Evanston
School of Rock

Explore School of Rock

Evanston

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School of Rock Evanston
1311 Sherman Place
Evanston, IL 60201
(847) 864-7625

Location Specifics

Located directly across the street from the Dempster Stop on the Purple Line.

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Hours
  • Monday: 2 PM - 8 PM
  • Tuesday: 2 PM - 8 PM
  • Wednesday: 2 PM - 8 PM
  • Thursday: 2 PM - 8 PM
  • Friday: 3 PM - 7 PM
  • Saturday: 9 AM - 5 PM
  • Sunday: Closed

Music programs at School of Rock Evanston combine one-on-one lessons with group band practices

Programs we offer

Rock 101 music program in Evanston for kids and beginners
Rock 101
Ages 8-13

Rock 101 is one of School of Rock Evanston's top programs for kids and beginners. Students have one weekly group rehearsal where they learn to play classic rock songs that have been simplified for beginner musicians. Additionally, Rock 101 students in Evanston have a weekly private music lesson with an instructor who helps them learn the concepts and skills behind their performance songs.

What To Expect
  • 1 WEEKLY PRIVATE LESSON
  • 1 WEEKLY GROUP REHEARSAL

The Path to Take the Stage

Our music programs for kids in Evanston are designed to get students on stage performing, with the goal of building strong musical proficiency. Younger students at School of Rock Evanston who have participated in the Rookies program can move to our Rock 101 music program once they’re ready. Additionally, students (typically ages 8 to 13-years-old) can begin Rock 101 without any prior experience. The goal of this rock program is to quickly develop a basic competence on students’ chosen instruments before moving on to our famous Performance Program. 

Performance music program for teens in Evanston
Performance
Ages 8-18

The Performance Program at School of Rock Evanston is our hallmark music program, where tens of thousands of students enroll each year. It consists of a weekly group rehearsal where kids and teens learn by playing rock music's most iconic songs with a band composed of their peers. Students are assigned songs and parts that are tailored to them based on their age, experience and ability to learn new skills and concepts. Students then work through their parts in weekly private music lessons, refining the skills and concepts that those songs introduce. The goal of this curriculum is to prepare kids and teens for live performances. Every few months, School of Rock Evanston Performance Program students take the stage and play at local Evanston music venues in front of a live audience.

What To Expect
  • 1 WEEKLY PRIVATE LESSON
  • 1 WEEKLY GROUP REHEARSAL

The Path to Take the Stage

School of Rock Evanston's music programs for kids and teens are designed to inspire by getting students on stage and performing. All of our other music education programs focus on readying students for our famous Performance Program. This is where students develop incredible musical skills. Performance Program students have often gone through our Rock 101 program first or have some previous basic music experience. These young musicians will have custom development plans outlined by their instructors with key concepts reinforced during private lessons and group rehearsals, all with the goal of performing live at a Evanston music venue.

Rookies music program for children in Evanston
Rookies
Ages 6-7

At School of Rock Evanston, our music program for children with no previous musical experience (typically ages 6 to 7 years old) is called Rookies. Rookies students have one weekly private music lesson and a group class where they learn fundamentals like chords, rhythm, and song structure. Kids get to learn and experiment with multiple instruments so they can later decide which one they ultimately want to continue pursuing in Rock 101. 

What To Expect
  • 1 WEEKLY GROUP LESSON
  • USE OF SIMPLIFIED ROCK INSTRUMENTS TO TEACH KIDS TO PLAY MUSIC

The Path to Take the Stage

All of our music programs are designed to inspire students to learn and develop a strong musical proficiency. At School of Rock Evanston, younger students who are not ready for a more comprehensive program like Rock 101 can start in Rookies. Additionally, students who have completed the Little Wing program will progress into the Rookies music program. No prior musical experience is needed for Rookies. Once your child is ready for private music lessons (typically older than first or second graders), they will graduate into our Rock 101 program.

Songwriting
Age 12 and over

Our Songwriting program for kids and teens teaches the fundamentals of songwriting, arrangement and music theory, and helps students compose original works.  At School of Rock Evanston, songwriting students receive one weekly private lesson where they learn concepts, technique and theory on an instrument of their choice. These principles are then applied in a weekly group lesson where students work together on songwriting exercises and lyrical workshops.  Every few months, Songwriting students take the stage to perform or band together to record their original songs.

What to Expect
  • 1 weekly private lesson
  • 1 weekly group lesson

The Path to Take the Stage

Our Songwriting program for kids and teens in Evanston is designed to create musical proficiency through the creation of original music. Students at School of Rock Evanston who have completed our Rock 101 program can move to our Songwriting program once they’re ready. Additionally, new students who have prior experience with and basic knowledge of an instrument can also begin Songwriting. The program culminates with a live showcase where students perform their original compositions in bands at a local music venue. Students taking the Songwriting Program online will remotely record their original songs to produce a demo of the class's music.

Remote student playing guitar
Online
All Ages

At School of Rock Evanston, our students can take online, one-on-one music instruction from the comfort of their homes. We call this program School of Rock Remote. This online music program contains weekly one-on-one instruction conducted by our expert School of Rock instructors in a safe virtual lesson room.
 
Students will receive their training using our proprietary education program, The School of Rock Method™, which couples live video lessons with our proprietary Method App™, SongFirst Approach™ and Method Books™. 

