Tava Bever teaches both Suzuki and traditional piano. She has completed certification for Suzuki books 1-3 at the Chicago Suzuki Institute. She is passionate about sharing her love of music, and strives to help each student make a lifelong connection with music as they develop their skills at the piano. 

Voice/Piano

Jonathan Cramer holds a Bachelor’s of Music Education from the Wheaton College Conservatory of Music (Wheaton, Illinois) and a Master’s of Music in Choral Conducting from Simpson College (Indianola, Iowa). During his time at Wheaton, Jonathan performed as a soloist in several major works, served as an honors conductor, and was selected from over two hundred applicants to compete as one of nine semi-finalists in the National ACDA Undergraduate Conducting Competition. At Simpson College, Jonathan conducted professional and collegiate singers in educational and concert environments. Jonathan previously taught choral music at Lake Zurich High School (Lake Zurich, Illinois) and Palombi Middle School (Lake Villa, Illinois) and currently teaches choir, drama, and general music at Millburn Middle School (Lindenhurst, Illinois). He is a musical theater enthusiast, both as a performer and director. Jonathan is a talented and skilled vocalist. He regularly sings with the professional choir St. Charles Singers, based in St. Charles, Illinois and occasionally performs as a soloist. Jonathan is also an accomplished pianist, having experience in solo performance, accompanying local choirs, and accompanying students at solo and ensemble festivals.

Teaching Philosophy/Style

In all his interactions with students, Jonathan seeks to cultivate a positive and collaborative learning environment while giving students the tools and knowledge they need to succeed. He strives to excite and enthuse students about their education and performance. Jonathan will guide students in setting their own musical goals and each lesson will include time for self-reflection. Students will engage in a variety of musical experiences including ear training, sight reading, music theory, solo and collaborative repertoire, listening, and technical exercises. Jonathan is a charismatic teacher and aims to have lighthearted lessons grounded in hard work and dedication to excellence. Jonathan sees the student first, and the musician second, so students can feel free to make mistakes as they learn. Struggling and making errors are great teachers, and Jonathan endeavors to support and care for students throughout those experiences.

Preferred student age/ability level:

6 and up (including adults); beginning and intermediate levels

Musical styles offered:

Flexible, but preferred genres are classical and musical theater.

Parent Policy:

Parents are welcome to attend lessons if they desire.

Materials Needed:

To be discussed during initial lessons.

Piano, Guitar, Violin, Flute 

Miguel Fabián-Sauceda, born and raised in Waukegan, IL, is a distinguished music educator and musician.  Miguel holds a degree from the VanderCook College of Music and has dedicated over seven years to teaching, and fostering a passion for music in their students.

Miguel has achieved significant milestones in their career, including presenting at the prestigious American String Teachers Association/Suzuki Association Bi-Annual Conference. They are also an active member of the Grow Your Own Foundation and have been recognized by the Ralla Klepak Foundation for the Arts, where they served as a teacher trainer.

Miguel is happy and committed to serving their community, continually inspiring both students and peers alike through their dedication to music education and the arts.

‘Ellie’ Hyun Ah Lee received her bachelor’s degree in piano performance from the Catholic University of Korea. She completed a performance certificate program at Judson University and graduated with a master’s degree from Northern Illinois University. As a graduate accompanying assistant, she served the university choirs at Judson University and Northern Illinois University. She has developed a pleasant and effective teaching style over twenty years of private teaching experience and consistent professional development. She currently teaches undergraduates as a teaching assistant at Northern Illinois University.

Teaching Philosophy/Style:

Preferred student age: 

Musical Styles Offered: 

Classical 

Parent Policy: 

Studio is currently FULL.  To join waitlist, call 847-367-0707

Michael Mahany has a passion for teaching piano and understanding the disciplines of what it takes to go to the next level.  With over 20 years of teaching experience, he loves to help his students create a plan on how to achieve their music goals. He studied at Marquette University and traveled with one of the best teachers in the country to study tone production, emphasizing how to engage lateral motion properly.  He has experience successfully preparing students for auditions at college music programs throughout the country.

Michael’s passion is engaging in the student’s ability to understand music as a second language and has taught students as young as 4.  He believes you are never too young or too old to hear the language of music and welcomes adult learners of all ability levels!

Teaching Philosophy/Style:

“My teaching style is creative as I discern the unique pathways of the students’ passion and gifts. My primary roll therefore is to equip the musician with the fundamentals skill set for the learning journey.

I integrate assignments in 7 key foundational areas:

Chops, Science/Theory, Sight Reading, Chords/Scales, New Music, Improv, Repertoire

I always visit some or all of the 7 key foundational areas each week and prepare them for practice with personal assignment worksheets.”

