Piano Teachers

Piano Teachers

Debbie O'Cull

School Attended:
Loyola University of Chicago

Degree:
BFA in Voice and Liturgical Music

Monthly Rate at MECA - $88.00 (piano) / $98.00 (vocal)

Debbie O’Cull is a Vocal and Piano teacher, a true multi-instrumentalist, and a performing musician with 20+ years of experience. She studied voice under Tracy Watson of Chicago, as well as Nan Guptill Crain in New Jersey. Throughout her college years, Debbie played the lead in many popular musical theater productions, and was a featured soloist in many performances of Oratorios, and Cantatas in collegiate and semi-professional choral groups.

Debbie currently plays keyboards in Scarlet Mountain, specializing in the music of the Grateful Dead, as well as other classic rock artists. Debbie is also an accomplished solo pianist, as well, playing at weddings, cocktail hours, and parties.

Debbie is currently accepting vocal students (ages 7 & up, all levels), as well as piano students (beginner through intermediate, all ages). Her focus is to always have music as a fun hobby that will last a lifetime. Students learn in a low-pressure environment, and are encouraged to be creative. She never wants music lessons to be forced or an obligation. Debbie has many successful adult beginner students, as well as kids of all ages. She can teach specialized skills, such as playing & singing at the same time, playing in ensemble situations, as well as performance skills for singers (microphone technique, etc).

Jessica Lewandowski

Teaching Experience: 3 Years

School Attending:
St. Charles North High School

Monthly Rate at MECA - $75.00

Jessica has been studying piano for 9 years, and has performed in the American Grands concert at Elgin Community College for 6 years. She enjoys playing music by George Gershwin, Cole Porter, and Richard Rodgers. Jessica brings originality and personalization to each lesson in hopes that her students will enjoy coming to lessons and learning to play the piano. She recognizes that all students learn differently, so she uses a variety of techniques and approaches to help students better understand musical concepts. Jessica teaches out of lesson books, but is willing to bring additional “fun” music if students wish to learn more. Jessica is passionate about the piano, and loves teaching beginning level students.

Emily Mehrbani

Schools Attended:
Northeastern Illinois University - Chicago, IL
Roosevelt University, College of Performing Arts - Chicago, IL

Degrees:
Emily currently is pursuing a Masters Degree in Piano Performance and Pedagogy from Northeastern Illinois University located in Chicago Illinois. She currently holds a piano scholarship as well as maintains a 4.0 GPA. Emily will graduate in December 2009.

Bachelor Degree in Music - Piano Performance and Piano Pedogogy
2nd Bachelor Degree in Music Education with Choral Concentration & K-12 Certification in Music

Monthly Rate at MECA - $108.00 (piano and vocal)

Emily is an active performer and has concertized throughout the United States and in Europe. Emily has received many music scholarships, trophies and has participated in many recitals and concerts as a pianist, accompanist, choral singer, soprano soloist and chamber musician. Emily has performed in St. Petersburg, Russia; American in Paris by Gershwin and Scaramouche by Milhaud including the works of Scarlatti and Brahms. Emily has participated in master classes given by Ramsey Lewis, Martin Katz, David Schrader, Marina Wolf, and Ivo Pogolerich. Emily is an accomplished solo pianist and has been playing the piano since she was 5 years old. Her first piano teacher, Virginia Burkhart, taught at the Fine Arts Building in Chicago, Illinois and she studied with Rosina Lhevinne and Arthur Rubinstein at the Julliard School of Music in New York. Emily also studied with Barbara Tiao who was Director of the Sherwood School of Music in Chicago, Illinois. Emily also composes her own music and likes to create music related to her artwork and her traveling.

Emily has been teaching piano and voice for many years and focuses on solid technique, musicality, theory, composition, performance practices and addresses the needs of her students in a fun and creative learning environment. Emily specializes in classical piano repertoire but emphasizes other styles such as pop, rock, blues, contemporary and composing original music. Emily encourages her students to perform and her students participate in The American Grands Performances at Elgin Community College and the Geneva Grandquist Music Competition each year. Emily’s students have received outstanding placements in the past and this year had numerous students received 1^st, 2nd and 3^rd place trophies. Emily loves to teach and enjoys working with students of all ages from beginners to adults. Emily provides a solid structure of learning involving sight reading, importance of technique, musicality and originality in performing. Discipline and commitment in practicing are essential and parent involvement is highly encouraged to work as a team: Teacher, student and parents.

Emily is a current member of MENC, Music Teacher National Association and the National Guild of Piano Teachers.

Kathleen Healey

School Attended:
Northern Illinois University - Dekalb, IL

Degree:
Bachelor of Science in education, minor in music

Monthly Rate at MECA - $98.00

Kathleen has taught various ages and abilities and especially appreciates beginners and young students.

She taught first grade in School District 303 for five years and has had much experience in grade levels K-8. Kathleen's latest teaching experience was as a teacher with Two Rivers Head Start, where she taught 3-5 year olds for fourteen years.

Kathleen's music experience has been in various orchestras on viola and also a few choirs, including most recently, the Choral-Aires, an International Sweet Adelines barbershop group.

Kathleen feels her patience with beginners and young students is her strongest asset, along with her respect and enjoyment of her students.

Kathleen varies her techniques to suit her students abilities. Theory and proper touch techniques are always incorporated in her lessons. Individualizing is also a key component to each lesson.

Meghan Diem

Teaching Experience: 3 years

School Attending: Northern Illinois University - DeKalb, IL

Monthly rate at MECA: $88.00

Meghan began teaching at MECA as a junior in high school. She has studied piano for 11 years, including 8 years of private study under Gwyn Downey. Meghan has been influenced primarily by classical composers, and enjoys playing such works by Mozart, Beethoven, and Haydn. She has also competed in the Swedish Days competition in Geneva, IL for two years.

Meghan enjoys teaching piano, especially beginners, because it is very rewarding to see her students progress. She believes that every lesson she teaches should have variety, so she endeavors to create new ways to present material to her students each and every week. Aside from learning out of traditional lesson and theory books, she incorporates games and activities into her teaching style as needed. Meghan's ultimate goal in teaching is for her students to learn the joy of the piano and to have them enjoy playing the instrument as much as she does.

Allison Gibble - More information coming soon

Amanda Engel - More information coming soon

Barb Lewis - More information coming soon

Elizabeth Gibble - More information coming soon

Kevin Naglich - More information coming soon

Lindsey Ottaviano - More information coming soon

Lynie Hoffman - More information coming soon

Mike Walters - More information coming soon

Shuan Wiese - More information coming soon