What To Expect
  • ONE WEEKLY 1-ON-1 LESSON
  • LESSONS CONDUCTED USING SECURE VIDEO TECHNOLOGY

THE PATH TO TAKE THE STAGE

All of our music programs for kids, teens, and adults are designed to help students gain amazing musical proficiency. School of Rock’s online music lesson program is no exception. Online guitar lessons, online piano lessons, online drum lessons, online singing lessons and online bass guitar lessons are all offered through the School of Rock Remote online program.

Adult music program in Evanston for students over 18
Adult Program
Ages 18+

School of Rock Evanston's Adult Program is for students over 18 years old who are looking to either improve their musical proficiency or pick up an instrument with no prior musical experience. As with most School of Rock music programs, the Adult Program uses a performance-based music education approach. This means the curriculum focuses on learning music concepts and applying them in a live performance setting. Our Adult Music Program includes one weekly private music lesson and a weekly group rehearsal. Every student at School of Rock Evanston is placed in a band of fellow adults and then assigned specific songs as a way of learning key music concepts and skills. Adult students then take the stage to play at a live show in Evanston.

What To Expect
  • 1 WEEKLY PRIVATE LESSON
  • 1 WEEKLY GROUP REHEARSAL

The Path to Take the Stage

All of our music programs are designed to inspire by getting students on stage and performing, with the goal of building strong musical proficiency along the way. The School of Rock Evanston Adult Program is open to all experience levels and each student will follow a customized learning plan developed by their instructor. Adult students will work together during rehearsal to prepare for a live performance at a real rock venue in Evanston.

House Band program for gigging at local venues in Evanston
House Band
Age 17 and Under

The School of Rock Evanston House Band music program gives students under 18 the opportunity to join a gigging band composed of fellow musicians from their school. These students perform additional live shows throughout the year. All students in the Performance Program have the opportunity to audition for a spot in School of Rock Evanston's House Band. Once selected, House Band members become leaders in their School of Rock community and perform live shows at IL rock venues throughout the year.

What To Expect
  • A GIGGING MUSICIAN'S EXPERIENCE
  • FREQUENT LIVE PERFORMANCES IN COMMUNITY

The Path to Take the Stage

Performance is the core of School of Rock's educational approach. Therefore, we create additional opportunities for students to perform on stages throughout Evanston and the rest of IL. The House Band music program allows each school's most talented students the opportunity to join a band and play routinely in front of live audiences. Once a member, students will gain real music experience associated with gigging musicians and will become leaders and mentors inside the School of Rock community.

The AllStars national tour features the best child and teen musicians
AllStars
Age 17 and Under

The School of Rock AllStars Tour takes the very best students from around the world and sends them on a nationwide summer tour across the United States. Less than 1% of School of Rock students are selected each year to represent School of Rock as an AllStar. All Performance Program students are eligible to audition for this prestigious program. The intensive audition process starts off with video submissions followed by live auditions. Once selected, AllStar students will have an authentic touring experience including traveling on a tour bus, doing tour publicity and starring in nightly performances at famous venues and festivals during a two-week tour.

What To Expect
  • A MULTI-CITY, COUNTRY-WIDE MUSIC TOUR EXPERIENCE
  • PERFORMING ON SOME OF THE BIGGEST AND MOST FAMOUS STAGES IN THE WORLD

The Path to Take the Stage

Becoming an AllStar is the highest level of achievement for a School of Rock student. They play on legendary stages large and small, including The Knitting Factory, Red Rocks Amphitheatre, The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, The Troubadour and Lollapalooza. AllStar students often go on to have accomplished careers in the music industry. Former AllStars have gone on to become touring artists, star in Broadway musicals, get signed to record deals, become finalists on talent competitions like "The Voice" and "American Idol" and have other notable roles in the music industry.

Music Lessons in Evanston

Kid learns to play guitar at School of Rock Evanston

Guitar Lessons for All Skill Levels

Beginner Guitar Lessons for Kids

At School of Rock Evanston, we offer beginner guitar lessons for kids. Our expert guitar instructors guide your child from start to finish with private instruction and weekly group band rehearsals. Every instructor at School of Rock Evanston is an experienced musician, and they emphasize foundational music theory and technique when teaching guitar lessons to kids. Unlike other Evanston guitar lessons and programs, School of Rock is designed to get students performing in a band.

Beginner Guitar Lessons for Adults

It’s never too late to learn to play the guitar. Similar to our kids guitar lessons, School of Rock Evanston's beginner guitar lessons for adults utilizes a performance-based curriculum. Our experienced instructors teach adult students through popular rock songs, and teach students to play guitar in a way that’s challenging and fun. We believe the best way to learn is by doing, which is why we combine weekly private guitar lessons with group band rehearsals. At School of Rock Evanston, we teach beginner guitar lessons for adults in our Adult Program. This program gets students performing onstage at a local Evanston venue.

Key Concepts
  • Technique
  • Solos
  • Chords
  • Theory

Intermediate to Advanced Guitar Lessons

As students gain skills and experience, we move them along to more challenging programs at higher skill levels. Intermediate and advanced students take the skills they learned in beginner guitar lessons, and layer on more difficult techniques and concepts. School of Rock Evanston offers advanced guitar lessons for kids and adults that teach by playing challenging classic rock songs and emphasize playing the guitar in a real music venue. Our Evanston guitar teachers will work with each student to develop a custom learning plan.

