Meet the Instructors

Q holds a Bachelor of Music from Indiana University, Fort Wayne, and has been a performer and teacher for more than 20 years. He teaches ukulele, guitar, bass, piano, trumpet, trombone, baritone, and tuba, incorporating music theory and ear training in the learning process. You can find Q onstage with the high energy and interactive band The Hat Guys and teaching rock and pop bands with Intonation Music Workshop. See what else Q is up to and where you can also see him perform and teach. Q has taught at A Sound Education since 2012.

A Brookfield native, Tim has his Bachelor's of Music from the Chicago College of Performing Arts at Roosevelt University. He has been playing guitar for 20 years, and is a noted multi-instrumentalist having performed professionally on piano and bass. Comfortable in all styles of music, Tim enjoys teaching students of all ages. He is also a noted composer, arranger and theorist. Tim has taught at A Sound Education since 2009.

Q holds a Bachelor of Music from Indiana University, Fort Wayne, and has been a performer and teacher for more than 20 years. He teaches ukulele, guitar, bass, piano, trumpet, trombone, baritone, and tuba, incorporating music theory and ear training in the learning process. You can find Q onstage with the high energy and interactive band The Hat Guys and teaching rock and pop bands with Intonation Music Workshop. See what else Q is up to and where you can also see him perform and teach. Q has taught at A Sound Education since 2012.

Nick has more than 15 years of musical experience comprised of performing, recording and teaching. He played saxophone throughout middle and high school, while adding guitar and bass to his knowledge at the end of seventh grade. Shortly after high school, Nick studied the banjo, mandolin and ukulele. Since high school, Nick has performed on both guitar and bass, playing various styles of music in various bands. He has a deep interest in various styles of music and appreciates focusing on not just the fundamentals, but whatever his students may be interested in as well.

Marco Severini is a Brookfield native and started taking lessons at A Sound Education when the store first opened in 2001. After discovering his true passion for music, Marco continued to pursue the guitar intensely. In 2013, before he graduated from Riverside Brookfield High School, Marco was accepted to Berklee College of Music in Boston. In 2018, Marco graduated from Berklee with a degree in music production and composition and has recently moved back to Brookfield. At A Sound Education, Marco teaches both guitar and bass guitar and loves playing genres ranging from classic rock, fusion, blues, and metal.

A Brookfield native, Tim has his Bachelor's of Music from the Chicago College of Performing Arts at Roosevelt University. He has been playing guitar for 20 years, and is a noted multi-instrumentalist having performed professionally on piano and bass. Comfortable in all styles of music, Tim enjoys teaching students of all ages. He is also a noted composer, arranger and theorist. Tim has taught at A Sound Education since 2009.

Lauren Pena is working on her associates degree at College of DuPage. She has lived in Brookfield for most of her life and at nine-years-old started taking violin lessons at A Sound Education. She was involved in LaGrange District 102 Orchestra beginning in 4th grade, Park Junior High Orchestra starting in the 7th grade and Lyons Township High School's Sinfonietta Orchestra. With 10 years of orchestra and performance experience, Lauren wants to encourage students to understand music theory and instruct them in technical aspects of the violin—while making sure they still have fun and enjoy music.

Mike has been active in music for more 20 years. As a multi-instrumentalist (vocals, drums, guitar, bass, and keyboards), he has been a professional performer since age 17. He attended the University of Illinois as a music composition major. After college, he continued pursuing a professional music career, performing in both original and cover bands. He has appeared with a multitude of bands at venues around Chicago and the Midwest including the Metro and Buddy Guy’s Legends. He has been teaching music for several years. As a voice instructor he specializes in classical, soul, blues, rock and jazz singing for all ages.

Rick received his Bachelors of Music degree in Music Education from NIU in Dekalb, Illinois. A former assistant band director at Riverside-Brookfield High School, he has been teaching private lessons for more than 20 years. Rick also performs with the band “Midnight” on sax, flute and vocals. He has taught at A Sound Education since 2001.