Jon Novi

About

I stand out as a private music teacher for the right reasons: excellence, understanding, patience, smiles, results, music, and student enthusiasm.

My passion for my students was the midnight-oil burning kind, spending as much as four months preparing for the first day.

My students each have different goals. We skip the scales and go right to the music. Wouldn't you? Our success depends upon my ability to know the different styles and approaches, learn brand new tunes on the market, and teach different ways for the same student.

I have been teaching private music lessons since 1970 in Mexico City, Texas, Evanston and Skokie, Illinois.

I have a degree in high school band directing (another area of my riotous success) from TCU (magna cum laude) and a master's in clarinet performance from North Texas. Before college I studied eight years of classical piano and clarinet, and since college I have studied composition, electronic composition, flute, classical guitar and trumpet. I taught myself to play the saxophone at train stations; the sax is easily my third best instrument.

Much more is available on my website jonnovimusic.com

I enjoy every single day. My work is heavenly. I teach, I write, I compose, I tune pianos, and I perform. I enjoy every student, and each is different. My students also enjoy every day with me.


Highlights

Hired 4 times
1 employee
54 years in business
Serves Skokie , IL

Payment methods

Venmo, Zelle

Photos and videos


  • Reviews

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    AC

    Agnes C.

    Very creative and awesome Teacher!! My son loves his classes.
    ... Show more
    September 12, 2019

    MD

    Michael D.

    Jon lives and breathes jazz. He teaches, composes, writes BEAUTIFUL
    calligraphy charts, performs, and tunes pianos. He is unfailingly enthusiastic and generous in sharing his vast knowledge with his students. I have had the benefit of knowing Jon for many years, and he is always ready to answer any musical question I pose. He is an invaluable musical resource and has inspired me to pursue my own musical path.
    ... Show more
    May 26, 2019

    LK

    LISA K.

    After playing piano as a child and throughout high school, I started taking classical piano lessons again as an adult. I came to Jon after starting with someone else who was strict. I am serious about playing piano but also want to have fun. Jon is an extremely talented piano player. That is fantastic and is essential. What is so unique about Jon is his ability to know what I needed as a student to learn - he is intuitive and is not a cookie cutter teacher. He has a fabulous sense of humor and is compassionate. In my experience with classical teachers this combination is rare. In fact, I moved from Chicago to California and looked and looked for a classical teacher with these qualities and could not find one. I asked Jon if he would consider teaching me long distance and he continues to teach me via FaceTime. It works well and I couldnt be happier. Jon is a wonderful teacher and I sincerely believe that he is one in a million!
    ... Show more
    May 25, 2019

    GV

    Gus V.

    first of all he is a great person. he can play numerous instruments.
    i really respect his knowledge of music. he loves to teach. he is patient. his lessons are relatively inexpensive. musically, he will go
    anywhere you ask. and finally if you visit him, you will meet the
    greatest little dog. very cool!
    ... Show more
    May 23, 2019

    JO

    Jim O.

    This man is not only a pianist who knows how to teach piano (and a few other instruments), but hes also a real musician. Finally, hes quite personable, and not dogmatic about things.
    Each students needs in a teacher will be unique, but Im happy that Ive found Jon to work with.
    ... Show more
    May 23, 2019

    MH

    Matt H.

    He is an amazing musician, teacher, and person. I studied with Jon in high school, and now am a professional musician and music teacher. I have had a number of excellent teachers over the years, but Jon stands apart as the one who helped me the most in understanding what it means to be both a good musician and a good person.
    ... Show more
    May 23, 2019

    Frequently asked questions

    We speak over the phone for as long as it takes. The first meeting is the first lesson. We play a lot of music and I take a lot of questions. The student learns how vast music is. Fun.

    Eight years of classical piano and clarinet before college, six decades of professional performances, four years for a BMEd degree, magna cum laude, and four years for a master's of music degree, subsequent private lessons in jazz piano (five teachers) voice, horn, flute, trumpet, and classical guitar. As a really good teacher, I see teachers of varying quality out there, how to teach and how not to teach.

    My teaching includes three years of diercting band at my former high school, six months of the same plus electronic composition in eastern Oregon, a year at a prep school in Illinois (Spanish, band, and cooking) years at Columbia College Chicago (eleven different subjects in music alone) the American Conservatory of Music and guest teaching at Vandercook College of Music. My crown jewel is teaching music privately. At the first student recital, the kids each performed an original, a classical piece, and a rock piece. At the next recital, it was adults and spouses only. We depleted the venue's collection of French beer. The next recital was kids again, one piano, one trumpet, one saxophone, one guitarist who accompanied herself on original songs supervised by yours truly, as was her brother, who simply sat a an electronic speaker playing his superb compositions, not for dancing or whislting to, for sure.


    Services offered

    Piano
    Music Theory
    Clarinet