Brass Teacher & Beginning Piano

Joe Chobot -- Joe Chobot who teaches Trumpet (Cornet), Fluegel Horn, Valve and Slide Trombone, Baritone Horn and Keyboard has been playing professionally since 1966 in various combos and bands in the Chicagoland area. He also served in the US Army 97th and 85th Division bands and has had experience with arranging and playing in brass ensembles for various choirs. He also teaches the art of Improvisation using materials from his own experience and the Matteson/Peterson book for modal work.

Available to teach: MONDAY, TUESDAY, & THURSDAY

Drum & Percussion Teacher

Charles Fadale -- Charles Fadale's early studies with the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra percussionist John Rowland laid the foundation for his studies. Charles also has studied with drumming legends Keith Copeland, Max Roach, and Elvin Jones to name a few. He also has had the pleasure of performing with Barney Kessel, Joe Pass, Richie Cole, Della Reese, Mose Allison, Thomas Gunther, & Bobbi Wilsyn. Charles has been teaching since 1982 starting at the Hamburg Music Center in Hamburg, NY.

Available to teach: TUESDAY

Drum & Percussion Teacher

Bill Zervos -- Bill Zervos has been teaching Percussion at Beautiful Music for over a decade. He is a working member of both the Chicago Federation of Musicians and the V.I.P Percussion Organization of the Midwest. Mr. Zervos segments his training into specific units: Introduction to the Drum Set, Elementary Drum Method, Essential Studies for Snare, Sight-Reading for the Drums, Elementary Rock & Roll Drumming, Xylophone & Marimba Method, among others.

Available to teach: MONDAY, WEDNESDAY,                                        THURSDAY, FRIDAY, & SATURDAY

Guitar & Bass Teacher

Mike Bronersky -- Michael Bronersky began teaching Electric and Classical Guitar at Beautiful Music in 1993. His studies embrace over six years of Classical Guitar, including a Master Class with celebrated guitarist Pepe Romero. He has performed the classical guitar repertoire in both the United States and Europe. Recently, Mike has been performing, recording, and touring with the world renown Chicago band, VEHEMENT now called CONGLOMERATORZ.

Available to teach: MONDAY, TUESDAY,WEDNESDAY,
                               THURSDAY, & FRIDAY

Guitar & Bass Teacher

Chris Ptacek -- Chris began playing at age 11, due to strong family musical traditions.  He began teaching friends and family shortly thereafter, and began teaching professionally in 1998.  As a musician, his focus has been on rock, jazz, blues and experimental music.  As a student himself, he has studied with some of the nations top performers.  Chris is a firm believer in goal oriented practicing.  His students are given the technical and theoretical tools necessary to kick-start musical development.

Available to teach: MONDAY 

Guitar Teacher

Ralph Jones -- Ralph Jones studied guitar with James E. Smith at Central State University in Wilberforce, Ohio.  After leaving CSU, he attended Northern Illinois University, obtaining a Masters of Music degree in 1986.  Since graduation, he has performed as a band leader, solo vocalist, and guitarist in many venues.  He is currently composing and continuing to record as a jazz musician and soul/gospel artist.  While he thoroughly enjoys music from a wide range of styles including, but not limited to: rock, soul, blues and jazz---it is the jazz music where you will find his passion.  Educating is a privilege he does not take for granted and he is thoroughly delighted when students “get it”.  Mr. Jones believes that focused, deliberate progress is measured through a system that encourages performance.

Available to teach: TUESDAY & WEDNESDAY

Guitar & Upright/Electric Bass Teacher

Matt Young -- Matt Young has taught private lessons for over 5 years, with extensive experience teaching guitar and upright/electric bass to students of all ages.   He graduated in 2007 from Columbia College - Chicago's Music School with a Bachelor's Degree in Music Performance.  Matt is a versatile musician who has performed in a wide variety of settings from small group jazz combos to show bands for Las Vegas- style production shows.  He is well known in Chicago as a prominent jazz bassist and bandleader of The Matt Young Group.  You can find more information about Matt and his music at www.themattyounggroup.com .

Available to teach: MONDAY, TUESDAY & WEDNESDAY

Guitar & Beginning Bass

Tim Stine -- (BIO COMING SOON!!!)

Available to teach: SATURDAY

Piano, Organ, & Brass Teacher

John Connolly -- John Connolly has taught Piano, Organ, Trumpet, Euphonium (Baritone) and Horn, as well as Jazz Studies, Theory and Composition at Beautiful Music since 1988. Mr. Connolly studied Music Theory at the University of Minnesota, Theory/Composition and Music Education at Park College in Missouri, and Broadcasting Techniques and Electronics at Brown Institute in Minneapolis. He began his professional music career in 1962 with the US Army in Europe, and then, based in Los Angeles toured throughout the states with several organizations, including his popular jazz trio, The Connolly Corp and his big band, The Chicago Grays. You can visit Middle C Music, his internet site at www.middlec.com.

