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BioHello! My name is Ben Vogel and I am the owner and instructor at Vogel Music School. I grew up in the northwest suburbs of Chicago and I currently live in Palatine, Illinois with my wife.
I have been playing the guitar for about 22 years now. I was raised on the music of The Beatles and The Rolling Stones, among others. Some of my earliest guitar memories are of my first teacher, Don Maloney, showing me how to play some of my favorite Led Zeppelin riffs. Don was always incredibly kind and patient, and he was flexible enough with the material to keep me interested and moving forward. I try to honor those values as an instructor as I believe they are a big part of the reason I stuck with it. During and after high school I developed a passion for improvisational music, which led me to study with the great Chicago jazz guitarist and educator Frank Portolese at Elmhurst University. At Elmhurst, I studied Philosophy and Jazz Studies, and I had the honor to learn about music and improvisation from Mike Pinto, Frank Caruso, Tom Garling, and others, not to mentioned the immensely talented student body there. |
Over the years I have had the pleasure of getting to perform various styles of music on multiple instruments around the Midwest. My experiences have ranged from playing bass and lead guitar in rock & roll bands to singing and playing mandolin and acoustic guitar in country and bluegrass groups.
Teaching Philosophy
My primary goal as a music instructor is to help each individual express themselves through their instrument. Everybody is different. They have different goals, different strengths, and benefit from different styles of learning. I have developed a real passion for helping people discover their unique direction and achieve their musical goals, all while keeping the process enjoyable and productive. Learning about music and how to express myself through various instruments has enriched my life beyond measure, and I feel privileged to help others do the same.
-Ben
-Ben