Professional Music Instruction for the Up and Coming Musician
Top Instructors Help Students of All Levels to Get Results!
The Instructors
Heather Bouton drum set & percussion
Heather's been playing drum set & percussion since the age of 10. Heather started out like many of the students she teaches, in grade school band. Under director Gene Vanden Bosch she continued playing in high school marching and jazz band. "Mr. Vanden Bosch brought out the best in me and helped me to realize that music was something I should consider as a career." After high school, Heather studied at Elgin Community College, Northen Illinois University, and DePaul University School of Music where she has made a name for herself as a well-rounded percussionist. Playing in various bands and combos of all styles, Heather encourages her students to be versatile and dynamic players.
Heather's been playing drum set & percussion since the age of 10. Heather started out like many of the students she teaches, in grade school band. Under director Gene Vanden Bosch she continued playing in high school marching and jazz band. "Mr. Vanden Bosch brought out the best in me and helped me to realize that music was something I should consider as a career." After high school, Heather studied at Elgin Community College, Northen Illinois University, and DePaul University School of Music where she has made a name for herself as a well-rounded percussionist. Playing in various bands and combos of all styles, Heather encourages her students to be versatile and dynamic players.
Melissa DeGott guitar
Melissa is a singer/song writer/guitarist that has been playing since the age of 8. Her influences include everything from country and folk music to metal and prog rock. Melissa is very versatile in the way that she can perform heart felt, melodic songs on her acoustic guitar but then plug into and amp with her electric and shred speed metal.
Melissa influences her students to learn the fundamental skills that it takes to become a great guitar player by teaching them exercises and techiniques that relate their musical interests. She sets short term and long term achievable goals for each of her students and makes lessons fun! Melissa wants her students to be excited about coming to lessons and excited to learn the instrument. She encourages daily practice, but more importantly teaches students HOW to practice in order to get the most productivity from their time spent doing so. Melissa specializes in acoustic, electric, lead, rhythm, sight-reading, tabs, scales, theory, sweep-picking, tapping, and finger picking.
What will a student learn taking lessons from you?
My students will learn essential skills to become a great guitarist and reach their full potential. Students will not only learn how to play a particular song, scale, or exercise, but they will also learn why. Theory answers the "why?" question. It teaches my students why certain notes sound good together or why something is played in a particular time signature.
Who are your influences?
Dimebag Darrel, Jimmy Page, Tony Iommi, Michael Ammott, Jeff Beck, Zakk Wylde, Marty Friedman, Dave Mustaine, Alex Lifeson, Kerry King, Brian May, Mick Mars, Mikael Akerfeldt, Rob Barrett, Nergal, and Quinn Allman.
Who are your your favorite bands?
Black Sabbath, Led Zeppelin, Rush, Pantera, Megadeth, The Used, Senses Fail, Guns n' Roses, Cannibal Corpse, Opeth, Rancid, Arch Enemy, Motley Crue, Grateful Dead, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Rage Against the Machine, Johnny Cash, Devil Driver, and Journey.
What gear do you play?
Guitars: Schecter Damien Elite FR, Taylor 214CE, Ibanez ACS1150ECENT
Amps: Marshall 1960AV cabinet, Marshall DSL100MLB 100W head
Melissa is a singer/song writer/guitarist that has been playing since the age of 8. Her influences include everything from country and folk music to metal and prog rock. Melissa is very versatile in the way that she can perform heart felt, melodic songs on her acoustic guitar but then plug into and amp with her electric and shred speed metal.
Melissa influences her students to learn the fundamental skills that it takes to become a great guitar player by teaching them exercises and techiniques that relate their musical interests. She sets short term and long term achievable goals for each of her students and makes lessons fun! Melissa wants her students to be excited about coming to lessons and excited to learn the instrument. She encourages daily practice, but more importantly teaches students HOW to practice in order to get the most productivity from their time spent doing so. Melissa specializes in acoustic, electric, lead, rhythm, sight-reading, tabs, scales, theory, sweep-picking, tapping, and finger picking.
What will a student learn taking lessons from you?
My students will learn essential skills to become a great guitarist and reach their full potential. Students will not only learn how to play a particular song, scale, or exercise, but they will also learn why. Theory answers the "why?" question. It teaches my students why certain notes sound good together or why something is played in a particular time signature.
Who are your influences?
