Brass Music Lessons in Naperville, Illinois

Our Approach to Brass Lessons

At Musical Expressions, we focus on a few key elements of music education when students come to our school for brass lessons. We strive to make it fun, to help students develop strong technical skills, and to completely customize the learning experience to the individual goals of each student.

Brass Lessons Should Be Fun!

From classical orchestras to high school marching bands, the brass section plays a leading role in producing dynamic and impactful performances. At Musical Expressions, we teach a variety of brass instruments – including trumpet, baritone, french horn, and trombone – each of which plays a critical role in bringing to life the music we know and love. 

Regardless of your specific instrument, one thing is consistent across all of our brass offerings: fun! Simply put, we want all of our students to LOVE their music lessons. Musical Expressions’ experienced staff blends a high standard of music education with a creative, student-focused approach that gives students space to discover and nurture their passion for music – while having fun along the way.

We Emphasize Healthy Technique

We believe mastery of fundamentals is key to providing a strong foundation for a musician’s growth. At Musical Expressions, you’ll learn the key elements of strong brass technique including breath support, voicing, embouchure, articulation, finger technique, and posture. Understanding these necessities will help you maintain control of the tone and quality of your music.

Our lessons offer an enriching, well-rounded music education that pairs fundamentals with a strong foundation in music literacy. From sight reading and ear training to music theory and history, our instructors bring a wealth of knowledge and extensive teaching résumés to foster an optimal student experience at Musical Expressions.

We Care About Your Musical Interests & Goals

We recognize students enter our doors with a variety of musical backgrounds (including none at all!), and our experienced teachers are well-equipped to meet you where you are and help get you where you want to go. Musical Expressions is the place for you!

Do you dream of becoming the next great jazz soloist? Earning a spot in your high school band? Turning a simple intrigue into a hobby? As our teachers get to know your goals, we tailor our lessons accordingly. Both beginner and advanced students will be challenged and inspired on their musical journey at Musical Expressions.

There are so many brass instruments to choose from – each with their own unique sound and style. If you’re interested in developing new skills or dusting off an old hobby, learning to play a brass instrument could be the perfect fit for you! At Musical Expressions, we offer brass lessons in trumpet, French horn, trombone, and baritone.

We’re passionate about music. We offer an engaging and supportive learning environment where students grow and thrive at their own pace. Students can explore without limitation at Musical Expressions, leveraging our diverse instructional staff who bring their own unique musical backgrounds to every lesson. We can work with you to master diverse styles of music, from salsa to jazz and everything in between.

By building upon a mastery of the fundamentals, we’ve supported many successful brass musicians over the years, ranging from hobbyists to award-winning performers. We’ll help you build a strong foundation and then explore your preferred repertoire so you, too, can succeed in meeting your goals.

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(630) 355-1110

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Our Teachers

Get to know us a little better.

Staff

Our Teachers

Bobby Calebaugh Clark

Bobby Calebaugh Clark

French Horn & Cornet

Bobby Calebaugh Clark is a University of Illinois graduate with a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Music Education and a minor in Language Arts. Bobby, a Fox Valley native, attended West Aurora

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Augustine Melecio

Augustine Melecio

Brass

Educated at the Merit Music Conservatory, Sherwood Music Conservatory and Boise State University-Music Education, Chicago-based Trumpeter Augustine “Tino” Melecio began his extensive career in the Gallery 37 Latin Big Band in 1993

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Frequently Asked Questions About Brass Lessons

What is the minimum age to start brass lessons at Musical Expressions?

When it comes to brass instruments, it’s important to not only have solid reading and comprehension skills to be successful, but also have significant lung capacity. We recommend starting with a brass instrument around age nine. This is the age when we’ve found that students have developed in all the necessary areas to successfully pursue education of a trumpet, trombone, or French horn.

Do I need any prior experience?

We work with students of all experience levels at our Naperville music school, so you can trust that you’ll find someone who can support and challenge you to achieve your musical goals.

What styles of brass can I learn?

We’re proud to employ a diverse, dedicated team of teachers at Musical Expressions – each of whom is able to lean on prior experiences in order to meet the needs of students with a variety of interests and preferences. No matter your preferred musical style or brass instrument of choice, we have the expertise to guide you through an insightful and empowering journey of music education. 

What books will I need?

We pride ourselves on personalizing the music education offered to our students through brass lessons. Once your teacher has gotten to know you – your experience, your tastes, and your goals – he or she will provide you with a comprehensive list of books, online resources, and other materials that will support your musical goals.

