Jazz/Folk Guitar

Jeremiah Benham

ntakagi — Fri, 06 Oct 2023 19:04:40 +0000

Jeremiah Benham ntakagi Fri, 10/06/2023 - 14:04

Jeremiah Benham has been a member of the Music Institute’s guitar faculty since September 2017. He earned master of music and bachelor of arts degrees from DePaul University. He is a member of the Chicago Classical Guitar Society.

Academic Title

Guitar & Musikgarten Faculty

Available For

Online

In-Person

Available Offsite

Off

Basic Teaching Philosophy or Special Music Interests/Specialties

"If your heart beats and you can speak, you are already making music."

Courses

Private Instruction
Roots and Rock Faculty (guitar)
Ukulele Faculty

Department

Community Music School

Department Head

Off

Education

MM, DePaul University
BA, DePaul University

jbenham@musicinst.org

Hire Date

Sun, 09/10/2017 - 12:00

Instrument(s)

Location(s)

Name

Jeremiah Benham

Personal Website / Link

http://www.chicagoguitar.com

Person Type

Faculty

Phone

847.905.1500

Photo

Benham, Jeremiah web pic copy.jpg

Photo Credit

Photography by Educo

Professional Affiliations & Activities

Chicago Classical Guitar Society

Program Area

Private Instruction

Group Classes

Early Childhood - Musikgarten

Suzuki Education

Roots & Rock

Three Questions Answer

Interests/hobbies outside of music:
I enjoy Yoga and spending time with my wife and three kids.

A few of my favorite things:
My favorite food would be Indian, Thai or anything spicy!

Why study music:
I study music because it feels dangerous like walking on a rooftop, yet I can do it without hurting myself or others. It also feels unpractical and my mind tends to be attracted to unpractical things. Its like someone asked me to go on this near impossible quest at an early age and the more I was warned about its possible peril, the more impassioned I became.

Weight

GUID

119

Media ID

432

Willing to Teach at

Chicago - Gratz Center

Chicago - St. James

Evanston

Winnetka

David Onderdonk

ntakagi — Mon, 02 Oct 2023 19:04:54 +0000

David Onderdonk ntakagi Mon, 10/02/2023 - 14:04

David Onderdonk began playing the guitar at the age of eight. Growing up in Evanston, IL, his early interests included folk, blues, and rock music. In 1974 he was accepted into the classical guitar program at the University of Illinois in Urbana, IL. In addition to his classical studies, which included masterclasses with Manuel Barrueco, Eliot Fisk, and Eduardo Fernandez, he also played in the U of I Jazz Big Band under the direction of John Garvey.

In 1976, David started his career as a classical guitarist. From 1976-1978 he gave concerts in Europe, Central and South America, and throughout the United States as part of a duo called One Plus One with dancer Patricia Hruby Powell. He moved to Chicago in 1980 and began making connections in the jazz community working in various jazz clubs around the city including Andy’s, The Green Mill, and The Jazz Showcase.

Between 1984 and 1985 he released two albums on Quaver Records (Close Call and Lookout). This was followed by tours of the Midwest in support of those albums. In 1993 he and drummer Mark Walker released Loose Contact (an album of original music) on Southport Records. This CD received a four-star review in Downbeat Magazine. In 1996 he was a featured guitarist in JAZZIZ magazine for their Guitars on Fire issue. His studio recording work also includes CD’s, TV jingles, documentaries (A&E with Bill Kurtis), and a movie soundtrack (Off the Map). In 2005 he released Renaissance Guitar as an independent project. More recently, he collaborated with singer Ana Everling on The Music of Guinga.

He has played and/or recorded with Kurt Elling (three Grammy nominated albums), Michael Feinstein, The Lakeside Singers, Megon McDonough, Terry Callier, Grazyna Auguscik, Fareed Haque, Fred Simon, and Marlene Rosenberg. He has also appeared on recordings with Pharoah Sanders, Mavis Staples, Mike Stern, Howard Levy, Paul Wertico, and Paul McCandless among others. He was a member of the Chicago Jazz Composers Collective for eighteen years regularly showcasing new compositions at The Green Mill.

