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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 and all Stringed instruments •Clarinet, Saxophone, Oboe, Flute and many other 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 6, but also working with adults still looking to fulfill their life long dreams. There is no age limit to learning any instrument.
Our Instructors:
***available for virtual lessons
Drums, Percussion, Guitar & Ukulele
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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 first studied with John Ruka at the Drum Instructors Guild and then with Dr. Craig Hurst at the University of Wisconsin - Waukesha.
Michael has been a private instructor at White House of Music, Theatre on Main, Uncle Bob's Music Center and UW-Waukesha along with working as an instructor for Hartford Union High School, Wauwatosa East High School and University of Wisconsin at Waukesha. Michael has over 30 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 7 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. Michael also is an instructor for beginner guitar and ukulele. These lessons focus on the basics of getting a student up and running with their instruments to playing the songs they wish to learn. Visit Michael's personal music page: Michael James Music |
Drums and Percussion
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Robbie Bottelson is a drummer with over 23 years of experience playing in a wide variety of genres including Rock, Metal, Prog, Punk, Jazz, Blues & Funk. He played in a couple bands throughout High school playing in a lot of Battle of the Bands. He was a lead percussionist in the UW Platteville Jazz Ensemble for 2011 & 2012. While attending college at UW Platteville he received an Associates Degree in Art & Music & while attending AI Chicago he received a Bachelors in Illustration & Design, with a Minor in Studio Percussion. He started teaching private drum lessons while he was in college and continued teaching after he moved back to WI. Robbie currently performs live now in the Milwaukee area Drumming for the 90s Style Grunge band ONIYA & singing for the Prog Metal style band AZYRA. |
Violin, Voice & Piano
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Jessi Kolberg is a well-known musician in the Milwaukee metropolitan area. She graduated with honors from Wisconsin Lutheran College with a music degree in Piano Performance, Vocal Performance, and Church Music. She teaches piano, voice, and violin at Wisconsin Lutheran High School and voice at Kettle Moraine Lutheran High School. She has been an accompanist for the Milwaukee Ballet School & Academy since 2003, the staff accompanist at Alverno College since 2011, the accompanist for the Ozaukee Chorus since 2019, and serves as the organist at Loving Shepherd Lutheran in Brown Deer.
Jessi has participated in such well-known groups as the Wisconsin Lutheran College Choir and Chamber Choir, the Bel Canto Chorus and Choral Artists, the Lutheran Chorale of Milwaukee, and the Milwaukee Youth Symphony Orchestra, and has accompanied the Chant Claire chamber choir, the Waukesha Children’s Choir, the West Allis Suburban Singers, and various high schools’ choir concerts and solo/ensemble events. Jessi is currently a member of the Milwaukee Chamber Choir, the Kettle Moraine Symphony Orchestra, and Canticum Novum, and can also be seen playing violin with the band, The Nightinjails. |
Guitar
David Schuyler is a guitarist and bassist with over 20 years of experience playing live and in the studio with bands from a wide range of genres including jazz, country, rock, blues, punk, reggae, and funk. He earned his associate's degree from MATC in their Music Occupations program studying guitar with Milwaukee jazz guitarist Steve Peplin.
David works with his students using songs and artists they love to cover subjects that include technique, songwriting, improvisation, composition, theory, and ear training. Beginners to advanced students are welcome! You want to learn to play your favorite song? You can do it! You want to write your own song? You can do it! You want to be able to jam with any musician you meet? You can do it! Whether you're picking up the instrument for the first time or you want to reach that next level David can help you achieve your goals. Some of David's favorite guitarists are Jimi Hendrix, Frank Zappa, Andy Gill (Gang of Four), Luther Perkins (Johhny Cash), Omar Rodriguez-Lopez (Mars Volta), and John Frusciante (Red Hot Chili Peppers). Some of his favorite bassists are Larry Graham, Aston "Family Man" Barret (Bob Marley), Pino Palladino, and James Jamerson. Piano, Guitar & Bass |
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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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Cello, Violin, Strings, Piano & 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. |
Voice & Piano
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***Coltyn has been teaching voice lessons in the Milwaukee area since he graduated from college in 2016 but has been performing since 2011 throughout the United States and Europe both as a soloist and with choirs. He currently performs with the band "Mantra" which can be found on Spotify with his album "False Reality" which can be seen below, with local choirs and theaters, as a solo pop singer, and leading worship at St. Marcus in downtown Milwaukee. Finally, he performs audiobooks for Audible through ACX where he performs and edits all audio.
He has extensive training in singing as he has been taking lessons himself since he could speak. Additionally, he has a degree in music education from Wisconsin Lutheran College, which he uses as the Executive Director of the Milwaukee Children's Choir. He teaches students from 4-95 primarily in the Contemporary Commercial Music style, but he also teaches Musical Theater, worship music, and Classical. |