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Music Lessons for Guitar, Drums, Voice, Piano, Brass, Woodwinds, Violin and Strings
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Sound Check Studios is proud to have a roster of some of Milwaukee’s finest musicians and music lesson instructors. Sound Check Studios is currently offering individual, one-on-one lessons for: •Acoustic and Electric Guitar •Voice •Drums & Percussion •Piano & Keyboards •Ukulele •Violin, Viola, Cello, Mandolin and all Stringed instruments •Clarinet, Saxophone, Bassoon, Oboe, Flute and all Woodwind instruments |
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Lessons for all Ages: We accept students of almost all ages! We have instructors that specialize in working with children as young as 5, but also working with adults still looking to fulfill their life long dreams. There is no age limit to learning any instrument.
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Our Instructors:
Drums, Percussion & Guitar
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Michael James Grassman is not only a drums and percussion instructor with over 10 years experience teaching, but also the owner and operator of Sound Check Entertainment & Studios. Michael is currently the percussion instructor for the University of Wisconsin - Waukesha and Wauwatosa East High School. He has been a private instructor at White House of Music, Theatre on Main, Uncle Bob's Music Center and UW-Waukesha.
Michael has over 20 years of playing experience in all genre's of music including jazz, rock, funk, blues, ragtime, marching band, concert and symphonic bands and also percussion ensembles. |
Students of Michael range from ages 3 to adults and all playing abilities. Students of his will work on rudiments, reading skills, proper technique, the essentials of groove, drumset, marching , hand percussion, concert percussion and of course whatever the student would like to learn.
Visit Michael's personal music page: Michael James Music
Guitar
Justin Otto is a native of Baraboo, Wisconsin who now lives in downtown Milwaukee. He has taken numerous courses in music theory, vocal musicianship and education and has given private instruction to many beginning guitar players. He performs in several bands and has played on stages all over the Milwaukee area. He enjoys various genres of music and is excited to help beginning and intermediate musicians of all ages learn whatever style they feel passionately about.
Justin began learning guitar by playing all his favorite songs. He believes the best way to learn an instrument is to play the songs you want to play, using those songs as lessons first and foremost in guitar technique, but also as opportunities to learn how music works as a whole. Learning an instrument takes a lot of work, but that work can be really enjoyable if you're given the right strategies for practice and the chance to play what you love. Piano, Guitar, Flute |
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Josh Becker comes from a very musical family. Both of his parents are professional classical musicians and music educators. Josh has been performing professionally since 1985 and teaching since 2000. He is currently a member of the popular award-winning cover band Cherry Pie, a group that he co-founded in 1999. He has also played many dueling pianos shows.
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Violin, Strings & Bass Guitar
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Jason Spottek is a music educator and professional musician, with years of
experience teaching in group and individualized settings. He has been teaching private studio lessons for 14 years. In formal classroom settings, he has taught string instruments as well as piano and guitar, for ages Kindergarten through grade 12 for Milwaukee Public Schools (MPS). Jason earned a bachelor’s degree in Music from Cardinal Stritch University in 2007. Jason has had the opportunity to perform throughout the Midwest since 1999. He has appeared with the Festival City Symphony, and The Kenosha Symphony Orchestra. He has worked in various jazz groups including Rutabaga Blu, The Lost Gypsies, and The Jason Spottek Ensemble. He has also collaborated with a variety of folk, rock and avant guard groups. You can currently see him performing American roots music with The Magnificents and Dead Man’s Carnival; or 50’s and 60's Doo Wop with The Four Guyz in Dinner Jackets. Currently, Jason has lesson studio openings for upright bass, electric bass, cello, violin, piano, finger style guitar, and ukulele. |
Violin, Mandolin, Guitar & Strings
Jason Loveall studied violin performance at Northern Illinois University. Specializing in beginning violin, most recently he taught at Tamarack Waldorf School - violin instruction in grades 4-8. His method is rote (Suzuki) based with an added emphasis on music theory. Internationally he is reviewed and applauded for his groundbreaking electric violin style both for his performance and compositional role in the string rock band The Danglers. Mr. Loveall is as comfortable teaching classical as fiddling, as both disciplines require an emphasis on singing bow tones and dazzling technique. Advanced students can expect a very personalized teaching approach based on the students advancement needs. Mr. Loveall has over a decade of teaching experience along with the acumen of having shared stages with acts as diverse as Bobby Clancy to the Violent Femmes.