An instructor for over thirty years, David currently teaches at the Music Institute of Chicago. Past teaching credits include Interlochen Summer Jazz Camp, Roosevelt University, Columbia College, and The Old Town School of Folk Music. He previously served as Interim Instructor of Guitar at Interlochen Arts Academy for the 2015-2016 school year.

Additional Studies / Recent Awards / Recordings

Latest releases are at: http://davidonderdonk.bandcamp.com
Sheet music is available at: http://sheetmusicdirect.com
Tracks that David has played on are at: David Onderdonk/sideman – YouTube

Academic Title

Guitar and Ukulele Faculty

Available For

In-Person

Available Offsite

Off

Basic Teaching Philosophy or Special Music Interests/Specialties

I teach students to teach themselves.

Courses

Private Instruction
Roots and Rock
Jazz Guitar
Group Classes

Department

Community Music School

Department Head

Off

Education

Classical and Jazz Guitar studies, University of Illinois at Urbana (1974-1978)

donderdonk@musicinst.org

Hire Date

Thu, 09/01/2016 - 12:00

Instrument(s)

Location(s)

Name

David Onderdonk

Personal Website / Link

http://davidonderdonkmusic.com

Person Type

Faculty

Phone

Photo

Program Area

Three Questions Answer

Interests/hobbies outside of music:
I enjoy making photo collages of images I find down by Lake Michigan. I've had a few shows of my work and even sold some pieces.

A few of my favorite things..
My favorite composer is Bach. I enjoy playing his music on a guitar that's in Baroque tuning (A415).

Why study music:
Music engages your entire brain function that can benefit other areas of your life. Bach's music seems to align my molecules.

Weight

GUID

180

Media ID

473

Willing to Teach at

Winnetka

Lake Forest

Stephen Ramsdell

ntakagi — Mon, 02 Oct 2023 19:04:56 +0000

Stephen Ramsdell ntakagi Mon, 10/02/2023 - 14:04

Additional Studies / Recent Awards / Recordings

Significant teachers and mentors:
Anne Waller, Paul Berliner, and David Bloom

Trips to New York, Cuba and Brazil to study with master musicians

CDs of original compositions: Steve Ramsdell Group(94) and Looking For (2005)

I stay on top of developments in Jazz and contemporary music.

Academic Title

Guitar Faculty

Anything else we should know?

Favorite practice tip:
Empty your hands!

Favorite composer or piece to play:
Bach, Villa-Lobos, Bebop and original compositions.

Available For

In-Person

Available Offsite

Off

Basic Teaching Philosophy or Special Music Interests/Specialties

Steve's philosophy on teaching focuses on where the students are, and then using that to try to meet them at that level and go from there. The goal with this is that over time he and the student will focus on technique, applied theory, listening, and repertoire in order to develop the overall musicianship needed to play at a high level. Considering that different styles of playing develop different skill sets, he enjoys working with Classical, Jazz, and other popular styles.

Courses

Private Instruction
Classical Guitar
Folk/Jazz Guitar

Department

Community Music School

Department Head

Off

Education

BM Classical Guitar, Northwestern University
MM Jazz Pedagogy, Northwestern University

sramsdell@musicinst.org

Hire Date

Mon, 09/01/2014 - 12:00

Instrument(s)

Location(s)

Name

Stephen Ramsdell

Person Type

Faculty

Phone

847.905.1500

Photo

ramsdell.jpg

Professional Affiliations & Activities

Awards and achievements:
Mr. Ramsdell performs commercial music, original music as a leader, jazz classics, and solo classical music. Some of his performance highlights include New Year's Eve celebrations at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas, his original music at SPACE in Evanston, performances with Spider Saloff at the Iridium in New York, and shows with Matt Geraghty at Ondojazz in Lisbon and the Chicago Jazz Fest. His musical arrangements can be heard on Spider Saloff's CD 'Like Glass' while his original compositions appear on his release 'Looking For...' and his first CD, 'Steve Ramsdell Group'. As a teacher with decades of experience, Steve works with all levels of guitarists, striving to help his students develop the skills needed to pursue their musical goals.

Professional affiliations & activities:
In addition to all of Mr. Ramsdell's achievements, he is also on the faculty at Wheaton College and College of Du Page. Furthermore, he performs professionally in myriad styles as a soloist and in small and large ensembles as well.

