Lessons

The Instrument Barn offers lessons on all instruments. Lessons are $35 a half hour and are offered during our normal business hours. We recommend scheduling lessons weekly but we do also offer bi weekly lessons. For more information or to schedule a lesson give us a call at 847-562-6616 or fill out the form by clicking on the link below.

Huntley location

11221 Dundee rd Huntley IL 60142 

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Lesson Interest form 

https://forms.gle/cWnzFSVgmFnDfEgE7

Teaching Staff:

Harry Choin - Woodwinds, Piano, and Guitar

Harry is the owner of The Instrument Barn, and also an experienced instructor. He recently completed his enlistment in the United States Army. He has a strong passion for music and plays as much as he can.  While he was in the United States Army, he was an Army Bandsman. Harry played in all kinds of ensembles including the jazz band, rock band, ceremonial band, and the woodwind quintet playing clarinet, flute, saxophone, and piano. His primary instrument is clarinet. Now he really enjoys playing in community bands, and orchestras, throughout the Chicago area. His goal is to get quality instruments at an affordable cost to all musicians. In his free time he enjoys working on old cars and hanging out with the family.  

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Victoria Choin - Strings, Electric Bass, and High Brass

(Zoom or Skype Only)

Victoria has been playing musical instruments for over 20 years. She studied piano and double bass at Central Michigan University, where she received a Bachelors degree in Music. She has played French Horn with the Arizona State University symphonic band, as well as other groups. Victoria received a Masters degree in Musicology from ASU in 2019. Since graduating, Victoria has been teaching orchestra at a school in Mesa, AZ. She has been teaching strings, brass, and piano privately for 5 years. 

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Ryan Klopfenstein - Drums, Guitar, Electric Bass, Ukulele 

A native of northern Illinois, Ryan has played guitar, bass, and drums in numerous indie-rock bands throughout the Chicagoland area since the 1990s. He started playing music at a young age. Being the son of a drummer, growing up there was always music in the house. He played guitar and drums as a teenager. After high school, he attended the American Academy of Art in Chicago. Then in 1996, he accepted a position at The Player’s Bench music store in Crystal Lake. Ryan worked and taught there on and off for 20+ years until their closing in 2020. While at The Player’s Bench, Ryan studied privately both classical guitar with Ron Pingel and drumset with Bob Roak. He has been teaching at The Instrument Barn since 2021.

When not playing and teaching music, you can find Ryan focusing on his other passion, art. He exhibits his paintings in various art galleries in the area. 

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Chris Monzel - Violin

Chris Monzel graduated with high honors from Northern Illinois University with bachelor degrees in Performance and Music Education. He has performed with several orchestras in the Northern Illinois area as well in various chamber ensembles. As a teacher, Chris believes his role is to mentor students to become better musicians in a learning environment that is collaborative, fun, and respectful.

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Ryan Danikowski - Low Brass, Beginning Piano

Ryan Danikowski graduated from Northern Illinois University in 2021 with a Bachelor's Degree in Music Education and Tuba Performance. While at NIU, he performed in the Wind Ensemble, Philharmonic Orchestra, Tuba Euphonium Ensemble, and a Brass Quintet. Since Graduating, Ryan has been substitute teaching in St. Charles where he lives. Ryan has also been teaching private low brass lessons for the last 3 years in St. Charles, Geneva, and Downers Grove. He is on staff as a Private Instructor and has given masterclasses at Downers Grove South and Glenbard North high school. He has performed in several groups throughout the Chicago suburbs including the ECC Community Band and Fox Valley Brass Band. He is currently the tubist of the Black Willow Brass Quintet.

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Joe Malambri - Piano

Joe is a seasoned pianist and music educator with over 40 years of experience in teaching piano. He holds a BA degree in music from the University of Illinois and has a rich musical background, having played in various rock and jazz bands throughout the 80s and 90s. In addition to performing, Joe is also an accomplished composer who records his own compositions.

Growing up in a musical family, Joe's love for music was nurtured from an early age. His father was a band director and Chicago Union musician, while his mother was a piano teacher. He now follows in his. parents' footsteps.
As a piano teacher, Joe not only focuses on teaching his students how to play the instrument, but also emphasizes the importance of understanding the theory of the musical language in order to help students express their musical potential.
Aside from his musical pursuits, Joe enjoys creating board games and writing educational children's books and short stories.

Joe and his wife currently reside in the Huntley area.

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James Goelitz - Guitar, Bass, Ukulele

James earned his Bachelors degree in jazz performance from the Music Conservatory of the Performing Arts at Roosevelt University, Chicago. He also completed coursework at the Bloom School of Jazz, Chicago. He has spent the last 35 years playing throughout the midwest and east coast. Teaching for over thirty years, James enjoys working with students of all ages and skill levels. James continues to play professionally and has performed with many musical artists including live radio performances with singer Jade Maze on Public Radio WDCB's the "Hambone Blues Party", a nine year run with Chicago's Stay Tuned Orchestra, ZZ Hill Jr., the Stone Connection Blues Band, Flashback, After Five Orchestra, JumpStreet and many others.

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Vince Salerno - Saxophone, Flute, Clarinet, Harmonica

Vince Salerno is a dedicated musician and multi-instrumentalist with formal training from the American Conservatory of Music and a BA from Columbia College of Chicago. He has an active professional performance career spanning live and studio work, has released two CDs under his own name on the Pravda Records label, and performs across a range of styles including jazz, blues, R&B, and rock. He brings his real-world musical experience along with a supportive, student-focused approach to every lesson.

Specializing in saxophone, flute, clarinet, and harmonica, Vince works with students of all levels-from beginners just starting out to more experienced players looking to refine their skills. His teaching emphasizes solid fundamentals, tone development, and musical expression, while keeping lessons engaging and tailored to each student's goals.