Guitar & Piano Lessons with Lily S.

Lily is a composer, producer and songwriter from the UK. Taking instrument lessons from the age of seven, she grew up playing in bands before learning how to produce music in college. Lily studied a BA in Film Music at Leeds Conservatoire, later moving to the USA to achieve her MFA in Music Composition for the Screen at Columbia College Chicago (ranked the ‘world’s best music school’ of 2022 and 2023 by The Hollywood Reporter), interning with composer Ronit Kirchman (The Sinner, Pretty Little Liars) after graduation. 

Playing instruments is an important part of Lily’s creative practice; a means of expressing her authentic self as an artist. Incorporating her performances on guitar, piano and other instruments into her film scores during school, today she plays both as a solo artist and collaborator - writing, recording and performing music every day.

Having discovered her love of teaching when working as a TA during grad school (providing one-to-one tutoring for undergrad students with additional needs), Lily currently teaches guitar, piano and ukulele to students of all ages around Chicago, additionally working as an audio engineer and front of house at an experimental/jazz music venue. 

Lily’s teaching philosophy is shaped by her experience as a learner and exposure to a multitude of teaching styles. She believes in a highly personalized approach; recognizing each student as unique, with a distinct set of strengths, weaknesses and sensibilities. Down-to-earth and open-minded, Lily’s classes are a safe environment for creative expression, making mistakes (which are always learning opportunities) and being yourself. She loves working with kids, supporting them as they grow as both creatives and individuals.

Learning to play an instrument was fundamental to Lily’s understanding of music as a whole, allowing her to develop a creative voice and fueling her ever-growing love of music today. Driven by the opportunity to help others foster this meaningful connection, Lily works closely with all her students to discover what resonates with them on a personal level.