Preferred student age:

Ages 3 & up

Musical styles offered:

All levels, all styles, including styles that interest student.

Classical, Jazz, Pop, Improv, Composition

Parent Policy:

Parents are welcome, even Grandparents.

Materials Needed:

One inch binder with manuscript paper. Books will be determined later.

Studio is currently FULL.  To join waitlist, call 847-367-0707

Laura McGriff currently holds a Bachelor’s and Master’s of Music degree in Music Education with a recital track in Piano Collaboration from the State University of New York at Fredonia. Her most notable piano professors are Ms. Mary Cobb and Dr. Anne Kissel. In the greater Rochester area in New York, Laura has taken further study of piano and piano collaboration at Roberts Community Music School and at Eastman Community Music School. Laura enjoys performing solo, four hand, and collaborative piano with both vocalists and instrumentalists. She has worked as a piano collaborator for youth musical theater clubs and camps such as Westside Theater Production where she worked on the shows Beauty and the Beast the Musical, Seussical the Musical, and Snoopy! The Musical. Laura has developed musicianship in singing, clarinet, and drums. In Hamburg NY, She has been a clarinet player for the Dixie land band 23 Skidoo and a quad drummer for the Hamburg Kingsmen Alumni Drum and Bugle Corps.

Laura loves working with youth music students. She has worked as a general music teacher for New York schools such as Greece Central School District, Mandala School, and St. Amelia Catholic School. Laura currently teaches music instruction at Allendale Association in Lake Villa, IL.

teaching philosophy/style:

“I believe a piano student can learn any music on the piano with consideration of the inner mechanical operations of their body in relation to the keyboard. Engaging the student in listening, movement, and singing exercises will enhance their musicality.  Students will be granted opportunities to learn piano technique, ear training, improvisation, sight reading, music theory, solo, and collaborative repertoire.  Students will be able to take ownership of their learning by discussing their goals initially. Lessons will then be carried out with the student’s specific goals in mind and allowing students opportunity to self-reflect and evaluate their progress.”

Preferred student age:

6 and up, including adults

Musical styles offered:

Flexible, but preferred genres are classical and musical theater. Students interested in auditioning for festival or collegiate study are also welcomed.

Parent Policy:

Parents are welcomed and will be updated on their child’s progress at the end of every lesson.

Materials Needed:

Alfred’s Basic Lesson Assignment and Daily Practice Record book. Other books and materials needed will be discussed later.

Lazar earned a PhD from the University of Chicago and an Artist Diploma and Bachelor of Music from Rubin Academy of Music in Jerusalem. He studied composition with Ralph Shapey and Shulamit Ran in Chicago, and with Mark Kopytman in Jerusalem.

His honors and awards include ASCAP, the National Foundation for Advancement in the Arts, and the Israeli Music Institute Prize of E.Peri Composers’ Competition. His works have been performed in the United States, Israel, Canada, Europe and Singapore by members of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, the Pacifica Quartet, and the Jefferson Ensemble, and members of the Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra, among others. He is currently on faculty at the Music Institute of Chicago, and The Adler Arts Center in Libertyville, IL.

The recording of his String Quartet made by the Pacifica Quartet has been released on the CRS label. Recently Almnita and Roland Vamos had commissioned and recorded his duo Witches’ Soiree for violin and viola.

Teaching philosophy/style:

Traditional method

Preferred student age:

6 & Up.  Adults Welcome.

Musical styles offered:

Variety of styles, but not jazz.

Parent Policy:

Parents are welcome to attend lessons

Languages:

English, Russian, Hebrew

Ludmyla Turkalo received her master’s degree in Music from Lviv State Conservatory in Ukraine. While living in Ukraine, Ludmyla was on faculty at Lviv Musical College as a piano instructor in the bachelor’s degree program. She later became the Head of the Preparatory Department. In 1994, Ms. Turkalo relocated to the United States where she began teaching individual students. She received her certificate from the National Guild of Piano Teachers after successfully preparing students for the National Piano-Playing Auditions. 

Ludmyla serves as a board member for the Ukrainian Artistic Center in Chicago, is a member of the Northwest Suburban Music Teachers Association and has served as judge for the Honors Tryouts of the Preparatory Department at Millikin University in Decatur, IL. She has been the pianist for the Holy Family Church in Decatur, performed as a soloist and accompanist with the Ukrainian Chamber Orchestra, and recently has been chosen to perform with the Six Piano Ensemble at Oakton Community College in Des Plaines. Ludmyla has experience teaching students from beginning to intermediate levels, in all styles of piano. 

Teaching philosophy/style:

Traditional, enjoys working with advanced students.

Preferred student age:

All ages

Musical styles offered:

Classical

Parent Policy:

Parents are welcome to attend lessons