Currently affiliated with Arlen Music for performances

Research and presentations / publications:
Editorial Work on Paul Berliner's book "Thinking in Jazz"
Interview with jazz guitarist John Abercrombie in the IAJE journal(1996)
Participated in Folkloric Workshops in Brazil (1997) and Cuba (1998)

Program Area

Private Instruction

Group Classes

Jazz Studies

Three Questions

Interests/hobbies outside of music

Why study music?

What does music mean to you?

What do you love about playing your instrument?

Three Questions Answer

Why study music:
I find music to be a demanding and rewarding daily challenge. I particularly enjoy the contrast between between jazz and classical...each style seems to appeal to a different side of my personality. There is so much amazing music to work on!

Interests/hobbies outside of music:
I also enjoy working out and reading a broad range of subjects and fiction.

Weight

GUID

188

Media ID

478

Willing to Teach at

Evanston

Winnetka

Michael Scott

ntakagi — Mon, 02 Oct 2023 06:17:08 +0000

Michael Scott ntakagi Mon, 10/02/2023 - 01:17

Additional Studies / Recent Awards / Recordings

Scholarships:
Hibbard Perry Scholarship for Excellence in Classical Mandolin Performance (Bristol, RI)
Mandolin Symposium Scholarship for Mandolin Studies (Santa Cruz, CA)

Additional Studies:
National Community Schools and Family Engagement Conference, Los Angeles, CA (2022)
Introduction to Systemic Racism, Enrich Chicago, Chicago, IL 2021 (virtual)
The Savvy Musician in ACTION, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC (2014)
Mandolin Symposium, Santa Cruz, CA (2009)
American Mandolin and Guitar Summer School, Bristol, RI (2003)
Mandofest, Lawrence, KS (2003)

Recordings:
Eric Bandera, “Waiting for the Sky,” commissioned and performed by Duetto Arioso, 2005
Ryan Bizarre, “Three Taverns, Two Cafes, and a Church,” mandolin, 2001
Geoffrey Muireann, “All Good Things,” on Live From the Blackthorn: Strong Enough to Bend, performed
by Mad Creek Medicine Band, Passion Flower Records, 2001
Sarah Bowman, Living, mandolin and guitar, Pillow Song Music, 2001
Mad Creek Medicine Band, Los Rio Loco Venda Medicina, co-writer/mandolin and guitar, 1998
Strange Neighbors, From in Here, co-writer/guitar, Passion Flower Records, 1994

Academic Title

Mandolin, Guitar, Electric Bass Faculty

Available For

In-Person

Available Offsite

Off

Basic Teaching Philosophy or Special Music Interests/Specialties

My teaching philosophy is to start where the student is at. Nearly every student pursues music based on a past and/or positive experience that they have had with music. Whether it be a performance, a recording, something their parents listened to, or those piano lessons they wish they had continued -- music has something to offer to everyone. As students grow and begin to find their own musical voice, it is the role of the "teacher" to continue to support and nourish the student's excitement and pursuit of this artform. With an essentially infinite pool of music to discover and explore throughout one's lifetime -- there will always be a deep well of learning opportunities, and what we can learn from these experiences translates to the enjoyment of our everyday lives and beyond.

Courses

Private Instruction
Group Classes
Roots & Rock
Adult Studies

Department Head

Off

Education

MM, Northern Illinois University, Jazz Studies, mandolin and guitar
BA, Southern Illinois University - Carbondale, Music Business and Marketing: (instrumental concentration, jazz mandolin and classical guitar)

mscott@musicinst.org

Instrument(s)

Location(s)

Name

Michael Scott

Person Type

Faculty

Phone

847.905.1500

Photo

Michael Scott pic.jpg

Photo Credit

Jamie Hendry

Program Area

Roots & Rock

Three Questions Answer

One of my hobbies outside of music is reading Science Fiction and Business books. I have way too many books!

I love Chicago for its vibrant music and arts scene. With many performing arts centers, museums, and amazing cultural diversity, Chicago is truly one of the most rewarding cities to be an artist in.

The mandolin, much like the guitar, crosses over into many culturally rich styles of music. This allows me to 'sit in' with many types of musicians and create 'new sounds' that did not seem possible before.

Weight

Willing to Teach at

Evanston

Lake Forest