FACULTY

Michael Tahlier: Owner/Founder

Guitar & Bass instructor

Owner/Founder of Musician’s Workshop and Director of the University of Wisconsin- Green Bay Rock Academy. Michael obtained his Masters of Music from DePaul University and his Bachelors of Music from Berklee college of Music. Studying under acclaimed musicians Hal Crook, Ed Tomassi, Mick Goodrick, and Jon Damian to name a few; Michael has developed a wide variety of teaching styles.

As a professional musician, Michael has toured with such national acts: Chicago, REO Speedwagon, Howie Day, Girl Talk, Nine Days, and has had the great fortune of working with such artists: Tim Stop, Rich Stitzel of (Miranda Lambert), Ricardo Vogt (Eliane Elias, Esperanza Spalding) Chris Clemente (Jennifer Hudson, Kanye West, Umphreys McGee) Khari Parker (Destiny’s Child, Joss Stone, Earth, Wind and Fire) on stage, in the studio, and with various educational settings.

Since 2007, Michael has Directed a summer enrichment program at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay, to students grades 8 through the graduating senior, offering the opportunity to work with professional musician’s and educators from all around the country. Additionally, Michael is the author of Principles of Music for Guitar, scheduled for release in the Spring of 2019.

Personal Statement:

“My mission is to be a mentor, to teach what I have spent my entire life mastering, and to never stop learning myself. My goal is to be the person people come to for advice, encouragement and to develop my students to their full musical potential. Teaching music is my passion and is very rewarding working with others who share that same passion with me. Music is my life and my goal is to share what I have learned.”

Eric Thompson

Guitar instructor

Eric earned his Bachelors in Music with an emphasis in Jazz Studies in 2008 from Northern Illinois University. There he studied privately for 5 years with guitarist Fareed Haque (Sting, Dave Holland, Garaj Mahal, Joe Henderson, Joe Zawinul) and for 2 years with trumpeter Art Davis (Frank Sinatra, Rosemary Clooney, Ray Charles). While at school he acquired a large amount of experience playing in big bands as well as in small groups. He also formed his own small groups, performing in and around the Chicago area.

I was inspired to teach soon after taking private lessons myself. My teachers instilled their love of music in me and showed me that hard work and persistence could take me anywhere I wanted to go. I soon found friends asking me to teach them what I had learned, and so I have been teaching ever since. I believe that lessons should be fun, as well as informative, with the goals of the student at the forefront of each lesson.

Jim Holman

Piano instructor

Pianist/performer/educator Jim Holman’s music has been heard in a wide variety of settings and ranges a broad spectrum of styles. Jim particularly enjoys improvising and composing. His influences include: Herbie Hancock, Al Haig, Brad Mehldau, Thelonious Monk, Bud Powell, Prokofiev, Shostakovich, Ives, The Beatles, Nirvana, Jimi Hendrix, The Dirty Projectors, TMBG, Stevie Wonder, Moondog, and MF Doom.

Jim Holman grew up as the son of a musician. He lives and performs in Chicago. Jim started taking private lessons in middle school before earning his BA in Music at University of Pittsburgh and MM in Jazz Performance at DePaul University. Upon his graduation from Pitt in 2010, he jumped right in earning his living teaching and gigging around the greater Chicago area.

In 2012 he released his debut album “Explosion” on the prestigious Delmark label. It featured the late alto legend Richie Cole. It received critical acclaim and international airplay. In 2013 he released his second album on Delmark, “Ira Sullivan Presents the Jim Holman trio: Blue Skies.” It features legends Ira Sullivan and Roger Humphries. It too received acclaim and international airplay.

Jim has performed with Mark Whitfield, Claudio Roditi, Jimmy Chamberlin (drummer for the smashing Pumpkins), Roger Humphries, Cecil Bridgewater, Ira Sullivan, Richie Cole, Yotam Silberstein, Donald Harrison, John Moulder, Abe Laboriel, Dennis Carroll, Clark Sommers, and Dana Hall to name just a few.

Jim Has studied directly with Ron Perrillo, Dana Hall, Frank Cunnimondo, Dennis Carroll, Thomas Matta, Scott Burns, and Dave Flippo.

Teaching Philosophy:
As a teacher, Jim strives to help his students fully activate their individual passion for music, regardless of age, experience or genre. His hope is for his students to become empowered to take personal and creative control of their musical pursuits. Regardless of style or interest, Jim asks his students to investigate the emotional/aesthetic workings of the music as well as theoretical and mechanical aspects of form. Aesthetic, theory, and technique all inform each other and should be learned in tandem. Ultimately however, priority is placed on music being a fun and enjoyable pursuit.

Dalton Howland

Guitar & Bass instructor

Dalton began playing guitar at age 11, with a main focus in Rock and Blues music. Progressing quickly, he began performing alongside other Blues musicians and bands in the Quad Cities and surrounding areas. Into his teenage years, he also developed a strong affinity for Metal music, and joined several bands before finally becoming an official member of Midwest hardcore group, Words Like Daggers, recording an album and touring the states for close to two years. Continuing to gig and perform as a Lead Guitarist, he relocated to Chicago in 2013.

Besides gigging and playing with bands, he chose to further his education, and take his playing even more seriously. He attended Columbia College Chicago for a degree in Jazz Performance.

Dalton has over ten years of teaching experience, and has had many successful band members and artists as students. After years of performing on a single instrument he took it upon himself to learn much more of the bass, piano and synthesizer, and drums, enabling him to fully produce his own original music. Finding a real passion for music education, as well as functional knowledge for all musicians, he’s well-versed in advanced music theory and playing, all the way down to recording and producing, and expensive musical equipment.

Greg Essig

Drum instructor

Greg Essig is a drummer and Chicago native. He studied and graduated from Northern Illinois University with a degree in percussion performance. Since graduating in 2013 He has performed and recorded with several different artists and toured the states extensively. In addition to performing, he has recorded music for many artists as well as for commercial use for companies such as Coors and Pepsi. Greg has taught students of all ages for over 7 years.