I've been playing jazz professionally in the Chicago area since 1979. I have loved the sound of the piano since hearing it on jazz records as a teenager. I grew up in Michigan and after spending a year at the Berklee College of Music in Boston, I started playing in jazz clubs around Lansing. Since coming to Chicago, I've played in all its major clubs including the Jazz Showcase, the Green Mill, Pops for Champagne, Leslee's, Green Dolphin Street, Pete Miller's, Rick's Cafe Americain, and others. I recently released my first CD, which includes two of my own jazz compositions.

Michael M. is a fun and friendly 42 year old piano teacher living on the north side of Chicago. Flute and oboe lessons are also available. He has over 15 years of experience teaching beginners and advanced, both children and adults.

"I offer a special perspective as a musician, having played several instruments at a high level of expertise for many decades. A variety of musical experiences adds to my musical identity, as a solo pianist, church musician, composer, orchestra musician, work with theatres and ballet. I believe that primarily the lesson should be a FUN and UPLIFTING experience."

Michael M. (b.1968) began studying piano in 1973 with Sandra Renegar in Ida Grove, Iowa, including theory, composition, and wind instruments, continued with Arne Sorensen (along with Leon Fleisher, a student of Chicago’s Rudolph Ganz). Early concerto appearances included Beethoven second with Sioux City, Iowa, and Saint-Saëns second as the first winner of the Lutheran Summer...

Hello, I feel that there has never been a time in my life that I haven't been singing. From the early years at church and school, to college and then on to my career as a vocalist.

I graduated from Belmont University in Nashville, TN with a Bachelors in Music - Vocal Performance with minors in Music Business and Music Education.

I began my career singing for song writers in Nashville, working for music labels, singing in the studio as a studio singer, and singing back up for a few country and pop artists.

Through the years I have been hired to work for Cruise Ships, theme parks, resorts, touring companies, musical theaters, ballet theaters, as an actor (stage, tv, and film), as a musical director, as a vocal captain, and as a vocal teacher.

I am originally from South Bend, Indiana so my personality sort of fits the stereotype of my other Hoosiers, we are all pretty laid back, down to earth, and very patient. I love where I am from and love the people...

Hello! My name is Audie and I am both thrilled and honored to be a part of the TakeLessons team! Ever since a young age, I have been surrounded by music in all facets of my life. It has guided me and shaped me into the person I am today. To be a music instructor means to be the one who facilitates and nurtures that growth. This deeply resonates with me and is the reason why I choose to teach music- so I can carry on that torch that was once passed on to me.

My expertise lies greatly in both vocal performance and piano performance. I have received many years of professional instruction in voice, accompanied by numerous performances in which I honed my craft (everything from solo to choral). I am skilled in all sorts of vocal performance- anything ranging from classical to musical theatre.

With piano, my skill lies considerably in chordal knowledge. Though I am very capable of classical repertoire, my heart lies with on-the-spot arrangements and improvisations. This involves...

I cried like a baby when my parents forced me to take piano lessons at the age of 8, begging them to let me quit. Thankfully, they were not persuaded by my waterworks! After 10 years of private piano training the instrument grew on me. I began giving private piano lessons in 2004 and taught over 40 beginning and intermediate students for more than 6 years. Since my relationship with the piano had such a rocky start, I have a special understanding for beginners that are less than thrilled to learn the piano. My goal is to create a fun learning environment in which students will be able to enjoy the piano as much as I do. I personalize lessons in such a way that students receive a quality education in a way that makes sense to them while being able to work on the music that they are interested in learning.

Growing up, I participated in every musical activity I could find: from choir to handbells, concert bands to jazz bands, and marching bands to rock bands. I loved performing with every type of group I was a part of, but I decided to focus on classical clarinet performance in college. I graduated from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign in 2007 with a B.M. in Clarinet Performance. Since then, I have revisited some of my former favorite pastimes: I teach handchime classes in schools, play in a rock band, and work for a jazz-oriented music/tutoring program.