Kids learn to drum at School of Rock Evanston

Drum Lessons for All Skill Levels

Beginner Drum Lessons for Kids

School of Rock Evanston is the best option for anyone looking to learn the drums. Our beginner drum lessons get kids behind the drum kit and on their way to taking the stage. That’s why at School of Rock Evanston we combine private drum lessons for beginners with weekly band rehearsals—it prepares students to perform live. With years of experience teaching drums in Evanston, our drum instructors teach beginner drum students core techniques, including how to groove, play rudiments and more.

Beginner Drum Lessons for Adults

Our drum lessons for adults are designed to accommodate all skill levels. At School of Rock Evanston, our beginner drum lessons for adults are built for musicians with little to no experience. We teach adults using the same core performance-based education philosophy as our drum lessons for kids—performing with a band accelerates the learning process. Adult students will perform live at a venue in Evanston. Unlike other Evanston drum lessons for beginners, School of Rock combines private drum lessons with weekly band rehearsals so students are ready to play in front of real, live audiences.

Key Concepts
  • RUDIMENTS
  • TIME SIGNATURES
  • TECHNIQUE
  • GROOVE

Intermediate to Advanced Drum Lessons

More experienced to advanced drum students need a drum lesson curriculum that builds upon foundational skills and continues to grow musical proficiency. That’s why at School of Rock Evanston, our drum lessons are customized for each student and his or her goals. Our Evanston drum instructors integrate more complex techniques and concepts—intermediary grooves, shifts, meters and more—into a student's individual lessons and group band rehearsal, and will also select more difficult songs for his or her live performances.

 

Kid learns to sing at School of Rock Evanston

Singing Lessons for All Skill Levels

Beginner Singing Lessons for Kids

School of Rock Evanston offers beginner singing lessons for kids. Our unique, performance-based approach develops students' musical proficiency by preparing them to perform live. At School of Rock Evanston, our vocal coaches are practicing musicians who integrate key music fundamentals—breathing, posture and more—into a curriculum based on performing with a band. Each week, beginner singing students participate in a private singing lesson and a band rehearsal.

Beginner Singing Lessons for Adults

School of Rock Evanston teaches adults how to sing in our innovative Adult Program. Students develop vocal skills at a challenging pace designed to help you see results with every singing lesson. Adult vocalists learn how to keep tempo, stay on-key and master advanced vocal techniques for a powerful and healthy voice. Our curriculum teaches students how to sing by using popular rock songs that emphasize key concepts. Each week, Adult Program students have a private singing lesson for beginners and group band rehearsal.

Key Concepts
  • TECHNIQUE
  • HARMONY
  • POWER
  • READING

Intermediate to Advanced Singing Lessons

At School of Rock Evanston, our singing lessons for kids and adults are designed to help our students reach a high degree of musical proficiency. Intermediate and advanced singers take skills learned from previous singing lessons and layer on more difficult techniques and concepts. Our advanced singing lessons teach students to sing by performing popular rock songs that illustrate a specific vocal concept or technique. We pair weekly private singing lessons with weekly band rehearsals with the goal of getting musicians to perform live in Evanston.

Kid learns to play bass at School of Rock Evanston

Bass Lessons for All Skill Levels

Beginner Bass Lessons for Kids

School of Rock Evanston offers beginner bass guitar lessons for kids that blend weekly private instruction with weekly band rehearsals. This performance-based approach results in a high level of musical proficiency because it engages and inspires students. Every School of Rock bass instructor is a practicing musician in Evanston and teaches bass lessons for kids that get great results. Beginners learn to play bass guitar by using popular rock songs that illustrate key concepts and techniques.

Beginner Bass Lessons for Adults

Adults looking to learn bass guitar can enroll in School of Rock’s Adult Program. No experience is necessary in our beginner bass guitar lessons for adults. At School of Rock Evanston, our experienced, local bass guitar instructors have the patience and skills to help adult students gain musical proficiency. As with all School of Rock music programs, our bass guitar lessons for adults ciriculum is performance-based, and include both weekly private instruction and weekly band rehearsals.

Key Concepts
  • GROOVE
  • TECHNIQUE
  • THEORY
  • TONE

Intermediate to Advanced Bass Lessons

Our intermediate to advanced bass guitar lessons teach Evanston students the skills they need to become the backbone of a band. Students take skills from previous bass lessons and layer on more difficult techniques and concepts. At School of Rock Evanston, our bass instructors use popular rock songs as a way of teaching students advanced concepts and techniques. We pair weekly private bass lessons with weekly band rehearsals to inspire and engage students throughout the learning process.

Kid learns to play piano at School of Rock Evanston

Keyboard Lessons for All Skill Levels

Beginner Keyboard Lessons for Kids

At School of Rock we teach differently than other music schools in Evanston. Our curriculum is performance-based, meaning that we prepare students to perform. Our piano lessons for beginners combine weekly private instruction with weekly band rehearsals. At School of Rock Evanston, our beginner keyboard lessons for kids take key concepts and music fundamentals—finger placement, scales, key differentiation and more—and teach them through popular rock songs. This approach inspires and engages students, which results in attaining a high level of musical proficiency. Our piano teachers have years of experience teaching music in the Evanston area, and know how to coach and motivate students of any skill level to play the keyboard.

Beginner Keyboard Lessons for Adults

The School of Rock Evanston Adult Program puts beginner keyboard students in a band. Adult Program students in the Evanston area learn to play piano through a combination of weekly private beginner piano lessons and weekly band rehearsals. At School of Rock, our piano lessons give adult students the chance to perform in a band at local Evanston music venues, taking them out of the classroom and onto the stage.

