We often get asked what level a student needs to be involved in our group programming or ensembles-- It usually comes to a "well it...

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Melody Mart stands out from other music shops through its comprehensive approach to music education, exceptional community focus, and...

Since 1956, Melody Mart has supported musicians with lessons, repairs, rentals, and now a hub for stories, resources, and community!

Amanda Weichinger is a multi-instrumentalist and educator with 35+ years of musicianship on saxophone, clarinet, flute, and ukulele. A first-call section leader and versatile doubler, she’s performed in concert and jazz bands, saxophone quartet, community band, and Bel Canto community choir, and has spent many seasons in the orchestra pit for musical theatre. At Melody Mart, she’s also shared her joy of strumming onstage at ukulele recitals. Amanda’s musical tastes are wide;

Matthew Gallagher (he/him) is a banjo player and educator with 22 years of picking, gigging, and jamming across bluegrass, newgrass, and beyond. A Denver-scene regular for a decade, Matthew toured and recorded with the jamgrass band Whiskey Tango, performed with the traditional bluegrass outfit Last Sheets on the Roll, and sat in with luminaries including Darol Anger and Grant Gordy. His style nods to heroes Béla Fleck and Noam Pikelny—blending Scruggs, melodic, and single-st

Jim Schutters is a pianist, composer, and educator with 45+ years at the keyboard. His start to music traces back to taking lessons right here at Melody Mart. A versatile performer, Jim has brought his lyrical, audience-friendly style to high-school jazz bands and collegiate choirs, to praise & worship teams, and to elegant solo sets in country-club and fine-dining settings. His playing blends the clarity of classical training with the vitality of jazz and stride, shaped by i

Canisha Russ (she/her) is a Chicago-based vocalist with 12 years of study and performance rooted in R&B, Soul, Hip Hop, Gospel, and Jazz. A Chicago native with deep roots in community arts, she’s performed with UIC’s Funk Combo, Vocal Jazz Ensemble, and University Choir; after college, she joined DLC Music Chicago (a K-Pop cover band) and sang background vocals for Billboard-charting dance artist Kristine W. at Pride Fest (2021). Her musical lens is shaped by Stevie Wonder’s

A true bass guitar authority and longtime member of our music community, John brings decades of experience, unmatched knowledge, and a genuine passion for teaching to everything he does. A graduate of Governors State University with a B.A. in Music, John has not only taught bass but lived it—playing with regional staples like The Big Boppers  and sharing stages with some of Chicago’s finest blues musicians. His performing resume spans decades and includes collaborations, reco

Anokyewaa Oppong Wadie is an accomplished violinist with over 16 years of study and performance. Inspired by Grammy Award–winning jazz and classical violinist Regina Carter, she began classical violin studies at age nine through the Suzuki method, becoming the first violinist in her musical family.

At Melody Mart, we are deeply passionate about music and with this enthusiasm, we are fueled to create an environment where individuals...