Is brass the right fit for me?

Deciding what instrument is the right fit for you can be a tough decision. With the help of our experienced teachers, you can learn what brass instruments will entail and determine whether or not the trumpet, French horn, trombone, or baritone is something you’d like to explore. Our teachers are happy to answer your questions and give you all the information you need to make an informed decision as to whether brass instruments are right for you.

Why Come to Musical Expressions for Brass Lessons?

When looking for brass lessons in the Naperville area, you have choices. Musical Expressions has a long history of happy and talented musicians who’ve participated in our programs over the years. We’re proud of our approach to music education and believe that is the key to making us stand apart from other music schools in the area.

We adopt a student-driven approach to ensure that you control the pace, direction, and goals of your music education journey. You can direct your experience, knowing that you have the support and coaching of an experienced musician with you every step of the way.

We also strive to facilitate an engaging environment where you can explore different types and styles of music and find what suits you best.

Ready to Begin Brass Lessons in Naperville?

If playing a brass instrument is something you’re excited about, consider brass lessons at Musical Expressions. Our talented and experienced teachers are ready to help you find your sound.

Contact us today to schedule your brass lessons.
















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Our Reviews

  • Musical Expressions is a great place to learn and experience music!

     Phil L.

  • As a band director and published composer, I was particular in finding a musically-rich studio environment for my son. Well, we found it. Musical Expressions is a bright and cheerful enterprise providing top-notch instruction in a most musician-friendly way.

     Tim L.

  • We are very satisfied with Musical Expressions and their teachers. The children love to come to their lessons with John Melnick. They have made a lot of progress within the past 2 years. We will continue to recommend the studio.

     Lucy D.

  • I love my lessons. As a teen I enjoy the independence and respect Erik [Swanson] gives me and his depth of musical diversity is only surpassed by his technical skill.

     Andrew B.

  • I recently signed up my grandson for piano lessons with John at Musical Expressions. The studio is friendly and inviting. Tim has only had a few lessons but we can already see improvement. John is a great teacher. He really keeps the students entertained and alert! It is great to see all of the smiling faces in the waiting room. The facility is very clean and well maintained. What a great place!

     Martha S.

  • I have to call out Rory’s piano teacher, John Melnick, for his awesomeness. In the year since Rory has been with him, I am blown away by Rory’s ease in picking up songs, his technique and enthusiasm for the instrument. Before it was a chore Rory had to tick off his list, but John’s down to earth approach coupled with his talent and love for music has obviously rubbed off! ‘Hats off’ to Musical Expressions for finding wonderful John for us.

     Wendell

  • Sue Good has given me so much more than just the ability to play the piano. Her positive approach to teaching has encouraged me to continue to grow both musically and as an individual. Sue, thank you for everything you have given me. You will always be special to me!

     Rachel R.

  • I have three children studying piano with Yee Seer [See]. She is a great teacher. The children enjoy working with her. She has given them great musical experiences.

     Martha B.

  • Dearest Sue [Good], you have been much more than a piano and music teacher to our family. You have become a dear friend and a part of the family. Thank you from the bottoms of our hearts for all your care, wisdom, and love not just for our girls, but for everyone around you! We look forward to a long, happy relationship with you and the studio!

     Elena V.

  • John Melnick is an Excellent music teacher. John is so patient and relates well to all his students. Being 76 and wanting to play piano for the first time, John was able to make my learning fun. I highly recommend John for young or elderly lessons. You will be happy you did.

     Wendell K.

  • Kristofer has been a student of Greg Luberda for the past two years. I was looking for an instructor who was comfortable with teaching piano to precocious young boys and was assured Greg would be just the person. The advice was on target, Greg has the patience of Job as well as the level of firmness needed to ensure Kristofer stays on task. My son has grown in ability and musical competence over these past two years. He enjoys his piano lessons, maybe not so much having to practice piano daily, but continued piano development is clear.

     Irma S.

  • I love the creative ways different teachers explain the art of music. They make learning fun rather than making it seem like a chore. With Alex, he chooses fun warm ups and songs that you will not only learn from, but enjoy doing.

     Ella S.

  • I study voice with Bridget [Becker]. She is absolutely amazing! I feel very lucky to have such a fantastic teacher!

     Celeste C.