I have been fortunate to have already performed several memorable concerts with highly skilled ensembles such as the Chicago Jazz Philharmonic, Wheaton Municipal Band, and the UIUC Wind Symphony. CJP is a one of a kind jazz orchestra, and with them I have performed two very well-received concerts at the Auditorium Theatre and one outstanding performance at the Pritzker Pavilion in Millennium Park in 2008, honoring Nelson...

Hello! A little about me: I have an extensive background in both music and theater. I've studied classical voice, piano, and composition, but have a love for an eclectic mix of music. I've performed everything from rock to opera (and everything in between). As a teacher, I've taught in a wide range of settings from private lessons to group/classroom settings working with a wide variety of students from special needs kids to professional adults. Music and the arts has always been important to me, and I love having the opportunity to foster that in others and see the impact it has on all areas of their lives.

Scott D. was born in Arlington Heights, Illinois in 1967. He expressed a keen interest in music at an early age, and subsequently, began his studies with the clarinet, and percussion while performing in the school band. A short time after that, he decided guitar was going to be his instrument of choice, and began formal studies with blues man, Don Brown. After that, Scott moved on to study with session ace, Gary Blume. By the time we was 18, he began studies for what would be the first of his two degrees, at William Rainey Harper College. There he was mentored in both classical and jazz guitar under well known session player, and composer, Steven Suvada, and later continued with David Sussman, of the Lyric Opera in Chicago.
That year Scott went to Northern Illinois University to continue his studies for a second degree in Music. There he studied under Fareed Haque, of Pangaea records, again obtaining both jazz and classical training. While at NIU, Scott took part in...

Hi! I'm here to help any student of any level to reach their musical goals! I have been playing music (drums, piano, organ, guitar) for 14 years 12 of which have been as a professional! I have a Bachelor's Degree in Jazz Studies from Columbia College Chicago. I've been on the road recently for awhile and am looking forward to getting back to teaching!!

I look forward to working with you and helping you reach your musical needs (any style, genre, tempo) while having a fun and enjoyable time!

Daniel, a former faculty member of Columbia College in Chicago, is a studio and live performance singer and musician based in Chicago. His teaching and performing experience spans three decades, and includes expertise in the studies of voice, guitar, piano, bass, drums, and trumpet, along with music theory, arranging, and composing. He is a Lincoln Academy Student Laureate who holds a BA in Music Composition, and has attended graduate courses in education at Roosevelt University and DePaul University in Chicago. He has taught students of all ages at private studios, public school, and college.

Daniel is described by his students as a natural teacher. He prefers to be regarded as an advancing student, and takes the journey along with his students to guide them towards their goals with a friendly, positive, efficient and productive approach. He feels that music is within all of us, and a desire to learn is a sign of talent, so anyone can develop their musical abilities with...

Born and raised in Chicago, Illinois, Andrew started studying classical piano shortly before his fifth birthday. Andrew began playing jazz in high school as a member of the Lincoln Park Jazz Band and the Gallery 37 Jazz Band. In his sophomore year, he was selected as a Ravinia Jazz Scholar and for three years he had the opportunity to work with such world-class mentors as Willie Pickens, Tito Carrillo, Ernie Adams, and Bobby Broom. He attended the Oberlin Conservatory of Music, where he studied both jazz and classical piano with Dan Wall and Sanford Margolis, respectively. In his senior year, he was nominated to the Oberlin Jazz Septet, the top jazz ensemble at Oberlin, which toured the east coast, giving masterclasses at high schools and playing at clubs such as Chris’ Jazz Cafe in Philadelphia and Dizzy’s Club Coca-Cola in New York.

After receiving his degree in jazz piano in 2009, Andrew spent two years working as a freelance pianist in Cleveland and the surrounding...

-Began with private piano lessons at age 7

-Started playing drums in 5th grade

-Private lessons for drums at 6th grade

-Won a scholarship at the Chicago College of Music

-Won a scholarship and graduated with a Bachelor's of Music from Milliken University

-Received a Teacher's Assistantship and graduated with a Master's of Music from the University of New Mexico

-Played in a lot of different kinds of bands and small and large ensembles

I love playing a lot of different instruments. Experiencing what kinds of sound you can create with your instrument. Its all about the sound. I will do my best to help you understand how to create wonderful sounds from whatever kind of percussion instrument you choose to play.