Available to teach: MONDAY, TUESDAY,
                                WEDNESDAY, & THURSDAY

Piano, Brass, & Woodwind Teacher

Janis Haustein -- Janis Haustein has been a teacher at Beautiful Music since 1993. She received degrees in Elementary and Higher Education (Music Education) from the University of Minnesota. Janis received her advanced music degree from Notre Dame University. Later, she received a DMA from the American Conservatory of Music and served on the faculty there for 5 years. As a studio teacher, Janis emphasizes theory, rhythmic accuracy, and technique, as well as repertoire.  In addition, piano students are strongly encouraged to participate in the Illinois States Music Teachers program of annual achievement tests in technique, theory, and performance.  

Available to teach: TUESDAY, THURSDAY, & FRIDAY

Piano Teacher

John O'Keefe -- John is a full-time musician combining teaching and performing.  He teaches piano, organ, and keyboards and has been studying piano since the age of 7.
Over the span of 20 years, he had lessons with many teachers and studied music theory, arranging, and composition at Daley College.  John began teaching in 1986 and has taught students ranging in age from 6 to 85 years old.  In the early 90s, he was an organist for the Oak Lawn Skating Rink.  He also has performed on piano at fine dining restaurants including Nikos Restaurant in Bridgeview from 1995 to 2007.  In addition, John has also been a church musician since 1983; today, he is Music Director at St. Symphorosa Church in Chicago.   More info is available on his personal website: www.okeefemusic.com

Available to teach: MONDAY, TUESDAY, & SATURDAY

Violin Teacher

Amanda Fenton -- Amanda Fenton graduated cum laude from Augustana College in Rock Island, IL with a Bachelors of Arts degree in Music and Spanish.  She has been studying the violin since age nine and has been teaching privately for eight years.  She is a member of the American String Teachers Association and Music Teachers National Association.  She was awarded the MTNA Star Award at Augustana, “given to outstanding graduating music students intending to become independent music teachers or collegiate music professors".  In the summer of 2007 she attended the ARIA International Music Festival where she performed in master classes for Piotr Milewski and Oleh Krysa.  While at ARIA, she also received lessons from Mark Kaplan, Piotr Milewski, David Russell and Gregory Fulkerson.  In most recent years she has performed with the Augustana Symphony Orchestra and the Classical Symphony Orchestra of Chicago and is currently a member of the Elmhurst Symphony Orchestra.  Amanda also performs frequently at St. Joseph’s Church in Downers Grove and freelances in the Chicago area. She has studied privately with Debbie Edwards, Susan Stone and currently studies with Drew Lecher. 

Available to teach: MONDAY, TUESDAY, & THURSDAY

Vocal Teacher

Mike Thoms -- Michael is a graduate of Northern Illinois University where he received his BM in Music Education, December 2002.  He went on to complete his graduate studies at the Chicago College of Performing Arts at Roosevelt University, receiving his MM in Vocal Performance in December 2005.  Michael has studied with Chicago baritone Robert Sims at NIU and also under Richard Stilwell and Michael Best while at CCPA.  Currently he is a student of Dr. Ronald Combs in Chicago.
   Michael has sung and covered numerous opera roles; highlights include Vicar Gedge in Britten’s Albert Herring.  In Britten’s The Rape of Lucretia, he performed the role of Junius.  He has also sung the part of Saint Ignatius in Thomson’s Four Saints in Three Acts, Pooh Bah in Gilbert and Sullivan’s The Mikado, and the title role in Mozart’s The Impresario.  Michael also has sung with area opera companies including the Millennium Chamber Players and Chicago Opera Theater in the Chicago premier of Adams’ Nixon in China.
   Michael has been a voice instructor at Beautiful Music since spring of 2003.  He also teaches private voice at Wheaton Warrenville South High School and Crystal Lake South High School.   In addition to his teaching and solo singing career, Michael is a member of the St. Charles Singers, an internationally acclaimed chamber ensemble based out of St. Charles, IL.  

Available to teach: THURSDAY & SATURDAY

Vocal & Piano Teacher

Cynthia Rutledge -- Cynthia has been teaching music for over 14 years, both in private lessons and classrooms. She received her Bachelors of Music Degree from Northern Illinois University in Percussion Performance and her Masters of Music from DePaul University in Jazz Voice.  She has performed all over Chicagoland, including at a Chicago Bulls Game, the Bismarck Hotel, Arlington International Racecourse, Hollywood Casino, and on the Odessey Cruise Line.  Also, she has performed outside of Chicago in Miami at Hoy Como Ajer in Little Havana, at the Jacksonville Jazz Fest, and was the Director of Chick Singer Night in Miami.  She has taught as an adjunct professor at Benedictine University in Jazz Voice, and at Waubonsee Community College in Sugar Grove. At WCC she was the Director of the Waubonsee Steel Drum Bands, and taught beginning percussion and beginning piano classes.  Please note that she accepts students who are under 14 years of age.  But, she welcomes all ages, even adults, because it's never too late to learn what you love!

Available to teach: TUESDAY & WEDNESDAY