Key Concepts
  • TECHNIQUE
  • TONE
  • THEORY
  • READING

Intermediate to Advanced Keyboard Lessons

At School of Rock Evanston, our keyboard lessons for kids and adults are designed to help students get results. Intermediate and advanced students take skills learned from beginner keyboard lessons and layer on more advanced piano techniques with concepts. Our local keyboard instructors are all practicing musicians in Evanston, and use popular rock songs as a way of teaching complex skills. We pair weekly private piano lessons with weekly band rehearsals to inspire and engage students throughout the learning process.

Our Experienced Music Teachers

All of School of Rock Evanston’s music teachers are experienced musicians devoted to helping students attain musical proficiency. Our instructors guide students one-on-one to personalize learning, inspire confidence and build social skills.

Maggie Weber
General Manager
Maggie was born and raised with an undeniable ear for music. Singing has always been her passion. Her mother told her that she sang before she ever spoke. Maggie has always had a knack for music. When she was 18 months old, she would hum to songs happily in key. Maggie believes that everyone has music inside of them, no matter what age they are. She has been involved in many projects and studio recordings including The Rip Chords (University of Illinois), Molehill and Willy Dynomite. Her passion for music, paired with her obsessive organization, has led her to be the General Manager of School of Rock Evanston. Maggie hopes to open the door to musicians in a way that she never experienced.
Danielle Piccolomini
Operations Manager
Danielle Piccolomini was born and raised in Wilmington, Delaware, where she was very active in local community and professional theatre. Her passion for music was sparked at an early age by her grandmother, who would sing to her every chance she got. She was immersed in theatre at age nine and started playing the flute, piccolo, piano and handbells soon afterward. After high school, she studied at The Young Americans College of the Performing Arts in Corona, CA, where she had the opportunity to travel and teach music to kids all over the world for almost seven years. She moved to Chicago on a whim in August 2019 and found a way to combine her love of music and love for typing emails at School of Rock Evanston as an Assistant Manager. She hopes to continue sharing her musical and organizational skills.
Studio Coordinator Amy Glazer
Amy Glazer
Studio Coordinator
Amy has been obsessed with music ever since she was little. She was raised on OneRepublic, Les Misérables, and Green Day, so her music taste is all over the place, but she'll always return to pop punk and musicals. Amy has a background in musical theatre, and ran her university's theatre society (BU+AUB PARTS) as a music director (and various other administrative roles) for two years!

After graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in Animation Production, Amy moved back home to Northbrook before trying to break into the animation industry. Amy is bouncing around volunteering as a stage crew member in the Northshore Suburbs and working with the coolest kids at the coolest place in Evanston—School of Rock! In the future, she hopes to combine her love of theatre, animation, and live music to provide safe, learning-based concert opportunities for kids!
Keyboard + Piano Teacher Bob Long
Bob Long
Keyboard + Piano Teacher
Bob Long began his professional career as a jazz pianist over 40 years ago in Chicago and has recorded and performed most of his life there. He has also performed at the JVC Jazz Festival in New York, the Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland, the North Sea Jazz Festival in the Netherlands, and twice at the Chicago Jazz Festival.

In 2006, at the age of 56, Bob began graduate school to study Modern European History at the University of California, San Diego and was awarded a Fulbright Scholarship for research in Spain from 2011 through 2012. Bob received his Ph.D. in history from UCSD in June of 2014 and taught there briefly as a lecturer that same summer.

Bob has since been teaching as a professor and lecturer in history at Elmhurst College in Elmhurst, Illinois, and at Elgin Community College in Elgin, Illinois. He is also a piano instructor at School of Rock in Evanston, Illinois! Bob continues to perform as a composer and jazz pianist at the same time and is a part of the jazz singer-songwriter poetry collective known as The Last Word.
Justin Radtke
Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher
Justin has always had a deep love and appreciation for music throughout his life. He started playing guitar in 1998, and has over 12 years of experience teaching guitar lessons to people of all ages. Some of Justin’s guitar idols include Buddy Guy, Eric Clapton, John Williams and Joe Pass. Justin started off playing rock, blues and folk guitar. At Valparaiso University, he studied Classical Guitar and played in classical guitar ensembles and various bands. He loves playing with local musicians and writing original music. Justin has a passion for teaching guitar and passing on the gift of music to his students. He likes to focus on technique, improvisation and theory so that students build a basis in music that allows them to play any style they wish. While teaching, Justin aims to inspire a lifelong love for music and the guitar.
Macklin Suhre
Drum Teacher
Macklin Suhre was born in Lake Bluff, Illinois. He attended Lake Forest High School studying music and drumming in the jazz band and wind ensemble. In 2009, he was accepted to Berklee College of Music in Boston as a drum set principle, where he spent four years studying with celebrated faculty members such as Mitch Haupers, Mike Mangini, Kim Plainfield and many more. Macklin graduated from Berklee in 2013 with a degree in Professional Music, and continues to perform with his band The Relevant Elephants, who will be releasing their debut album "Paper Walls" soon.
Michelle Hallman
Vocal Teacher
Michelle Hallman performs, records, writes/arranges songs and tours with many different projects. She has been a working musician for a greater part of her life, and thrives in live performances. She is a well-versed singer, perfecting a plethora of styles and genres. Even though she's a rocker at heart, she has always loved choral music and is extremely knowledgeable in vocal harmonies. Michelle is also an accomplished percussionist. She plays congas, bongos, djembe and all kinds of assorted hand percussion instruments. She has played the piano since age three, and took lessons for many, many years. She also plays the guitar and is striving to get better. Michelle has sung/played with the likes of Gregg Allman, Darryl Jones, Mr. Blotto, Umphree's McGee , Richard Marx, Vince Welnick, Freddie Jones Band and The Bodeans. Her bands have opened for Kansas, Steven Stills and Jazz is Dead. She's also been the voice of national commercial jingles. Michelle loves teaching at School of Rock, and is thrilled to share her knowledge and experience. She is so excited to see what the next generation of talent will bring.
Schaefer Hugebeck
Guitar Teacher
Schaefer decided to play guitar in fifth grade when he became enamored with the guitar stylings of Jimmy Page, Hendrix and Carlos Santana. It wasn’t long till it was a full blown love affair between boy and guitar, causing him to study for over a decade with some of Chicago's finest musicians. Music is the first thing he thinks of when he wakes up in the later hours of the morning and the last thing he thinks of before he sleeps. Schaefer has been at School of Rock since 2014 teaching guitar and working with both the performance and garage rock programs.
Alex Zeravica
Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher, Drum Teacher
Alex Zeravica was born in Georgia in 1990. He had a bad habit of banging on anything he could find around the house. When his parents realized it wasn't a phase, they bought him a beginner drum set when he was six or seven. After moving to Lake Bluff, Illinois at the age of nine, Alex started taking drum lessons and enrolled in school band. In middle school, Alex joined the jazz band, and also joined Midwest Young Artists, enrolling in their jazz ensemble and advanced percussion ensemble. He continued all of these throughout his time at Lake Forest High School. After graduating, he moved to Boston to study at Berklee College of Music, studying Film Scoring. Alex currently plays with a handful of different groups and records as a session musician, having played on dozens of different projects, from demos to full-length albums. He is a guitar teacher, bass guitar teacher and drum teacher at School of Rock Evanston.
BRYAN RESENDIZ
Drum Teacher
Bryan Resendiz is a Music Director at the Highwood School. He teaches drums and manages the ensemble rehearsals. His path through the world of rock 'n' roll began when he got his first drum set in the 3rd grade.

