Jieun Lee

Piano Teacher

Serving Glenview and the Surrounding Areas

Miss Jieun Lee teaches all ages and levels, from complete beginning piano students through the advanced university level!

Jieun is nurturing and kind and open minded to approaching each student and lesson program with attention to individualized goals and methods.

She has an impressive educational, teaching, and performance background and is also a professional choir piano accompanist and director.

We are very fortunate to have such a treasure on our teaching staff!

• Masters of Music Degree from California State University in Northridge (piano performance)

• Piano Faculty Member for multiple Korean Universities

• Salem Methodist Church in Schaumburg, IL (director and accompanist)

Natallia Lysenka

Piano, Mandolin, & Conducting Teacher

Serving Glenview and the Surrounding Areas

Natallia has been teaching in the Unites States for 17 years, after moving from Belarus where she earned her doctorate in music from the Belarussian State Conservatory in Minsk.

Natallia is a well-rounded musician and teacher, whose expertise is in conducting- meaning that she plays and teaches many instruments, and fully understands the depth of music theory, music expression, and music instruction.

Natallia loves teaching students of all ages and she offers a perfect combination of warmth and structure with her teaching approach.

Miss Lysenka seeks out from every student, exactly what will inspire and motivate them, and then she designs her lesson programs accordingly. She enjoys teaching classical repertoire, popular music, and everything in-between.

• Doctorate from the Belarussian State Conservatory in Minsk

• Teacher and supervisor at the Belarussian College of Music and Art

• Assistant conductor of the New North Shore Chamber Orchestra in Evanston, IL

• Music and Piano Instructor for the Montessori Music School in Mundelein, IL

• Private lessons instructor for students of all ages for over 20 years

Adam McKinstry

Piano, Guitar, Ukulele & Mandolin

Serving Glenview and the Surrounding Areas

Sara Formerly of Dynamic Music “Adam rocks! He rocks as a person, a teacher, and of course- a musician. Adam teaches with great care to detail, and also keeps the lessons modern, fun, and engaging.

. Adam studied guitar performance and music theory and composition at Columbia College in Chicago.

. He was the top guitarist on fretboard jury 2 years straight

. Adam has been teaching for over 10 years (students of all ages and levels)—plays and teaches a variety of styles including: classical, rock, blues, pop, psychedelic, metal, ska, reggae, and flamenco

. Adam is also a singer/songwriter and has been performing his own compositions in multiple bands since age 12

Message directly from Adam to his students:

My Philosophy on Music:

There is imitation and creation, but to truly create, one must first learn the established forms before one can break them. Eventually through discipline to these forms, one will see these forms not as absolutes governors, but instead a variety of tools that aid us in our artistic expression and enjoyment.

My Philosophy as an Educator:

To be an effective educator I believe that one must not only create a curriculum and pay attention to the individual needs of their students, but one must also provide an environment that fosters growth. That is why I am a firm believer in being extremely kind, providing positive feedback and maintaining a safe environment.

Laurel Pals

Violin, Piano & Voice

Serving Glenview and the Surrounding Areas

Laurel Pals is from West Michigan and music has always lived in her, starting piano lessons at the age of five and violin at ten. She has a Bachelor's of the Arts in Music from Grand Valley State University where she studied piano under Dr. Giuseppe Lupis and pedagogy with Dr. Helen Marlais. The musical interests she pursued in college were wide and included private voice, violin, composition and piano instruction, accompaniment, Symphony Orchestra, and University Arts Chorale.  Laurel's musicological studies focus led her to study religious music, songwriting, and vocal pop using the Somatic voice method. She considers pop music her unrequited first love and has written and recorded several songs. During an after receiving her graduate degree, Laurel has lived in Oman, Lithuania and Miami before settling in Chicago.

Laurel has given music lessons for over ten years and her teaching passion is where music intersects with emotional well being in order to establish a sustainable and healthy relationship with music. Building skills in curiosity, mindfulness, problem solving, practice strategies and self awareness are essential to learning and enjoying a musical career, no matter a person’s amount of talent.

Laurel’s hobbies include travel, fashion, writing on psychology and religion, and karaoke from time to time.

Edward Mihok

Piano & Trumpet

Serving Crystal Lake and the Surrounding Areas

Edward Mihok is a piano teacher who is friendly and loves to work with students of all ages. He takes a student-first approach and works with them to make lessons fun and exciting. Edward studied under Dr. Mei-Hsuan Huang at Iowa State University, graduating with a Bachelor's degree in Piano Performance. His favorite composers are Chopin and Debussy.

Grace Seo

Piano

Serving Glenview and the Surrounding Areas

Grace has been teaching in the Unites States for 32 years, after moving from South Korea to Chicago, she earned her Master’s and Doctorate degree in Music from the American Conservatory of Music.

Grace specializes in Piano instruction for sight reading, music theory and performance. Her greatest passion is working with children, but she also works with students of all ages. Combining a warm and structured approach coupled with years of experience makes her a very effective teacher.

She has performed in many professional performances, including the Christian Choir accompanist Tedium by Mozart, The March 1st Korean Movement Ceremony, Duo at Children's Museum and Park's 21th Scholarship Foundation, Piano Solo

William Gingrich

Guitar, Piano, Drums, Percussion, Ukulele

Serving Glenview and the Surrounding Areas

William Gingrich teaches multiple instruments including guitar, piano, classical percussion, drums and Ukulele. He teaches beginners to advanced students of all ages, specializing in music theory and improvisation.

He uses his flexibility within music to tailor a specific approach for each student. Each lesson, William encourages his students to build lasting connections with the music, and the fundamental skills of musicianship.

His diverse skill set has allowed him to work across many musical styles, and fill a wide range of roles over the years including: principal percussionist, conductor, music director, and rock musician.

Students under his tutelage tend to become driven and focused. Through the joy of collective music making, they are encouraged to continue developing new skills in music and in life.

• Bachelor's Degree in Jazz Studies from the University of Illinois at Chicago; dual concentration in jazz drums, and classical percussion.

• Director of Music at School of Rock Arlington Heights

• Drummer of Taylor Street Organ Trio and XTREME Cover Bands Chicago

Jerusha Sunde

Piano, Voice, Guitar, Bass, Violin, Percussion and Brass

Serving Crete-Monee and the surrounding areas

Jerusha’s love for music began at a very early age as she grew up in a family of musicians. Much of her early music learning and experiences were through church, where she sang in choir and played in the chapel band for many years. She attended McNally Smith College of Music and Augsburg College for Music, played in a professionally successful cover band and has been teaching since 2003 when she realized it was her calling.   She even opened up the Minneapolis school of music, which was rated the number 1 music school in Minneapolis with 5 stars in all categories

I have worked with people of all ages and skill levels as well as learners with special needs.  I’m comfortable teaching a wide range of instruments and genres. Instruments include: piano, voice, percussion, guitar, bass, violin, and brass. Genres include: Classical, Rock, Blues, Jazz, Gospel, and many more.  I also teach composition, improvisation, ear training, and sight reading. I am very excited to continue my teaching career here at Avant-Garde.