Music Lessons in River Grove, IL

Instruments: Violin

I have been instructing students from kindergarten to high-school all over the Chicago area for the past thirteen years. My highest accomplisment is having a high-school sophomore student playing second chair first violin in Chamber Orchestra and third chair first violin in Symphonic Orchestra at Maine Township, Park Ridge, Illinois. Other accomplishments are having students prepared for Granquist Memorial Music Competition, Geneva Illinois. Since 2015 I am a member of the Northwest Chicago Symphony Orchestra.  Read More

Instruments: Violin Viola

I started teaching in high school, with my very own private students, and coached non-music major ensembles during my undergraduate degree in addition to receiving pedagogy training. As many performers do, I began as a reluctant teacher, but quickly realized that teaching is extremely rewarding and fun! I make sure that the students are enjoying the lessons while pushing them to play as well as they can. I find it difficult to suppress my passion for my instrument and for music, and I think that this rubs off on my students. Read More

Instruments: Piano Violin Cello Viola Electric Violin Fiddle

My teaching style is a balance of a casual and relaxed attitude, and an environment that nonetheless encourages excellence and achievement to the highest level possible. I like to establish a friendly and fun atmosphere where the student feels at ease, but always help my students set goals, and hold them to standards of excellence. I also recognize and value that importance of a student enjoying lessons, and that may sometimes mean that s/he wishes to learn and play music not covered by the books and materials we use for lessons; thus, I encourage students to share with me any such music they want to work on, and we then incorporate it into our lessons. Read More

Instruments: Guitar Voice Electric Guitar Acoustic Guitar

I've been playing music for 13 years now. I started on drums but quickly became excited about the guitar and songwriting, and am now an award winning multi-instrumentalist and singer. In addition to frequently performing around Chicago, I'm a passionate instructor and love to share what I've learned from my B.A. in Music and real-world experiences. I moved to Chicago from Boston about a year ago and have immersed myself into the scene here as a solo artist as well as part of a band, so I'm looking forward to meeting new students and having fun lessons! Read More

Instruments: Saxophone

I have been playing saxophone for over 20 years! I've been teaching private lessons since my college days at Eastern Illinois University. Since then I have gone on to teach High School Jazz Band, General Music and Orchestra at several schools in Chicago and it's suburbs.   Read More

Instruments: Guitar Violin Cello Viola

My teaching philosophy is that of encouraging and inspiring my students to do their personal best in a creative, positive and enriching learning environment. I teach students of all ages using various teaching materials, focusing on the individual student’s learning style. I enjoy teaching students at various stages in their development whether they are preparing for University auditions, studying for their own enjoyment or preparing to join a local community string ensemble or orchestra. Read More

Instruments: Piano

I believe students must first acquire competence in theory and proper technique, followed by artistic expression. My teaching style is encouraging, patient, thorough, nurturing, engaging, challenging and fun. To progress, students must practice daily. I let my students know that quality and focus of practice is far more important than duration. They learn to isolate 2 or 3 measures, and repeat them slowly until accuaracy is achieved consistently. I convey my love of teaching by: complimenting students on achieving goals, smiling, being energetic, making sure the student lets me know when he/she does not understand a concept and re-explaing it until it is understood with gentleness and patience, bringing in adjunct music from which the student, after hearing me play several excerpts, can select several pieces, playing duets with the student, and encouraging students to compose their own songs by ear, which I later notate. Read More