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Orchestral String Teachers
Orchestral String Teachers
The Music Shoppe of Champaign
Whether you're ready to get started with lessons or just want more information, please check out our Lesson Studio Contact Form.
Tamra Gingold
Violin Instructor | Champaign, IL
I am very excited that you are making the decision to learn the violin and expand your musical knowledge. I teach a variety of music and I can teach all levels. My teaching styles focus on creative ways to make violin fun and often include styles like fiddle, pop, and improvisation. I grew up in Urbana, IL and joined the strings program, which I now teach in the 5th grade. I continued playing violin until I graduated from high school and pursued my education at the University of Illinois. I graduated from the University of Illinois with a Masters Degree in Music Education and a Bachelor's Degree in Violin Performance. I am Nationally Board Certified, and I have worked 20+ years in the Urbana School District #116 where I am currently the Director of the Symphonic and Chamber Orchestras and the All City Strings Group, which consists of 5th graders from the Urbana Elementary schools. I play professionally and I am the Educational Coordinator and a Principal Chair for the Urbana Pops Orchestra, which is a professional group that mentors young, aspiring players.
I am also the sponsor and mentor for the Mariachi de Los Tigres at Urbana High School, which focuses on Mariachi and Latin music. I love learning and playing all kinds of music and I play multiple string instruments and piano. I love many things including animals, athletics, and candy. Most of all, I love teaching music to young people. I believe that every person is unique and deserves the opportunity to learn and enjoy music. I am able to present material in many different ways so every individual can learn in the best way possible.
Benita Lewis
Cello & Bass Instructor | Champaign, IL
“I started cello lessons in the fifth grade in Danville, Illinois. When I was in eighth grade, I joined the Danville Symphony Orchestra. As a senior in high school, I performed the Golterman Cello Concerto. I was a member of the Danville Symphony Orchestra until I went away to college.
While at Eastern Illinois University, I earned my bachelors degree in music education. At Eastern, I prepared for teaching by taking lessons in viola, violin, and string bass. I performed bass in the college band and had an opportunity to play with the Lafayette Symphony Orchestra, Miliken University Orchestra, Vermilion String Quartet, and Danville Symphony Orchestra.
I moved to Champaign in 1986 to teach string/orchestra in various schools in Unit #4. For the past several years, I have been performing with Parkland College Orchestra and teaching privately. I enjoy teaching and performing equally. My students benefit from my experience as a performer and I will continue until I cannot do either.”
Jakob Lillegaard
Electric & Double Bass Instructor | Champaign, IL
Bassist Jakob Lillegaard has been absolutely in love with playing electric bass for 25 years. In high school he added Double Bass to his repertoire, playing both jazz and classical. Playing in a variety of enjoyable bands has always been a fixture in his life. Jakob has always been diversely interested, which has lead him to play all major genres and loves them equally. Recently his interest has grown to include learning how to play the cello, in order to play Irish and American fiddle tunes.
Jakob has been teaching electric bass for 6 years which has always been inspired by his love of teaching. He enjoys teaching as much as performing, and especially loves to find out what drives others to play music, nurture that motive through goal oriented practice, and making playing as fun as possible. Both reading and playing by ear are encouraged, as well as a healthy dose of improvisation.
"Helping the band sound as great as possible is why I think playing bass is so much fun. We get to interact with all other instruments in a special way, providing rhythm, harmony, AND melody." -Jakob
Jakob has been teaching electric bass for 6 years which has always been inspired by his love of teaching. He enjoys teaching as much as performing, and especially loves to find out what drives others to play music, nurture that motive through goal oriented practice, and making playing as fun as possible. Both reading and playing by ear are encouraged, as well as a healthy dose of improvisation.
"Helping the band sound as great as possible is why I think playing bass is so much fun. We get to interact with all other instruments in a special way, providing rhythm, harmony, AND melody." -Jakob
Jennifer Mokos
Violin Instructor | Champaign, IL
Jen is an enthusiastic and caring teacher who has enjoyed working with students of all ages, from young children to adult beginners. She is passionate about music and thoroughly enjoys helping her students to thrive under her instruction. She draws from a wide variety of teaching resources so that she can tailor her instruction to the particular needs of each student, taking into account individual learning styles and encouraging her students to pursue their own musical interests.
Her own musical journey began when she was in fifth grade and started violin instruction through her school's instrumental music program. She continued playing, both at school and in extracurricular groups, through high school, and while she ultimately decided to pursue a bachelor's degree in physics, music continued to be an integral part of her life as a college student. As a member of the pilot music minor program at UIUC, she was given broad latitude to put together her own program of study, and chose to focus her coursework around violin performance, string pedagogy, and music education. It was as a college student that she began teaching private violin lessons, at the encouragement of the cooperating teacher who supervised her early field experience. By the time of her graduation in 2004, she had earned more credit hours in music than in her actual major! She went on to earn her master's degree in secondary education from UIUC in 2006, and shortly thereafter became certified by the state of Illinois to teach science, mathematics, and instrumental music.
Jen currently plays in the Parkland Community Orchestra and the Millikin-Decatur Symphony Orchestra, and has also played in pit orchestras for many community theater productions. A firm believer that learning is a lifelong pursuit, she is constantly in search of opportunities to broaden her own musical experience and continue to refine her abilities.