Classical Piano Lessons in Chicago. Amazing Teachers.

Susan's instruction and mentorship has been transformational for my daughter's evolution as a classical pianist. The depth of articulation in her performance and the musicality in her playing she owes to Susan. Susan not only teaches with real dedication, but she also inspires her students to reach and keep attaining new heights in their piano performance. She demands commitment from her students, but is always encouraging and ensures her students gain confidence and a strong foundation in music education. Susan has extensive experience in teaching and her students do very well in piano competitions.

Susan is an outstanding pianist and teacher. She genuinely cares about the musical development of each of her students. I would highly recommend her to any serious student looking to work with a top rate teacher. It makes a difference!

I am a 50-something-year-old business executive who began taking beginner piano lessons with Susan Merdinger almost 5 years ago.

Now, I am performing Chopin Nocturnes and Preludes and cherished works by Mozart and Beethoven to name just a few.

My Mom let me quit piano lessons in 1967 when I was growing up on the Southside of Chicago. I spent the next 45 years regretting it.

Now, as my piano teacher, Susan is inspiring me to make up for lost time.

At the end of each year, I am amazed at being able to play pieces I couldn’t have imagined performing 12 months earlier. This satisfying achievement comes only because of Susan’s character and competence as a teacher and her passion and enthusiasm to motivate me to practice 1 to 2 hours every day.

Susan is patient while maintaining very high standards with a commitment to excellence. She celebrates the progress of all her students to whom she is dedicated. While waiting for my lesson to begin, I have watched in amazement as she interacts with a full studio of very diverse students, young and old, boys and girls, beginners and advanced, even handicapped blind and autistic students. I’ve watched as she’s brought smiles to all her students after their recitals and audiences after her own concerts.

And Susan is one of the smartest persons I know who is expanding my horizons of the classical repertoire I play and appreciation of the classical music I listen to. There is a special pride to see your piano teacher perform solo or with members of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra at historic venues in Chicago or New York City.

I am a busy executive, but my piano lesson is the highlight of the week, even if that entails a 90-minute battle in Chicagoland rush hour traffic to get to my lesson.

That’s because my life is richer with the music Susan imparts.

I can’t recommend her strongly enough.

Ethan is a great piano teacher!
we just finished our 2nd session, and i enjoyed the lesson so much, i can’t wait to have next session.
he is passionate, detail oriented, and professional.
he is also flexible, and experimental in his teaching, eager to see me flourish, trying to get the best from me.
he has this uncanny communication skills to help me appreciate and understand more deeply a music piece i am learning.
most of all, in just 2 weeks, Ethan helped me to recover “fun” and “freedom” during my piano practice (:))

Maria focuses on foundation, which is the most important strategy for improving in a long term. Maria puts effort to make piano as fun and beautiful instead of hard training. She is also very flexible in lesson times and tries to accommodate students' interest and need. I am glad I found her as my teacher!

I throughly enjoy the lesson time spent with Maria as a beginner. She is an accomplished musician and transmits her passion for the piano to me as her student. She is kind and patient and totally focused on my comfort level and ensuring that I understand her approach to learning to play. I would highly recommend her to anyone interested in starting with the basics and having the enthusiasm for learning that she has for teaching.

Maria has been a joy to work with. She is kind, compassionate and patient. She is an amazing teacher and my lessons have been transformative. Every time I leave a session with Maria I am excited, rejuvenated and my skills are most certainly elevated. She makes music fun. She is also thorough and comprehensive and teaches excellent fundamentals. I would strongly recommend her to anyone interested in learning piano.

Laurie was an excellent teacher for my middle-school tuba player. She was very patient and encouraging. She was very knowledgeable on the details of playing the instrument.

I loved my first lesson with Laurie! She taught me more in one hour than I could have imagined - and in a sweet and caring way!

My first lesson with Concetta was great. I received a lot of good feedback and things to work on for this first week. Really looking forward to lesson 2 next week!

Concetta is a super knowledgable and supportive teacher! She adjusts her teaching to student interests and needs. She teaches in a lovely space and if you are super lucky you will meet her adorable dog, pepper <3. I highly recommend her!

Hire Concetta, especially to support a beginning violin player! She is warm, professional and very adept at finding your child's musical strengths and then identifying material to help them access and enjoy the music and instrument. AKA GOOD TIMES for all and excited to continue...as it should be. Thank you Concetta for your expertise and flexibility with schedule. Keri-Ann