Hello! I'm Casey Cross.
I'm a music teacher and pianist in Chicago. I have been working as a professional pianist for 15 years and wear many different hats, such as:
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Dueling pianist
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Live ballet accompanist
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Music director
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Conductor
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Rehearsal pianist for opera and musical theatre
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Church pianist
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Film composer
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Audition and class accompanist
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Band member
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and more!
I have a Master of Music from the University of Washington, and a Bachelor of Music from the University of Central Oklahoma.
Fun and Experimentation
Interest in Practicing
My teaching philosophy.
Confidence in Learning
More Fun!
It's simple really: it all has to start with fun!
In my five years of teaching and throughout my personal career, I have learned that fun is the main driver of progress. If I'm not having any fun, then I don't want to play - and the same goes for any student I've taught.
When joy is the goal, then it's easy to experiment and gain confidence in something new and exciting. This also makes practice more fun, which motivates students to practice more frequently, which builds confidence and skills. And skills plus confidence equals more fun!
Increased Capacity
"Casey is an amazing piano teacher and musician. Our kids learned so much with Casey, from important techniques and skills to practice habits to the joys of playing music. They looked forward to every lesson and came away inspired to learn more."
Geller Family
"Coming out of the pandemic, Casey started working with my teenage son on the piano. Casey is a gifted musician who brought a genuine love of all different genres of music to each lesson. He made theory fun, teaching my son to improvise and create his own music based off chords and a melody, and even introduced new pieces ranging from Bach to Kanye West. My son willingly played in several recitals, and Casey always kept it chill, encouraging (what we hope will be) a life-long habit of making music."
Foley Family
"Casey is an excellent and talented teacher! He worked with both me and my son as beginners to learn the mechanics, think musically, and develop an appreciation for the power of practice. He gives clear instructions and teaches like someone who understands what it means to be a student. Highly recommend!"
Cavanaugh Family
The Studio.
Things I Teach
in-person lessons available in Lincoln Square neighborhood in Chicago. Virtual lessons also available.
Piano
Guitar
Voice
Music Theory
Composition and Songwriting
Improvisation
Rates
includes teaching materials
(method books, sheet music, and workbook)
60 minutes - $90
45 minutes - $75
30 minutes - $60
5-lesson package (60 minutes) - $400
10-lesson package (60 minutes) - $800
Other packages available upon request
Contact Casey.
Reach out with any questions, and we'll set up a 15-minute introductory call to talk about what you're looking for.