Eric W. Sutz Piano and Guitar Academy

Specialties

I believe in teaching to the individual, not following a one size fits all approach. Adults, teens and kids all learn at a different pace and it’s important to find what skills they need to enable them to make music. I teach a wide variety of students with a diverse range of musical tastes.

History

Established in 1978.

When I was a teenager I worked over the summer as a camp counselor for a kids sports camp and I taught guitar classes at the local JCC and YMCA. I didn’t realize at the time that I would soon be combining those two jobs into my lifetime path. I also began to pick up alot of gigs playing piano and guitar for local theaters and other performing groups and bands.

By the time I was twenty I already had alot of experience playing in public and teaching adult and kids group guitar lessons. My piano background was rooted in traditional classical training but I saw no difference in playing classical, rock, jazz or blues. To me, great music was great music. I was fortunate to get a scholarship to DePaul University where I continued teaching and playing gigs on the side to help support my studies. I sought after the finest musicians I could find to give me insight on how to be the best version of myself and to be able to give my students the best possible education they can find.

Meet the Business Owner

Eric S.

Business Owner

Eric Sutz graduated with a Bachelor of Music from DePaul University. He has been a working musician, arranger, conductor and teacher for over thirty five years and supported his DePaul studies through playing a wide variety of engagements and teaching piano and guitar. In addition to playing for singers, production companies and local groups, he also worked as a musical director and conductor for Chicago area theaters and choirs. For fifteen years Eric took part-​time and full time jobs as a rehearsal and audition pianist for the Candlelight, Marriot Lincolnshire, Wisdom Bridge and Goodman Theater. He has studied classical piano with Eloise Niwa, conducting with Dr. William Huber and Kevin Stites, and jazz piano with Judy Roberts, Howard Levy, Larry Novak, Willie Pickens, John Campbell, Joel Daley, Mike Kocour, Greg Fishman and Erwin Helfer. His book: «How to Play and Teach Popular Music Creatively» was published in 1986 Eric is on the Music Institute of Chicago and Stevenson HS Faculty