections, and most recently, she released a 3-song EP of old recordings, entitled "Coal Miner's Granddaughter: The Lost Tapes." In 2017, Mary appeared on Rupam Sarmahs Together in Peace album. Read More

Instruments: Trombone Euphonium Tuba

The most important thing that I can teach a student is good habits. One of my first teachers always said "I'm not here to teach you to play the trombone, I'm here to teach you how to practice the trombone." That has esentially been my teaching philosophy since then. The half hour to an hour that I would be spending with a student each week is not enough time to turn them into a great trombone player, so the most important thing to do in lessons is to teach them how to practice the instrument when I am not in the room with them. Read More