Hello everybody,

I am an individual who is lucky enough to have grown up around music - it has been a second language of mine since I can remember. I played my very first gig at just 3 years old!
Well, I have come some ways since then! As a graduate of Columbia College Chicago with a BA in Percussion Performance (Magna Cum Laude) and many year's experience on the road, I have developed the wonderful craft of music making into a professional career.
Being a native of Chicago has built in me a very diverse musical background; exposure to the city's vast range of cultural scenes have enabled me to gain a strong sense of Funk, Rock, Blues, Afro-Cuban, Hip Hop, Jazz, Electronic and Pop.

Hello, my name is Brian and I am currently studying my Bachelor's in Music Education at VanderCook College of Music. It is the only college in the world that specializes in specifically Music Education, and has been since 1909. The school teaches us a basic understanding of 17 instruments and voice, while also teaching theory, aural skills, music history, professional ed courses, and includes a large number of various ensembles. Because of this, I'm able to teach some basic concepts on all of the band/orchestra instruments. Personally, I started taking piano lessons in 2000 and started drum set lessons in 2002. I've always had a dual musician life after that point, and was apart of the band and jazz band programs from 5th grade until now (sophomore in college). While attending Marist High School, I taught myself guitar, bass guitar, banjo, harmonica, and tin whistle. I expanded my concepts of music and genres, and find myself very knowledgeable of classical, jazz, rock, blues, and...

I have been studying drum set for 13 years. In my senior year of high school I attended the Merit School of Music studying with percussionist Doug Brush. I went on to attend Roosevelt University’s Music Conservatory, studying classical percussion under percussionist Ed Harris and then transferred to Columbia College where I was able to study with drummer’s Frank Donaldson and Tom Hipskind, drummer/percussionist Ruben Alvarez, and drummer/vibraphonist Jarrett Hicks. Through my experiences and education I was able to hone my skills and solidify my musicianship. Studying with such a variety of drummers allowed me to pick up different perspectives and teaching styles which I have implemented into my own practice and teaching. I received my Bachelor of the Arts in Music degree Fall of 2009.
I have been performing professionally since the age of 17 all around the Chicagoland area and have played a variety of styles ranging from straight ahead and Latin jazz, to rock, pop, funk...

Tim has been a freelance percussionist/musician/music educator in the Chicagoland area for the past 6 years. His areas of study include percussion, music performance, music education, music theory, and aural skills (ear training). He has performed with ensembles such as the Phantom Regiment Drum and Bugle Corps, Pioneer Drum and Bugle Corps, the Northern Illinois University Philharmonic, the NIU percussion ensemble, the NIU opera theatre, the NIU dance theatre, the NIU "samba" ensemble, Northcoast Academy Percussion Ensemble, the Chicago Bears Drumline, the Chicago Bulls Drumline, and has done numerous performances of different styles on drum set. He has taught multiple high schools around the area, such as Lake Park High School (Roselle), Romeoville High School (Romeoville), Hinsdale South High School (Darien), among others, and has also taught in France and Holland. He has studied under musicians/music educators such as Paul Rennick (University of North Texas), Ellis Hampton...

I have studied the guitar for over fifteen years, and have been teaching students of all ages for the last twelve. Specializing in lead rock guitar and acoustic folk, I have had the pleasure to perform and record with over a dozen acts at a variety of venues and studios across the Chicagoland area. In addition to guitar instruction, I graduated from Columbia College Chicago in 2006 with a degree in Audio Arts and Acoustics, which has allowed me to work as a professional Acoustical Technician, Audio Engineer and Audio Instructor for a variety of companies in many different capacities.

I have 18 years of experience as a drummer and have performed professionally with various acts around Chicago for the past 12 years. I have been fortunate enough to tour the country numerous times both as a performer and as a Drum Tech for the band Wilco. My professional experiences over the years have shaped the way that I approach teaching.

At age 11, I began taking formal lessons with a degreed classical/jazz instructor. Rock, Funk, Latin, and Rudimental genres were also studied. In high school marching band was added to many of my favorite bands to have been involved in, along with concert band and jazz band, among many others. After graduating from high school, I entered the US NAVY for the musicians program and then went onto further my studies in music at Northeastern Illinois University.

Beyond teaching the basic essentials, I love learning from the student's perspective. Everyone has different tastes in music, so I would like to work on what makes you want to learn an instrument. With this in mind the student will enjoy the lesson material much more, and move along at quicker rate.

I have over fifteen years of playing experience (in drums ) and four years of teaching experience (drums). My playing career can best be displayed on three of Elmhurst College Jazz Band albums, were I was the drummer for three of my college years. The albums are ‘Round Midnight, Harlem Nocturne, and finally River. I was also on Brad MacDonald’s Off the Top of My Head, Travis Douglas and Determined God’s Will album, and most recently recorded on an album with drummer Jeff Hamilton entitled Time Passes On during my two year at DePaul University completing my Master’s Degree in Jazz Performance. My teaching experience has greatly impacted the students of Indian Trail Junior High School, Addison Trail High School, and occasionally coming back to Elmhurst College to help with the Elmhurst College Jazz Band. I find the students weaknesses and teach them the fundamentals of their abilities from different exercises which may include site reading, listening to music, or other...

I have been working as a freelance musician and private instructor in Chicago for fifteen years. During this time I have been hired to perform Jazz, Rock, R/B, and world music. As an instructor I have maintained a studio of five to twenty students on a weekly basis. I hold a Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Northern Colorado in Percussion Performance, and a Master of Music degree from De Paul University in Jazz Studies.

A native of Metro Detroit, MI, Nathan began studying percussion at the age of nine. He holds a Bachelor of Music Performance from Central Michigan University where he studied with Dr. Andrew Spencer and Dallas Symphony timpanist Brian Jones. Nathan just recently graduated with a Masters of Music Performance from The Chicago College of Performing Arts at Roosevelt University where he studied with Chicago Symphony percussionist Vadim Karpinos and Chicago Lyric Opera timpanist Edward Harrison. Nathan was awarded fellowships to attend the Chautauqua and Hot Springs Music Festivals. Nathan currently resides in Chicago, IL where he is the percussion director for Lincoln Park High School. He enjoys cycling, spending time with family and friends as well as eating great food.

I play, write, record and perform a variety of American popular music forms
including rock, folk, blues, funk, bluegrass, country, fingerstyle
guitar, and jazz.

I began my musical training learning drums as a 12 year old and a year later began private lessons on guitar as well. In the following years, while playing in rock bands and focusing primarily on guitar and continuing practice on drums, I became interested in learning other instruments: I took harmonica lessons and taught myself how to play bass guitar and keyboards. As a teenager I also began writing my own songs and teaching myself how to record music. I also play Spanish flamenco guitar and studied with master flamenco players while living in Madrid, Spain.

Today, I play guitar, harmonica, sing and write songs for my own group, while also working on a variety of other recording projects that reflect my various musical personalities. I love everything about music, and there's nothing I enjoy more than sharing...

I'm a 24 yr old drummer/percussionist who moved to Chicago in the summer of 2012 shortly after receiving a bachelors degree from the University of North Texas in Jazz Drumset. There I studied with the incomparable Ed Soph from 2006-2010. My concentration was on the study of jazz drumming however, I received extensive education in the areas of classical percussion, music theory, and piano.

I also play regularly in numerous groups around the city including some of my own. I always love to see students/parents at gigs!