Bryan's musical inspiration came initially from his older sister's record collection of "The Police" and "Led Zeppelin." By age 12 and throughout his teens, Bryan performed live in bands and in studio settings. In the summer of 1995 as a part of the Hello Dave band, Bryan played in venues from San Francisco and New York to Key West. The Hello Dave Band also headlined at the House of Blues, Park West, and the Vic Theater in Chicago. The band performed on numerous radio and television programs including WGN-TV, WXRT, and WCKG. In 2002, Hello Dave was asked by the U.S.O to entertain American servicemen and servicewomen overseas.

Between 2002 and 2005, Bryan played rock 'n' roll in the Pacific Islands, Asia, Europe, Africa, and across the Middle East, culminating in an intense tour across Iraq. Bryan recorded a full-length album for Hello Dave's "Perfect Day" in 2003. An opportunity to work closely with producer, Don Gehman (John Mellencamp, REM, Bruce Hornsby) and engineer Mark Dearnley (Paul McCartney, ACDC, XTC) made a lasting impression on how to create powerful music and capture great performances. Bryan left the Hello Dave band in 2005 in order to focus on freelance music projects and a successful teaching practice at Kevin Connelley Drum Instruction in Skokie. Bryan continues to maintain a busy gigging schedule with a number of Chicago bands.
 Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher, Singing Teacher SCOTT BALMOOS
SCOTT BALMOOS
Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher, Vocal Teacher
Scott is a singer, songwriter, guitarist and music educator. He started on his path in music while in middle school when he fell in love with the sound of The Beatles. He decided he must learn to sing and play guitar and what followed was the forming of his first rock and roll band. Music grew in his heart and he continued to pursue his passion by studying at the Eastman School of Music with a focus in vocal performance. While at Eastman, along with singing opera, art songs and musicals, and against his teacher's wishes, he continued rockin' out with his band The Shift. This energy eventually provided the spark to move to Chicago.For the past 12 years, Scott has been performing, writing and recording in Chicago, most notably with the roots reggae band Akasha and as a solo artist. As a lover of all types of music, he believes that you can learn about yourself, how to use your voice and reach out to the world from almost any song as long as it cries out with love from your heart.
Singing Teacher, Keyboard Teacher Kelli Hutton
Kelli Hutton
Vocal Teacher, Keyboard Teacher
Kelli Owens Hutton is a singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist with over 20 years of experience playing in bands and recording. She was signed to Atlantic Records and has toured nationally with acts like Better Than Ezra and Edwin McCain. Her songs have been featured in major motion pictures and on various records. She has a Bachelors degree from Berklee College of Music and comes from a musical family as her father was the Director of Jazz Studies at Northwestern University for many years. Kelli loves teaching voice and piano at the School of Rock!
Bass Guitar Teacher, Drum Teacher JACK BRERETON
JACK BRERETON
Bass Guitar Teacher, Drum Teacher
Jack Brereton fell in love with music as a young child. Often he was found singing and dancing around the house to any tune in his head, and at the age of ten he first picked up a bass. From then until now, he has performed in a range of musical groups including jazz ensembles, rock bands, cover bands, and pit orchestras. Jack has played all over the country, including famous venues like the House of Blues in Chicago and Carnegie Hall. Jack’s dedication to the art doesn’t stop at playing music, he also graduated from the Blackbird Academy where he learned how to engineer records and now works with clients throughout the Chicagoland area. He puts in the same exceptional effort while working with his students to help them achieve their goals.
Bass Guitar Teacher, Guitar Teacher, Keyboard Teacher, Singing Teacher Ait Fetterolf
Ait Fetterolf
Bass Guitar Teacher, Guitar Teacher, Keyboard Teacher, Vocal Teacher
Ait Fetterolf is a multi-instrumentalist, singer, and award-nominated screenwriter from South Carolina. Ait has been playing piano since the age of five, where his teacher told his parents after his first lesson that he had perfect pitch. After a brief stint as a piano performance major at Furman University and several years in punk bands, jazz ensembles, drum lines, and orchestras, his affections tended towards the theater where he performed in numerous musicals including as an actor and singer in The Lost Colony outdoor symphonic drama in North Carolina. He has also served as musical director and conductor for several stage productions, arranging harmonies and rehearsing vocalists for The Rocky Horror Show, Belz!, The Last Five Years, and more. In addition to teaching private voice, guitar, & drum lessons for more than a decade, he has also performed stand-up comedy at the world famous Comedy Store on the Sunset Strip. Ait loves to discover new genres and artists, and believes that a key component of musical education is providing a musician with a drive & desire to explore the totality of humanity’s harmonies.
Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher Henry Harps
Henri Harps
Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher
Henri Harps is a guitarist and bassist originally from Washington D.C. He started on his musical path at an early age, beginning with the alto saxophone before moving to the clarinet and bass clarinet. As a teenager in the 90s he was inspired by alternative music and switched his focus to guitar and bass.