Voice & Piano
Steven Joyal is best known in the Southeastern Wisconsin area as a Choral Conductor and Music Teacher. He currently serves as Music Director and Conductor for the Milwaukee Liederkranz (German male chorus), the Milwaukee Damenchor (German female chorus), the Racine Dairy Statesmen (male barbershop chorus), and Canticum Novum Milwaukee (mixed chamber choir). He is a member of the Artistic Staff of the Milwaukee Children’s Choir, the Director of the Senior Singers for Bel Canto Chorus, and serves as Coordinator of Traditional Music and Organist for Atonement Lutheran Church in Muskego.
Previously, he has been employed by the West Allis-West Milwaukee School District as an elementary music specialist and high school choral conductor. His last positions were as Director of Choirs at West Allis Central and Nathan Hale High Schools prior to retiring in 2014. He has also been conductor of the Bach Chamber Choir and Orchestra of Milwaukee, the Wisconsin Conservatory Children’s Chorus, and the Suburban Singers, along with several other choruses.
Mr. Joyal studied choral conducting under Morris Hayes at UW-Eau Claire, where he received a BME in Voice and Piano; and with Margaret Hawkins at the Wisconsin Conservatory of Music, from which he received a MM-Choral Conducting. His choirs have appeared with The Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra, The Manhattan Philharmonic Orchestra (in both Avery Fisher and Carnegie Halls), John Denver, Maureen McGovern, and Andy Williams, and with such acclaimed conductors as Kenneth Schermerhorn, Lukas Foss, Zdenek Macal, John Rutter, Margaret Hawkins, and Margery Deutsch. In addition, he has coached with Robert Page, Roger Wagner, Paul Salamunovich, and John Rutter.
Previously, he has been employed by the West Allis-West Milwaukee School District as an elementary music specialist and high school choral conductor. His last positions were as Director of Choirs at West Allis Central and Nathan Hale High Schools prior to retiring in 2014. He has also been conductor of the Bach Chamber Choir and Orchestra of Milwaukee, the Wisconsin Conservatory Children’s Chorus, and the Suburban Singers, along with several other choruses.
Mr. Joyal studied choral conducting under Morris Hayes at UW-Eau Claire, where he received a BME in Voice and Piano; and with Margaret Hawkins at the Wisconsin Conservatory of Music, from which he received a MM-Choral Conducting. His choirs have appeared with The Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra, The Manhattan Philharmonic Orchestra (in both Avery Fisher and Carnegie Halls), John Denver, Maureen McGovern, and Andy Williams, and with such acclaimed conductors as Kenneth Schermerhorn, Lukas Foss, Zdenek Macal, John Rutter, Margaret Hawkins, and Margery Deutsch. In addition, he has coached with Robert Page, Roger Wagner, Paul Salamunovich, and John Rutter.
Clarinet, Saxophone & Piano
Ali Frana is a Clarinetist from West Allis, Wisconsin. She graduated with her Bachelor's in Clarinet Performance from the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston, and her Master's in Clarinet Performance from DePaul School of Music in Chicago. Her primary teachers include Larry Combs, retired principal clarinetist of the Chicago Symphony, and Craig Nordstrom, bass clarinetist of the Boston Symphony.
Ali has performed throughout Wisconsin, Michigan, Illinois, Indiana, Massachusetts, New York, as well as several performances in Canada. She is a founding member of the Clarinet and Guitar New Music Duo who performs many world premiere performances in the Milwaukee area. Ali has also taught several Master Classes for the West Allis- West Milwaukee School District. She is also a substitute band director in the West Allis Schools and has even been invited to Co-Direct the West Allis Lancer Band in 2011. Ali has been teaching students since 2005 and is very excited to continue her teaching career and expand her studio.
Ali has performed throughout Wisconsin, Michigan, Illinois, Indiana, Massachusetts, New York, as well as several performances in Canada. She is a founding member of the Clarinet and Guitar New Music Duo who performs many world premiere performances in the Milwaukee area. Ali has also taught several Master Classes for the West Allis- West Milwaukee School District. She is also a substitute band director in the West Allis Schools and has even been invited to Co-Direct the West Allis Lancer Band in 2011. Ali has been teaching students since 2005 and is very excited to continue her teaching career and expand her studio.