• Keyboards (piano / organ / synthesizer)
• Guitar (acoustic / electric / bass)
• Brass instruments (trumpet, trombone, French horn, tuba)
• Woodwinds (saxophone, clarinet, flute, oboe)
• Voice
• MIDI (music instrument digital interface)
• Sheet music creation
• Arranging
• Performance
• Sound reinforcement / engineering
• Studio recording techniques

* * * Also offering 6-week rock camps for groups of 4 or more * * *

Steger’s own Bob Baader is now offering lessons on all instruments as well as voice coaching and a wide variety of musical skills at the Steger Community Center, or in your home, Monday through Saturday. Each lesson is 30 minutes in length and may be scheduled as early as 10:00 a.m. with the last lesson beginning as late as 9:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 7:00 p.m. on Fridays and 4:00 p.m. on Saturdays. The cost of lessons is only $10.00 per session!

Quick answer: Over 30 years of experience playing and teaching music

Quite simply, music has been the central force in Bob’s life since 1969 when, at the age of 2, he climbed on to the piano bench in his house and started hitting the keys when his dad left the piano open. This would be the start of a life-long passion, as he would begin formal piano lessons at age 5 under Sara Hanno in Hazel Crest, Illinois. It wasn’t long before Bob discovered that once his piano skills had been mastered, it was the perfect base to go on and learn as many instruments as possible. At age 11, Bob began lessons in the French horn, which was his first experience playing a brass instrument. He would go on to learn all the brass instruments including French horn, trumpet, trombone, tuba and euphonium.

In 1981 Bob began his freshman year at Marian Catholic High School which, as fate would have it, has always been known for its outstanding marching and symphonic bands, regularly winning state and national competitions under the direction of Greg Bimm. Being a part of Marian’s band and studying under Greg Bimm gave Bob the foundation and finely tuned skills to put together a band of his own in 1982 while just a sophomore in high school. Bob has maintained the spirit of that band to this very day. The Son of Jake Band regularly performs at numerous local and regional venues and features a 5-piece brass section, with Bob taking the spotlight on keyboards and vocals.

After graduating from Marian, Bob moved on to South Suburban Community College where he honed his skills in jazz music under saxophonist Don Kramer. Bob performed with ensembles at South Suburban on keyboards, voice, euphonium, tuba, French horn and trombone. After earning his Associates’ Degree he moved on to Governor’s State University where he continued his studies under Dr. Richard McCreary who mentored Bob in arranging music for combos, jazz bands and orchestras. This would prove to be yet another level of musical growth for Bob, who earned his Bachelor’s Degree in 1994 and completed his Master’s Degree in 1996 with a focus on vocal performance. He was the last graduate of the venerable Governor’s State University Music Program.

After graduation from Governor’s State Bob decided it was time to branch out on his own. While still having the desire to perform orchestral music in addition to the R&B style played by The Son of Jake Band, he performed with the Orland Park Community Band, playing the tuba during the 2001/2002 Season. Later that year, Bob expanded his musical endeavors once again when he embarked upon marketing his music arrangements on the Internet, some of which had been written by hand 20 years earlier when he had first experimented with arranging and orchestrating music. His on-line catalog is now approaching 400 songs and has supplied sheet music for nearly 200 bands in 16 countries.

Bob will be forever thankful that his parents noticed their toddler’s interest in the sounds pounded out on their piano and raised him in an environment that nurtured his enthusiasm for music. It is his goal to foster the same type of support for students and parents in the Steger Community. He hopes that through music education he will have the opportunity to encourage the individual development of a similar life-long love of music, for even the most gifted prodigy needs guidance.

• Music training, specifically piano instruction, is far superior to computer instruction in dramatically enhancing children's abstract reasoning skills necessary for learning math and science. Learning music at an early age causes long-term enhancement of spatial-temporal reasoning. (Source: Frances Rauscher, Ph.D., Gordon Shaw, Ph.D., University of California, Irvine, 1997)
• Students taking courses in music performance and music appreciation scored higher in the SAT than students with no arts participation. (Source: 1999 College-Bound Seniors National Report: Profile of SAT Program Test Takers, The College Entrance Examination Board, Princeton, New Jersey)
• Bob scored a 29 in Math on the ACT college entrance exam
• Many adults who did not receive music lessons as children often regret not having musical skills (but it’s never too late!)
• One of the best music teachers in the Chicagoland area is now offering lessons right here in Steger.
• All students will learn at their own pace in a customized, detailed curriculum.

For more information or to schedule your lesson time, please call Bob at 708-709-0457 or e-mail him at bobbaader@yahoo.com. All students from age 5 to 105 are welcome!!!

Inquiries about Rock Camp can also be directed to Bob at the number and/or e-mail address above.