After graduating from college, he moved to New York City to continue following his passion for music. During this time, he performed a variety of musical styles in diverse settings: from jazz, to rock, to experimental music. Also during this time, he helped to start musical programs for children: an after-school program for elementary-aged children and a partnership with a charter school to teach music classes. Since moving to Chicago in 2015, he has worked with senior citizens, providing therapeutic music services.

Henri believes that it's important for students to be curious and open to many forms of music and that it is the teacher's role to cultivate knowledge in the hope of instilling a lifelong appreciation of the art.
Donovan Summers, Drum Teacher
Donovan Summers
Drum Teacher
After listening to his brother play drums for years in the garage, Donovan decided he too wanted to be a musician. Starting with classical percussion at the age of nine, he would go on to learn drum set, piano, banjo, and baritone saxophone. Once in high school, he began to play with any group that would let him in, including Legends Drum and Bugle Corps, the Youth Jazz Ensemble of Dupage, and even a production of the musical Cats in the pit orchestra. At the University of St. Francis Donovan pursued his passion in music by becoming a founding member of his university's jazz ensemble and obtaining a degree in audio engineering. During this time, he focused heavily on his jazz studies and recording techniques while teaching music on the weekends. Throughout his musical career he has kept one quote in mind, “Every collaboration helps you grow” - Brian Eno. School of rock was the obvious fit for him as he loved how students got the chance to work and grow together as musicians. Donovan strives to give the best education he can and believes in teaching his students creativity and improvisation alongside traditional techniques to make his students true artists, not just musicians.
Evynne Stitely, Drum Teacher
Evynne Stitely
Drum Teacher
Evynne began her drumming journey in 2011, studying with drummer Kevin Connelley with a focus on jazz. She continued throughout high school playing a plethora of styles including jazz, rock, hip-hop, funk, r&b, punk, and classical percussion. She received several awards during her high school career including Birch Creek’s “exceptional musician” award, and ETHS jazz festival’s “exceptional soloist” award.

After graduating high school, she attended The New School Of Jazz And Contemporary Music in NYC, studying with a diverse group

of teachers including Amir Ziv, Kendrick Scott, and Buster Williams. She spent her time studying drums, rhythm, and music theory while playing with as many artists as she could, hungry for learning, improvement, and the creation of creative inspiring music.

After spending a year in NY, she decided her calling was with teaching, and she now lives in Chicago with the intent to pass on all the knowledge she’s accrued throughout her career.
Drum Teacher, Keyboard + Piano Teacher Ryan Sander
Ryan Sander
Drum Teacher, Keyboard + Piano Teacher
Ryan Sander is a drummer and percussionist from Cape Cod, Massachusetts. He has been playing drums since he was 9 years old and started playing professionally in 2013 in local jazz bands and pit orchestras. Musical theater has been a large part of Ryan’s life as he has gotten the chance to work with many talented actors and musicians such as Leslie Carra-Rudolph, Caitlin Kinnuen, Caitlin Galaglie, Fergie L.Philippe, Peter Hodgson and David Kornfeld.

Along with performing, teaching is a passion that runs deep for Ryan. Passing on the knowledge of being a professional performer to the next generation is something any musician dreams of. Ryan truly strives to connect with each student and fuel their interest in discovering the joy of music.
Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher Michael Salgado
Michael Salgado
Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher
Michael discovered his love for music at the age of 13 when he listened to “Master of Reality” by Black Sabbath. From there, he bought his first guitar and started learning songs by ear until high school. Michael then went on to start a jazz trio, which exposed him to the great musicians in the Chicago scene under the guidance of Victor García.

In high school and college, Michael played in the top bands focusing on double bass with a major in composition. While studying at Loyola University New Orleans, he immersed himself in the jazz scene while balancing an intense gigging schedule. Since then, Michael has toured multiple countries in South America and Europe along with various U.S. states and has played with Grammy nominees and winners.
Guitar Teacher, Singing Teacher Daniel Jackson
Daniel Jackson
Guitar Teacher, Vocal Teacher
Daniel Jackson is a multi-instrumentalist who hails from Birmingham, AL. He spent the first seven years of his career traveling in musicals like Green Day’s American Idiot, Rock of Ages, and Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story in the titular role.

