MIKE ROBERTS MUSIC STUDIO is where you can take private, one-on-one lessons to either begin or further your studies in…
- Guitar (Acoustic and Electric)
- Bass Guitar
- Drums
- Vocals
Our studios are spacious and clean, and we have a comfortable waiting lounge with couches, free coffee, free WiFi and even a Playstation with Guitar Hero III for the kiddos (and some adults!).
We feature a team of well-respected instructors including:
- Mike Roberts (guitar, bass, drums & vocals)
- Steve Kelly (guitar)
- Steve Zandonatti (guitar)
- NEW! David Pedersen (bass & guitar)
…all offering you a modern, professional approach to music instruction.
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Background
The studio launched in October of 2006 with Mike as the sole teacher, offering private lessons on guitar, bass guitar, drums and vocals. In May of 2008 Steve Zandonatti came on board teaching guitar, and by June 2008 Steve Kelly joined, also teaching guitar. David Pedersen was added to the roster at the end of April 2009.
The ultimate vision is to create the premiere place for private music coaching and musical development in the northern Illinois region, with a full-service music facility offering lessons, rehearsal and recording space, student performances, concerts, a spacious lounge/café, and summer intern and day-camp opportunities for teenagers.
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Rates & Discounts
- Half-hour lessons once a week: $80 per month
- Hour lessons once every other week: $80 per month
- Hour lessons once a week: $160 per month
Fifth weeks are always included at NO EXTRA CHARGE.
3-MONTH DISCOUNT: Get a FREE lesson when you pay 3 months in advance: $80 x 3 becomes only $220, and $160 x 3 becomes only $440.
FAMILY DISCOUNT: for 3 or more immediate family members, get $10 off per month starting with the third student (e.g. first student = $80, second student = $80, third student and all thereafter = $70). For hour lessons once a week, $20 would be deducted in the same fashion.
REFERRAL DISCOUNT: existing students who refer a new student get 10% OFF one month of lessons.
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Schedule
Among our current roster of instructors, we have time slots available Monday through Saturday, some mornings but mostly afternoons and evenings. In the enrollment process you will be asked for a few ideal days and blocks of time for which we will then find a teacher that matches your goals and preferred times.
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How to Enroll
Lessons can start at any time and continue as long as the student wishes. To enroll now, click on the Enrollment link at the top left.
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Teaching Philosophy
We believe “where the heart leads the mind will follow.” For that reason, our approach is not in line with tradition, where reading and theory are put up front and “playing what you love” is what may or may not happen once you fulfill the prerequisite.
So if you come to us and say “I want to play songs around the campfire,” we’re going to ask “which songs?” Then we’ll show you what you need to work on in order to accomplish that goal. Or if you say “I want to be in a band one day and become a rock star,” we’ll say “do you promise to remember us when you reach the top!?” (Just kidding.)
The point is, we’re applying a more goal-oriented/personal trainer approach than the more common curriculum-oriented/teacher approach. We don’t necessarily agree with the idea that everyone must take the exact same path and study the exact same list of songs and learn everything there is to know about the science of music in order to simply enjoy the instrument of their choice.
In this way, we want to change the way people learn to play an instrument. Whether you’re a hobbyist or an aspiring professional; whether you want to make it to the World Series (so to speak) or just learn to play better catch, ours’ a great place to work out!
At the end of the day, it’s not the content of what we do that varies; the difference is in our approach to that content. Music and music theory are what they are. We enjoy teaching those concepts and all the intricacies they entail; we love getting into deep discussions on the subject we’ve spent so many years ourselves striving to understand; we love working with an advanced student and testing their knowledge, kicking their butt with challenging exercises, and prescribing extreme practice regiments. But (and this is a big BUT) we also believe that a pedestrian enjoyment of music is totally okay and should be within everyone’s reach.
The greatest compliment we hear all the time is when parents tell us how much their child loves coming to lessons or an adult says “I wish my lessons had been like this when I was a kid. Maybe I would have stuck with it!”
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Studio Policies
- All lessons are paid for in advance for a minimum of one month. Students beginning after the month has started will be pro-rated at $20 per lesson for all remaining weeks.
- Acceptable forms of payment are cash, check, Visa® or Mastercard®, either in person or (for checks and credit cards) over the phone. Please make all checks payable to Mike Roberts Music Studio.
- Payments are always due no later than the first scheduled lesson of the month. If you cannot attend that first lesson, please make arrangements for payment to be dropped off or conducted over the phone by check or credit card.
- Students are responsible for purchasing/providing any supporting materials to be used in the course of lessons (method books, song books, CDs, etc.).
- The lounge, coffee, reading materials and Playstation® are for the convenience of students and their family members while waiting for lessons. Please make yourself comfortable, but also keep in mind that excessive noise might interrupt lessons in progress.
- For WiFi access, use the MRMS network and see Mike to get the most up-to-date access code.
- While parents are always welcome to sit in on a lesson, we simply ask that you consider whether self-consciousness will be a factor in your child getting the most out of their session.
- For the purpose of full disclosure, studio doors that are not connected to the lounge have been fitted with windows. However, siblings wanting to watch are asked to not be a distraction to a lesson in progress.
- If at all possible, we ask that you provide at least one week’s notice if you are not planning to continue lessons into the next month.
- If you will not be on the premises during your child’s lesson, please notify the teacher if you wish for them to await your return in the lounge.
- Any building/facility damage caused by students and/or family members will be the responsibility of students/parents and will need to be worked out with the management of the East Wind Business Complex.
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