Merry Music Makers now offers private lessons in violin, guitar, piano and voice.  Suzuki and traditional lessons are taught by experienced, highly trained professionals in their instrument.  Instructor bios are below.  

Lessons are available Tuesdays - Sundays in 30, 45, or 60 minute sessions.  Fill out and return the Lesson Registration Form 2012-13 to take lessons with us today.

We believe that the relationship between the instructor and the student is important to establish.   Before signing up for your full session of lessons, 15-minute FREE trial lessons are available.  To schedule a free trial lesson or to register for lessons, please call us at 773-929-4MMM.

Fall Semester:  September 11-December 9, 12 weeks

Winter Semester:  January 6-March 30, 12 weeks

Spring Semester:  April 9-June 16, 10 weeks 

Summer Semester:  July 9-August 18 *Student must take a MINIMUM of 6 lessons, but more may be arranged at the student/teachers' discretion.    

Ì GUITAR INSTRUCTOR - Jeremiah Benham

Originally from Indiana, Jeremiah Benham has played guitar for over 25 years and has been performing and teaching professionally since 1998. He earned his bachelors and masters degrees in Classical Guitar Performance from DePaul University. While at DePaul, he took additional coursework in composition, sound recording, jazz guitar and electronic music.

Mr. Benham has been invited to perform for such prestigious organizations as Concordia College, the Chicago Bar Association, Make a Wish Foundation, ChildServ, Children's Memorial Hospital, the Chicago Art Institute, the Van Straaten Gallery, and many others. He also has performed in the orchestras for musical productions including Sunset Boulevard and Legally Blonde. Additionally, he performs at private events such as weddings and galas.

Mr. Benham is currently on the faculty at DePaul University in the Community Music Division, the Sherwood Music School at Columbia College, and Merry Music Makers, Inc. teaching guitar lessons to both youth and adults. He holds certifications in the Suzuki and Kodaly methods.

When not performing or teaching, Mr. Benham enjoys spending time with his wife Sarah and his twins, Lily and Liam. He also manages and develops a free software program called GNU Denemo, which is used for music education, composition and notation.

Ì PIANO INSTRUCTOR - Carl Kennedy

 Originally from Kenosha, WI, Carl Kennedy received his Bachelors of Music from Lawrence University in Theory/Composition with an Emphasis in Jazz and is currently pursuing a Masters of Music in Jazz Studies at DePaul.  Carl has composed music for a wide variety of both jazz and classical ensembles as well as for such renowned jazz artists as Phil Woods and Jeff Hamilton.  His jazz trio compositions have been referred to as, "the high water mark for creative performance and composition".  

In addition to Merry Music Makers, Carl also teaches through Dynamic Music in Glenview and has taught group piano classes in both elementary and high school settings.  He has experience working with students over a broad spectrum of ages and experience levels.  While placing a strong emphasis on piano fundamentals, Carl also enjoys teaching music theory through creative means such as composition, ear training and improvisation.

Ì PIANO INSTRUCTOR - Irina Vorobeychik

Irina Vorobeychik is an Irina Vorobeychik is an accomplished piano teacher and accompanist  with over 30 years of experience.  Her students have performed with the Oistrach Symphony Orchestra as winners of the DePaul Concerto Festival for Young Performers, and also include gold and silver medal winners of the Sonata Sonatina Festival and Roberta Salver Piano Contest.  

Irina has worked as an instrumental, vocal, and ballet accompanist for companies and studios including Chicago Ballet Arts, Lou Conte Dance Studio, Hubbard Street Dance, State Conservatory (Belarus), and Folklore Theater Ensemble. Additionally, Ms. Vorobeychik was an instructor at the Suzuki Violin and Piano Academy, Minsk School for Gifted Children (Belarus), Grodno College (Belarus), and currently maintains a private studio in the Chicago area. She received an M.A. in Music from Minsk State Conservatory (Belarus), and is a Suzuki certified piano teacher.

Ì VOCAL INSTRUCTOR - Carey Goldenberg

 Carey Goldenberg, a native of Tampa, Florida, graduated from the University of Miami Frost School of Music with a BM in Vocal Performance. While pursuing her degree, she was a member of the Frost Chorale and performed several leading roles with Frost Opera Theatre, such as Polly in Benjamin Britten’s The Beggar’s Opera and Mag in Richard Wargo’s new opera, Ballymore: Part 1 Winners. Carey participated in the Bay Area Summer Opera Theatre Institute in 2010, performing L’Eternita in Cavalli’s La Calisto, the First Spirit and Papagena in Mozart’s Die Zauberflöte and scenes from Don Giovanni and Arabella. In addition to singing classical music, Carey enjoys accompanying herself on guitar to original arrangements of folk, pop and jazz music. After receiving her undergraduate degree, she discovered her love and need for working with people, which led her to her training and certification in Music Together^®, Suzuki, and Orff techniques. Carey teaches early childhood music with the Suzuki-Orff School of Music, where she primarily works in outreach programs in Chicago Public Schools. In addition to teaching, she currently performs with the Apollo Chorus of Chicago and the Chicago Choral Artists. Carey is thrilled to call Chicago her new home. 

Carey's individualistic teaching approach encourages each student to pursue the joy of making music with a healthy, comfortable sound. Carey focuses on technical elements of the voice including vocal production, breath support, intonation and resonance, in addition to elements of musicality, including phrasing, musical interpretation/ translation and stage presence. She is well versed in classical and operatic repertoire, but equally enjoys teaching other styles, such as jazz, folk and musical theatre. Students can expect to receive a strong technical foundation, in addition to being challenged musically and artistically. Carey currently works with students ages 8-18.