As a songwriter, Daniel has worked with artists like Blondie Chaplin, Jason Robert Brown, Tom Kitt, and Scott Weiland. Daniel feels honored to get to teach the next generation about the ups and downs of the performing industry at School of Rock Evanston.
Drum Teacher Randy Payne
Randy Payne
Drum Teacher
Randy comes to School of Rock Evanston as a seasoned veteran of the Chicago rock scene. He has performed, recorded, and toured with such notable Chicago acts as The Cells (Orange Recordings), Box-O-Car (Veronica Records), Scott Lucas & The Married Men (The End Records), and most recently, Cisco Pike.

Randy’s rock & roll career includes experience as a talent buyer, booking agent, and stage manager with prominent event companies like Duff Entertainment and Legacy Marketing Partners. Randy has also worked as a tour manager and album and merchandise designer for several of his bands. His experience provides a broad understanding of the professional rock & roll experience.

Randy often wishes School of Rock was available when he was a young player. After seeing his daughter’s growth as a musician by taking lessons and performing at School of Rock, he felt compelled to bring his experience and knowledge to students at School of Rock Evanston to help them grow as players and people.
Guitar Teacher, Keyboard + Piano Teacher Daniel Jonak
Daniel Jonak
Guitar Teacher, Keyboard + Piano Teacher
Daniel Jonak is an enthusiastic world-music composer and multi-instrumentalist specializing in guitar and piano, as well as being deeply steeped in rhythm and percussion. At 9 years old, Daniel began his adventure on the baritone euphonium which gave him a first-hand appreciation of brass and orchestral music, all the while fiddling on his older brother’s guitar with great intrigue. By his sophomore year of high school, Daniel had joined the jazz band, HP jazz trio, and the band “Xazz” playing guitar. During this time he displayed a strong interest in fusion music, and would later delve into the Indian Carnatic tradition.

At the age of 18, Daniel received a platinum scholarship to Berklee College of Music for writing a rap song and studied under Jack Pezanelli for chordal jazz guitar. Daniel’s teaching style focuses on elements of the Suzuki method, literacy in reading music, jamming with our instrument, and music theory supplemental material.

Daniel has worked with names such as Frank Catalano, Artur Wnorowski, and Justin Boyd, as well as various artists around Chicago. Daniel looks forward to playing, teaching, and investigating more types of music from around the world!
Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher, Keyboard + Piano Teacher Mitch Galgan
Mitch Galgan
Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher, Keyboard + Piano Teacher
Mitch Galgan is a songwriter and string-instrumentalist, whose main instrument is the bass, but also plays guitar and piano. They studied classical and jazz music from elementary school to graduation at Illinois Wesleyan University and explored pop, rock, and more playing in a variety of bands independent of their schoolwork. This varied experience led Mitch from playing virtuosic concertos to improvising in jazz groups to theater productions, to jamming Hendrix songs on stage.

Mitch currently plays in several bands around Chicago: the Righteous Sound, the Noble Bautista Band, and Jared Jones & the Wild Ride. Mitch is also gearing up to release an album in 2024 of original songs under the moniker Silje Sweets.

Just having moved to Skokie, Mitch is thrilled to begin teaching at the School of Rock Evanston and to help cultivate each student’s love for music.
Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher Jackson Foellmer
Jackson Foellmer
Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher
Jackson started his musical journey at the age of 5 with piano lessons from his mother. His focus turned to the guitar at age 9 when he received lessons from his father's friend, bluesman Detroit James.

Jackson built his musical foundation on blues improvisation, playing in several bands around Chicago from age 9 through 18 when he moved from Chicago to Montreal. There he majored in music at Canada's top music school, McGill University. It was in Montreal that Jackson started music production and produced records for many artists around the Montreal and Toronto areas. These artists performed his productions all over Canada and one even opened for Imagine Dragons on every stop of their Canadian tour.

Jackson returned to Chicago and is excited to play with his band here and teach at the School of Rock in Highwood, Illinois.
Guitar Teacher, Keyboard + Piano Teacher Andrew Pridmore
Andrew Pridmore
Guitar Teacher, Keyboard + Piano Teacher
Andrew was born and raised in Park Ridge, Illinois, and began taking piano lessons around the age of 4. It wasn’t until he was in middle school that he joined a band and music became his greatest passion. Originally learning how to play classic rock songs on piano by transcribing guitar tabs, Andrew began picking up guitar as a teenager.

In the years since, Andrew has remained active in Chicago’s music scene and earned a BA in Music Business from the University of Illinois at Chicago. When Andrew isn’t writing, recording, or performing with various groups, he enjoys watching classic films and going to Sox games.
Vocal Teacher, Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher, Keyboard + Piano Teacher Andie Williams
Andie Williams
Vocal Teacher, Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher, Keyboard + Piano Teacher
Andie Williams (she/her) is a soul, blues, and jazz-inspired songwriter, vocalist, guitarist, bassist, and bandleader of ANDIE & The Bandits. She has been involved in Chicago’s music scene for over seven years, having attended Columbia College Chicago for her bachelor’s degree in Contemporary Music while playing at venues across Chicago.