  • When my 12-year-old daughter and I decided she’d like to take voice lessons I searched the Internet for voice teachers near Glen Ellyn. Musical Expressions caught my eye because of all the types of lessons they offer. When I inquired about lessons via e-mail they got back to me the same day so I knew they were organized – definitely a plus! They said one of their voice teachers, Bridget Becker, had openings so I scheduled her first lesson. We were both so pleased to meet Bridget. I took voice lessons throughout high school and I think my daughter has already learned more in three months than I did! Bridget is such a genuinely kind and supportive teacher. We are so pleased to be part of the Musical Expressions family!

     Kathy N.

  • My daughter enjoys her voice lessons [with Bridget Becker] and looks forward to them every week. Singing makes her happy. I, as a parent, enjoy supporting her in activities that make her happy.

     Karen F.

  • As parents that studied music from grade school through college, we wanted to make sure our daughter received quality lessons once she started an instrument in school. We found that in Musical Expressions and Josh Malave!

    Since starting Cello lessons, 2 months ago, we have noticed a big improvement in not only her bowing and sound, but in her confidence level. She doesn’t shy away from playing at home, and actually has fun practicing!

    She is truly enjoying her lessons and we are excited to see her continued progress!

     Matthew & Stephanie F.

  • I just stopped in the office to let you know how much Emily is enjoying her cello lessons with Mary [McGinty]! Emily is practicing more and really progressing beautifully. We feel very fortunate to have such a dedicated and talented teacher. We love Musical Expressions. This studio is such a gem!

     Keith D.

  • Being a musician and an athlete is definitely possible; it requires good communication and scheduling flexibility. Nicholas has been taking lessons with Bobby Clark for the last 2 years. During this time, she got to know who Nicholas was both as a musician and an athlete. She is extremely understanding with his schedule and works with us to schedule his music lessons around athletic activities. Nicholas has grown as a musician under Bobby’s guidance. We are extremely appreciative of the partnership that we have with Bobby that allows Nicholas to continue growing musically and stay involved in the athletics that he enjoys.

     Amy J.

  • Bobby [Calebaugh Clark] is a great horn teacher who has introduced me to a lot of new music and materials that I haven’t experienced before. She has wonderfully improved my skill level, confidence, and performance ability!

     Maria R.

  • Stephen has been a drum student with Ron [Spaeth] for several years. Ron has a great teaching personality and our son looks forward to every lesson. We will continue to recommend Musical Expressions to friends and family members.

     Christina G.

  • I’ve been taking lessons with Ed [Breckenfeld] for about a year and a half. He always finds ways to challenge my abilities and keeps it fun by giving me new songs to learn each week. Ed is a great drum teacher. I really feel like he cares about my progress as a musician.

     Patrick B.

  • For a long time I’ve wished that I could play guitar and I finally decided to try lessons. Patrick Dugan is absolutely great. Aside from being an amazing guitar player, he’s a fantastic instructor. He goes above and beyond to help me learn and keep it interesting. I recommend Patrick and Musical Expressions to anyone interested in learning guitar.

     Chad B.

  • For a long time I’ve wished that I could play guitar and I finally decided to try lessons. Patrick Dugan is absolutely great. Aside from being an amazing guitar player, he’s a fantastic instructor. He goes above and beyond to help me learn and keep it interesting. I recommend Patrick and Musical Expressions to anyone interested in learning guitar.

     Alex H.

  • Patrick Dugan is really great to work with. He has shown me many techniques for practicing at home and has managed to keep learning fun!

     Alex H.

  • Enjoying the lessons with Pat Dugan – they are taking me out of my comfort zone and making me practice (probably for the first time in 20 years!). I like learning the new cords & fingerings.” Outside of lessons I play in a band every week at my church.

    I would recommend lessons here at Musical Expressions to anyone – any age!

     Nick M.

  • My son is learning well and progressing with the help of his horn teacher, Bobby Clark. These lessons give him confidence to do better in middle school band class.

     Venkat D.

  • I feel like I am learning because I have improved a lot! I think I should go to one hour lessons!

     Punith D.

  • I love lessons! The music is a challenge and it’s really worth it! I absolutely love Bobby because I have learned a lot in the time that I have been here and I have made lots of progress. I look forward to coming every week! The recital was a great experience for me because it was the first time ever doing a solo with an accompanist. I look forward to many more years here. And, I think Bobby is wonderful!

     Christian Q.

  • My daughter takes music lessons with Bobby Clark. She is very helpful and it’s obvious that she loves to teach! We really like the teacher and the staff at Musical Expressions. They go the extra mile.

     S.F.
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