Bass - Piano Power

Michelle Akin

Michelle began her piano and cello lessons in elementary school. At age 14, she was tapped from her school orchestra to join the jazz band on bass guitar. While in high school, she was named to the all-state honors orchestra and jazz ensemble, she was featured in an article in Downbeat magazine, and she was invited to perform in Helsinki with the National Honors Orchestra. Michelle went on to attend DePaul University, where she studied cello and bass, performing in the orchestra and jazz ensembles. She has gone on to perform in a wide array of musical ensembles and styles.

As an instructor, Michelle is warm, engaging, and participatory. She has a knack for making new students feel at home, celebrating their progress and encouraging them to take on fun new challenges. With over 30 years of teaching experience, Michelle believes that any time sharing music with others is time well spent.

Alex Costis

Alex Costis

Alex started playing music at five years old, and he has never wanted to do anything else. As he progressed, he explored numerous instruments and genres. He naturally found himself participating in improvised and rehearsed groups, teaching lessons to peers, and honing his sight-reading skills as a church organist.

Alex continued his musical growth at the esteemed Berklee College of Music, where he earned a degree in jazz composition. Since graduating, Alex has played with touring groups across the world, as both a writer and instrumentalist.

With over a decade of teaching experience, Alex aims to cultivate creativity while building technique. By incorporating his students’ interests in a comfortable setting, he fosters structure, routine, and confidence.

To see Alex’s current availability, click here.

Henry Dickhoff

Bass | Guitar | Music Theory | Piano

Henry Dickhoff

Henry began his piano studies on a classical track, receiving multiple awards from the National Guild of Piano Teachers and the International Piano Duo Competition. After discovering jazz in high school, he was admitted to the renowned College of Music at the University of North Texas. There he received both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in jazz studies, while also serving as a teaching fellow. After graduation, Henry toured the United States, Canada, and Japan as pianist for the world-famous Glenn Miller Orchestra.

Henry began teaching with Piano Power upon relocating to Chicago in early 2019. With nearly a decade of teaching experience, a warm and gentle approach, and an easy-going sense of humor, he communicates the benefits of music education to all ages and levels.

Outside of music, Henry enjoys learning about foreign languages and cultures. He speaks English and Spanish fluently, and he also knows some German, Mandarin, Japanese, and French. He is an avid traveler and enjoys meeting and connecting with individuals from all over the world.

To see Henry’s current availability, click here.

Jacob Fisher

Jacob Fisher

Jacob was born and raised in Lake Forest, where he started playing music at the age of eight. While receiving his bachelor’s in music performance at Lawrence University’s Conservatory of Music, he was principal bassoonist in the university symphony orchestra and wind ensemble. With his woodwind quintet, he was a winner of the Neale-Silva Young Artists’ Competition and performed live on Wisconsin Public Radio. Along with his classical endeavors, he also regularly played guitar in jazz ensembles, improvisational groups, and funk bands.

Jacob frequently collaborates with musicians in Chicago and Minneapolis, performing in modern classical chamber groups and his own experimental rock band, Perennial. He also composes and records music for multiple podcasts, including his own show, Wake & Jake, for which he improvises ambient music on a weekly basis.

Jacob aims to share the joy he gets from music with his students through a positive and enthusiastic teaching style. He loves teaching music of all genres and is especially passionate about discussing the theory behind songwriting.

When not teaching or making music, Jacob enjoys walking his dog, McBain, around the boulevards of Logan Square and watching a lot of movies with his wife and cats.

To see Jacob’s current availability, click here.

Egan Franke

Egan Franke

An Indianapolis native, Egan has studied at both the University of Toronto and Columbia College Chicago. While hailing from a family of performers, Egan has focused in his own work on original composition. During his college years, Egan also coached youth soccer all over the greater Chicago area. He’s excited to combine his passion for music with the joy of teaching students.

Egan is well-versed in multiple genres, with experience composing and performing jazz, blues, pop/rock, and musical theatre, to complement his native classical background. Egan is active in the composing and freelancing scene in Chicago, currently concentrating on musical theatre.

To see Egan’s current availability, click here.

Noah Haines

Noah Haines

Noah began his life-long love affair with music at an early age, singing every word to “Hey Jude” while still in diapers. From there, he spent most of his childhood playing various sports (in a mediocre fashion) until a guitar landed in his lap around age 10. Immediately, the world began to make sense in new and different ways, and he traded in the baseball diamond for the stage.

A background in classic rock and folk music merged with a developing love for musical theater, and, somehow, someway, over a decade later, he finds himself as a full-time teacher, composer/lyricist, and music director! Noah now has a couple handfuls of original theatrical musicals under his belt, and a career highlight of an original show playing in an NYC off-Broadway theater.

A gifted, personable, and committed teacher, Noah has an enduring love for helping his students find the stories and feelings in every note they play.

To see Noah’s current availability, click here.

Andrew Hawk

Andrew Hawk

Andrew Hawk is a pianist, percussionist, and producer who performs and writes music primarily in electronic and pop styles. He studied percussion and music production at Capital University in Columbus, Ohio, where he earned a bachelor’s of music.

Beginning piano and drum lessons at a young age, Andrew eventually gravitated toward keyboard instruments and music composition. He performs in various contemporary ensembles using electronic percussion instruments and synthesizer, merging his skills as an instrumentalist and audio engineer.

Andrew is passionate about teaching, and he enjoys instilling creativity and music appreciation in his students. He plays to his students’ strengths, while also encouraging them to venture outside their comfort zones. His students thrive on the combination of structure and exploration.

To see Andrew’s current availability, click here.

Ben Sullivan

Ben Sullivan

Born and raised in Chicago, Ben Sullivan is a pianist, guitarist, composer, arranger, and teacher. Ben received his bachelor’s in guitar performance from DePaul University, and his master’s from Northwestern University. Well-versed in classical duo and ensemble music, Ben performs with his wife as a guitar-and-violin duo. His versatility extends to rock, blues, funk, and jazz, and he plays regularly in rock bands as a pianist and lead guitarist.

Ben shows his students that music is a lifelong journey, strengthening character and preparing them for everyday life. Having taught students of all ages for a decade, Ben exemplifies the patience and openness that create a welcoming learning environment. Join Ben in the beautiful adventure into musicianship, where students develop life skills and learn awesome songs along the way!

To see Ben’s current availability, click here.

Instructors who teach: Bass

Michelle Akin

Alex Costis

Henry Dickhoff

Jacob Fisher

Egan Franke

Noah Haines

Andrew Hawk

Ben Sullivan