In 2022, ANDIE’s NPR Tiny Desk Submission for her song “He’s Not What You Need Blues” garnered national attention and an article highlighting her work on NPR’s website. ANDIE & The Bandits recently concluded their 4-month-long residency at Golden Dagger and have just begun their 2024 residency at Epiphany Center for the Arts.
Vocal Teacher, Keyboard + Piano Teacher Lin Hart
Lin Hart
Vocal Teacher, Keyboard + Piano Teacher
Lin Hart is 50% music nerd and 50% theatre kid. She began playing piano in restaurants and bars at age 13 in her hometown of Bloomington, IN. There, she joined Indiana University's Jacob School of Music before heading to Ball State to pursue a degree in Musical Theatre.

Since graduating, Lin has worked in a wide array of musical and theatrical capacities. She has helped develop new Broadway and Off-Broadway musicals and plays, gigged professionally across the country, taught at the university level, served as the music director for dozens of events and productions, and written music for film and other media projects.

Lin's greatest joy, however, has always been working with her private students—watching them grasp a new concept, hit a note they never knew they had, or step onto the stage brimming with confidence. Some of her students have begun professional music careers of their own as Broadway performers and recording artists. Watching her students' growth and development as performers and as people—seeing them fall in love with music the same way she has—will never cease to be the best part of Lin's career.
Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher, Keyboard + Piano Teacher, Vocal Teacher Nick Fleury
Nick Fleury
Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher, Keyboard + Piano Teacher, Vocal Teacher
Nick Fleury is a guitar, bass, keyboard, drum, and vocal teacher at the School of Rock in Evanston and Highwood.

Born and raised in Highland Park, IL, he is a self-taught multi-instrumentalist who emphasizes the importance of music theory and ear training.

Nick began a new life the moment he got his first guitar at age 11. Growing up listening to his dad blasting classic rock and country radio in the garage, Nick was inspired to pick up the guitar after discovering Led Zeppelin and the three-guitar attack of Lynyrd Skynyrd. He began his first band Sad Panda in sixth grade debuting at the sixth grade talent show in a rebellious performance of 'Smells Like Teen Spirit'. He went on with the band to win Battle of The Bands at Highland Park High School for three of the four years there and self-produce an original debut LP record they released in 2005. Additionally, he took classical voice lessons in high school, played trumpet in band, participated in all the school musicals, and sang in many years of choirs ranging from middle school through college at the University of Pittsburgh in the prestigious Heinz Chapel Choir a cappella ensemble.

During his Pittsburgh days, he joined the audacious glam rock band Dazzletine and swept the city with fellow rocker Dan Koshute, where they graced the cover of the local arts newspaper ahead of what would be their sold-out debut record release show. Nick went on to open for bands such as Foxy Shazam, touring PA, NY, and OH, and touring the US and Europe with Dan as a duo in 2017 and 2022.

Nick continues to play lead guitar and keyboards/backing vocals in the Chicago band Head, with oldest friend Derek Weber formerly of Sad Panda. He looks ahead to producing his original solo music project with an upcoming debut album and forming a new band line-up
Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher Luis
Luis Vera
Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher
Growing up in South Jersey, Luis started off playing cello in both high school and regional orchestras. After buying a copy of The Beatles' “A Hard Day’s Night", Luis switched from cello and classical to guitar and rock n’ roll. Studying jazz bass initially at Lebanon Valley College, Luis finished with a Bachelor of Science in Music Production and Technology from Rowan University. A deep love for the Beatles and Iggy Pop led to songwriting and a passion for performance. A deeper love for connecting and sharing music led to a multitude of bands, cities, and now to teaching bass and guitar at the School of Rock in Evanston!
Keyboard + Piano Teacher Connor Bohn
Connor Bohn
Keyboard + Piano Teacher
Connor Bohn is a composer, pianist, and educator originally from Albany, New York. He studied classical piano from elementary school through to high school and began to focus on improvisation and composition when he arrived at Columbia College Chicago. Connor has recorded on various folk and rock projects with his friends in Chicago and has performed at venues such as Empty Bottle, Sleeping Village, and the Logan Square Arts Festival. Along with working as a bandmate and musical director, Connor also composes music for film, TV, theater, and video games. He loves everything about music, from jazz to electronic music, from writing to teaching, and everything in between. He is always looking for something new to listen to and discover, and he believes this constant learning process is important for any musician at any stage. Connor has always known that he would be writing music and playing piano for his whole life, but he discovered his love for teaching and guiding others towards their own goals while working as a music theory tutor at Columbia. Here he solidified his philosophy that every student is different, and the key to an effective teacher is listening and being flexible, This individualized attention is something Connor always missed in his music education and it is now his passion to give others the tools they need to take control of their own musical journey.
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For over twenty years, our amazing instructors have transformed hundreds of thousands of students across the world into skilled musicians. Become a musician at School of Rock.

Reviews

A Safe Place for my daughter.

School of Rock has been not only an open door to a different world, but a safe place to land for her. She has made many friends, improved her musicianship and has been exposed to more than a few new styles and genres of music.

The progress is unbelievable!

Our two boys have been taking music lessons at School of Rock for over two years. They both absolutely love it. It's kind of unbelievable that my shy middle son will get on stage in front of an audience and play in a band now.

A Home Away from Home.

My daughter likes the comfortable, welcoming setting and vibe, and she loves her instructors and coaches. In just a couple of years she has grown tremendously as a musician and performer.

It Changed my Daughter's Life.

She went from a shy teenager with an interest in music to a competent young musician who is more self-assured than I've ever seen her. My child blossomed under the instruction of some of the best musicians/ teachers in the area.

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