Banjo Lessons in Chicago, IL. Amazing Teachers.

I've been teaching banjo for 4 years helping students develop a love for the instrument and learn more about music along the way. My specialty is Scruggs style picking, but I'm also comfortable teaching clawhammer, reno, or melodic styles and enjoy working on hybrid and progressive styles, too. Within the first few lessons you'll have a solid base of picking and chord changes and even a few simple songs under your belt. Moving on from there I will craft lessons to move you toward a "goal song," making sure to cater your progress to your needs while keeping a focus on good technique. I enjoy working with students of all ages and experiences and I can't wait to meet you!

My TENOR 4 STRING BANJO (Irish tuning) teaching style consists of a fun, relaxed, and engaging student paced learning environment.
My instruction is always tailored to my student's short term, and long term goals.
My promise to you as my student is that together we will discover what it takes for you to become a proficient musician with the ability to perform in front of any audience.
My classes with you will include the following content:
• Warm up exercises
• Fundamentals
• Mindfulness techniques
• Note reading
• Tab reading
• Sight reading
• Left hand/ right hand techniques
• Burst practicing (burnout prevention)
• Micro movements/economy of motion
• Proper posture both sitting and standing
• Stage performance techniques
• Embellishments
• Improvisation
• Unorthodox techniques
• Scales and Keys
• Theory
• Fretboard mastery
• Chords (all types)
• Songwriting
• Transcription
• Memorization
• Self sufficiency

Looking for someone to help you reach that next level? Whatever your stringed instrument, I can guide you there. From the rank basics to traditional tunes, to timing and tone, technique and theory, I can show you what you need to make your journey easier. Rely on my 15 years of music teaching experience to save you countless hours of bewilderment and frustration!

My journey as a musician which began at the age of 8 has now carried me to 48 states and a dozen countries, including 4 tours in continental Europe. I spent 7+ years performing, recording, and giving workshops with talented acoustic acts based in Nashville and the southeast. I am lucky to have been involved and contributed to a handful of IBMA and Grammy-nominated albums.

Increasingly, however, I turn my focus toward private teaching.
I find great joy and pride in helping a student reach their goals and surprise themselves with their own potential.
Go ahead and get in touch, and let's try a session together!

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I teach beginner and intermediate 5-string banjo and beginner and intermediate tenor banjo. Let's start with the tenor banjo. That great instrument is an integral element in New Orleans jazz and trad. jazz. I'll have you playing great old jazz standards in no time. Now, let's talk about the 5-string banjo. I will teach you to play 5-string banjo in the traditional three-finger style of the great Earl Scruggs. I'm a longtime pro musician and a longtime teacher. I take a practical approach to learning that emphasizes the fun and sense of togetherness that are such vital elements of playing music. Let's go!

Banjo is a beautiful instrument and an ol’ Friend. Wether you would like to learn 3-finger bluegrass style sitting on the banks of the river(dock of the bay?) and play or make use for composition I will do my best to aid you on you’re Journey. Received instruction from Noam Pickelney*