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Diego Tapia - Piano

Diego Tapia is currently a junior at ����Թ� and is majoring in piano performance. Diego was born in Argentina and showed musical inclination at a very young age. He learned the fundamentals from his beloved childhood piano masters, Horo Ansata and Leandro Di Pasquantonio. After high school, Diego continued his musical journey by diving into the world of Indian Classical music where he developed a deep understanding of percussion and traditional ragas (scales) while initiating full-time spiritual practices. He performed for almost a decade in various Hindu temples in South and North America.

Diego moved permanently to the United States in 2013 and received a position as a music instructor at the International Society for Krishna Consciousness, where he founded Vamsi School of Music in an attempt to organize and inspire music education in his community. An active teacher and musician, Diego produced an album for Vamsi School Children’s Choir while developing his performance career through a regular schedule of street performances, special engagements and collaborative efforts with musicians from the most diverse genres. Diego Tapia has taught piano, guitar, and Indian percussion in both private and group settings since 2010 to students at all levels. He also teaches piano at ����Թ� to a wide variety of pre-college students. In addition to his private piano teaching in the Uptown neighborhood of Chicago, he is also a group piano instructor at City Colleges of Chicago. Diego has also been a recipient​ ​of the​ ​McGowan​ ​Scholarship Award.

Teaching Approach

“Every person deserves the opportunity to explore and develop their inner musicianship no matter their background or age. As a piano teacher, I seek to provide a classroom that celebrates diversity, creativity and allows room for active learning. The type of environment that is safe, encouraging, empowering and fun. At the same time, I believe in the importance of student recitals as an opportunity for them to develop artistic and expressive performance skills. I value and support the various learning styles of my students. Since music is a multi-sensory experience, some students are more inclined to learn how to read music faster than others who rely more on aural skills to get through a particular piece of music. In both cases, I support the idea of incorporating diverse piano methods to stimulate students from every aspect of learning to attain a balanced set of skills.”
 

Ivona Kesic - Piano

Ivona Kesic is an accomplished pianist with a passion for piano pedagogy. Originally from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Ivona came to Chicago in 2022 to start her master's program at ����Թ� to continue her dream of being a piano teacher. She studied piano with Prof. Jasna Djurovic (Bosnia and Herzegovina). She went to Commune di Barletta (Italy) for the young musicians international competition where she won a silver medal. She continued performing in festivals, regional and international competitions, solo recitals and recording. She was also a student of Prof. Nevena Popovic (a student of V. Ashkenazi and A. Ciccolini) who influenced her to continue her passion by going to bachelor's studies program in Banja Luka (Bosnia and Herzegovina). Ivona now studies with Dr. Susan Tang at NEIU in Chicago, where she's a current graduate student.

Teaching Philosophy

I think that music is a universal language that we all understand, and as a music teacher, my philosophy is to make difference in my students’ lives by encouraging their creativity and sense for music, cultivating their talent, and discovering the beautiful sides of piano playing. My role is to facilitate learning by providing a positive and supportive environment, based on mutual respect, and responsibility, where students will feel safe, comfortable, and valued. There are many different methods and method books for teaching students how to play piano, and I like to combine them all because every method has some good components that will suit every student as an individual with their own learning needs, different backgrounds, interest, and developmental stages. I work with my students on self confidence, self control, and stage presence. It empowers me as a piano educator to see the accomplishments of my students and their happiness after every class.
 

Kathleen Logan - Piano

Kathleen G. Logan is excited to teach piano at The Community Music Program of ����Թ�! Logan's students have been successful participants in Piano Ensemble Festivals, Illinois AIM Exams, Sonatina Festivals and Student Jazz Festivals as well as studio recitals and musical theme parties.

Logan received her B.A. in Music - Piano Pedagogy at ����Թ� in 1978. While teaching piano in the Chicago area and continuing her graduate level piano studies at Northeastern, she received a Pace/Steinway Scholarship to attend the International Piano Pedagogy Institute at Teachers College Columbia University, N.Y., N.Y., 1984. During her years of piano teaching and bringing up her three children, Logan was awarded the Eckstein Grant for music education through the Bienen School of Music of Northwestern University. She received an M.M. in Music Education from Northwestern University in 2005 and merits the Professional Educator License - Illinois. Logan has taught classroom music for grades preschool through eighth grade and teaches piano for ages 5 through adult. 

Teaching Approach

Making music through the piano can be more than playing the correct notes at the right time. An emphasis toward comprehensive musicianship is offered. Through a variety of learning activities, a student's musical understanding and skills are extended. This makes for a musically rich and authentic experience during lesson time as well as music-making time. Lessons of reading, music theory, technique and expressive interpretation are offered. Upon practice and advancement, students enjoy playing the music of various styles with classical music serving as the core of studies. Students' individual learning approaches are acknowledged and incorporated into the lesson and learning process.

Daily practice at home is required. Good practice habits enable the smoothest of progress which then leads to musical self-fulfillment. A piano in the home is also very important. Upon readiness, ensemble playing experiences enhance the student's musical growth and proficiency. 
 

Lauren Daniel - Piano

Lauren Daniel has been teaching music, primarily piano, throughout the Chicagoland area for the past 17 years and is excited to bring her experience to NEIU! Her well rounded musical education and performance history bring a unique perspective to piano education, and her classroom teaching experience has given her the opportunity to work with all types of learners! Lauren began piano lessons at age 4. She studied at the Music Institute of Chicago primarily with Clare Aebersold, of the Aebersold & Neiweem piano duo. Lauren earned her BA in Music at UIC and immediately began teaching piano lessons. In 2010 she began her journey at NEIU, first earning a Teaching Certificate in Vocal Music Education while continuing her piano education. After teaching high school choir for 4 years, Lauren returned to NEIU to finish her MA in Piano Pedagogy, where she was a Viets Scholarship recipient and finalist in the Concerto Competition in 2016. After graduating in 2017 she returned to teaching private piano and performing, both solo and in musical theater productions. 

Teaching Philosophy

I like to look at all repertoire by focusing on the Musical Elements. The notes and rhythms are just the start of the journey and story behind each piece! I also like to incorporate music theory and analysis into lessons from the very beginning to help with literacy. I believe that motivation is key to consistency in practicing. To help with motivation, I allow students to select and help them to arrange popular songs in addition to their traditional repertoire. Using both traditional and untraditional method creates more motivated and well rounded students!
 

Zen Hsu - Piano

Zen Hsu is currently the pianist for the Chicago Goodnews Church. He graduated from Wilbur Wright College with an associate degree in fine arts in music performance and graduated from ����Թ� with a master's degree in piano performance, studying under Dr. Susan Tang. At NEIU Zen participated in the NEIU Concerto Competition, performed in master classes for renowned pianists such as Nelita True and Sergio Monteiro, and was a part of the NEIU jazz band and combo.

Teaching Approach

"Music is wonderful to listen to but to play that music requires a musical foundation cultivated through different aspects such as technique and music theory. I not only want students to play musically but to understand what they are playing, to fully enrich the students' musicianship and growth. I believe that music is a powerful way to express oneself and I am passionate to help my students play from the heart."