Dimebag Darrel, Jimmy Page, Tony Iommi, Michael Ammott, Jeff Beck, Zakk Wylde, Marty Friedman, Dave Mustaine, Alex Lifeson, Kerry King, Brian May, Mick Mars, Mikael Akerfeldt, Rob Barrett, Nergal, and Quinn Allman.
Who are your your favorite bands?
Black Sabbath, Led Zeppelin, Rush, Pantera, Megadeth, The Used, Senses Fail, Guns n' Roses, Cannibal Corpse, Opeth, Rancid, Arch Enemy, Motley Crue, Grateful Dead, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Rage Against the Machine, Johnny Cash, Devil Driver, and Journey.
What gear do you play?
Guitars: Schecter Damien Elite FR, Taylor 214CE, Ibanez ACS1150ECENT
Amps: Marshall 1960AV cabinet, Marshall DSL100MLB 100W head
Jeff Lange guitar
Jeff is a studio and live guitarist that has played throughout the Chicagoland area since the age of 18. His current band, Last Horizon, showcases his outstanding ability to create melodic riffs that support the vocalist as well as shredding guitar solos. He is classically trained in music theory and has been teaching since 2000. Jeff emphasizes to his students the importance of knowing and understanding the fret board to form chords and develope their soloing ability. Jeff specializes in teaching acoustic and electric guitar, lead and rhythm, theory as well as ear training, reading notation and tabs, scales, sweeps, and tapping.
What will a student learn taking lessons from you?
"I tailor my teaching methods to the student's ability/needs. I emphasize that all students learn the fret board, have good timing, be able to play on a beat, play exercises/warm-ups, scales, chords, and have the ability to read a chord chart. For each student there will be a progressive note per lesson, as this will track the student's progess. The student and I will set goals, and together, try to reach each goal. Students will learn from my Guitar Primer Guide that has essential information in it guitarists of all levels. I put it together in my years of learning and teaching from multiple resources. In addition to my primer guide, a method book will be recommended for students to learn from as well."
"Students should have some basic tools such as a tuner, metronome, peg winder (for strings), and of course a guitar and picks! When I feel a student has reached a set amount of goals that are realistic and measurable, we will pick a song to learn and play along with, applying the techniques and theory they've been practicing."
Jeff is a studio and live guitarist that has played throughout the Chicagoland area since the age of 18. His current band, Last Horizon, showcases his outstanding ability to create melodic riffs that support the vocalist as well as shredding guitar solos. He is classically trained in music theory and has been teaching since 2000. Jeff emphasizes to his students the importance of knowing and understanding the fret board to form chords and develope their soloing ability. Jeff specializes in teaching acoustic and electric guitar, lead and rhythm, theory as well as ear training, reading notation and tabs, scales, sweeps, and tapping.
What will a student learn taking lessons from you?
"I tailor my teaching methods to the student's ability/needs. I emphasize that all students learn the fret board, have good timing, be able to play on a beat, play exercises/warm-ups, scales, chords, and have the ability to read a chord chart. For each student there will be a progressive note per lesson, as this will track the student's progess. The student and I will set goals, and together, try to reach each goal. Students will learn from my Guitar Primer Guide that has essential information in it guitarists of all levels. I put it together in my years of learning and teaching from multiple resources. In addition to my primer guide, a method book will be recommended for students to learn from as well."
"Students should have some basic tools such as a tuner, metronome, peg winder (for strings), and of course a guitar and picks! When I feel a student has reached a set amount of goals that are realistic and measurable, we will pick a song to learn and play along with, applying the techniques and theory they've been practicing."
Eric Bouton bass
Eric has played in bands ranging in style from punk to blues and Motown to rock. He began teaching at Heather's Studio so that he could pass on knowledge to aspiring bass players. Eric was trained in performance at DePaul University School of Music and at University of Illinois at Chicago. He offers his students instruction that capitalizes on their strengths and works with them to develope their weaknesses. Eric encourages students to play with other musicians as much as possible, listen to music, and have fun.
Eric has played in bands ranging in style from punk to blues and Motown to rock. He began teaching at Heather's Studio so that he could pass on knowledge to aspiring bass players. Eric was trained in performance at DePaul University School of Music and at University of Illinois at Chicago. He offers his students instruction that capitalizes on their strengths and works with them to develope their weaknesses. Eric encourages students to play with other musicians as much as possible, listen to music, and have fun.
