Private Music Lessons
Scott teaches intensive one-on-one lessons to dedicated students who are:
Lessons are individually tailored to each student's interests and needs and may cover the following areas: improvisation, ear training, learning new ways to think about harmony, melody, and rhythm, improving your practice discipline, composition, etc...
- Intermediate to advanced musicians
- In Chicago (or remotely via Zoom, Skype, etc.)
- Interested in taking their playing to the next level
Lessons are individually tailored to each student's interests and needs and may cover the following areas: improvisation, ear training, learning new ways to think about harmony, melody, and rhythm, improving your practice discipline, composition, etc...
How it works
Lessons are ideally scheduled in quarterly blocks. Each quarter consists of six one-hour lessons over the course of three months. Lessons are scheduled in advance and occur on the same day every other week. (However, on occasion, pre-scheduled lessons may be rescheduled by either Scott or the student with advance notice.)
Contact Scott for available dates and times.
Contact Scott for available dates and times.
What students are saying
"Scott Hesse- the Zen master who can answer any question with a question! He is a fantastic teacher, musical gem, and all around great person. Scott is the man who shows you all of the possibilities and lets you choose your own path. My time with him marks the beginning of a conscious search for my musical identity, and furthermore, my spiritual "self." He is encouraging, inspirational, passionate, and extremely knowledgeable. In a nutshell- he is the whole Shibang! I highly recommend taking lessons with Scott Hesse!" – Chris Weller, Chicago, IL
"I've had the pleasure of taking lessons with Scott for several years now. With each lesson, Scott not only delivers tons of well explained material but also manages to send me away with a renewed sense of excitement for the guitar. Today there are more ways than ever to find information concerning the guitar but to find someone that can inspire as well as teach is a great gift indeed." – Joe Sweet, Chicago, IL
"Scott introduced me to augmented harmony, different polyrhythms for both in and over the bar line, and his approach to incorporating more extended harmonies into my vocabulary. Much of what we have talked about has become part of the way I play and the music that I write." – Kevin Brown, Chicago, IL
“Scott comes to our town once each year and plays two amazing gigs at the local jazz venue but the high point of his annual visit is the group class he teaches at our mom and pop music shop. Scott's teachings always include keys which give the students material to work on for months. World class teachings from a gifted musician and guitarist. Stellar!” – Dan Donahoe, Sioux Falls, SD
"Scott Hesse is a very warm person, and a constructive teacher. I walk out of every lesson with enough information to study and practice for a month. He has been able to transform the way I look at harmony on the guitar, and my creativity has flourished under his instruction." – Stu Pender, Chicago, IL
"I've learned more about being a musician in my time studying with Scott than I have in ten years just playing guitar. Whether it was spending an hour and a half playing through one set of changes, or experimenting with different substitutions, to just working on playing solid eighth notes, Scott always had something to make me a better musician. I will spend at least the next ten years of my life working on what he has shown me." - Chris Hastings, Cary, IL
"I've had the pleasure of taking lessons with Scott for several years now. With each lesson, Scott not only delivers tons of well explained material but also manages to send me away with a renewed sense of excitement for the guitar. Today there are more ways than ever to find information concerning the guitar but to find someone that can inspire as well as teach is a great gift indeed." – Joe Sweet, Chicago, IL
"Scott introduced me to augmented harmony, different polyrhythms for both in and over the bar line, and his approach to incorporating more extended harmonies into my vocabulary. Much of what we have talked about has become part of the way I play and the music that I write." – Kevin Brown, Chicago, IL
“Scott comes to our town once each year and plays two amazing gigs at the local jazz venue but the high point of his annual visit is the group class he teaches at our mom and pop music shop. Scott's teachings always include keys which give the students material to work on for months. World class teachings from a gifted musician and guitarist. Stellar!” – Dan Donahoe, Sioux Falls, SD
"Scott Hesse is a very warm person, and a constructive teacher. I walk out of every lesson with enough information to study and practice for a month. He has been able to transform the way I look at harmony on the guitar, and my creativity has flourished under his instruction." – Stu Pender, Chicago, IL
"I've learned more about being a musician in my time studying with Scott than I have in ten years just playing guitar. Whether it was spending an hour and a half playing through one set of changes, or experimenting with different substitutions, to just working on playing solid eighth notes, Scott always had something to make me a better musician. I will spend at least the next ten years of my life working on what he has shown me." - Chris Hastings, Cary, IL
About Scott
From the stage to the classroom
With more than twenty years as a music professional, Scott Hesse knows his stuff. He has performed in top clubs in New York, Chicago, and throughout the country alongside a diverse array of musical artists. From straight-ahead to avant-garde, Scott is known in the jazz scene as a solid talent and an innovative soloist. And he doesn't mind sharing his secrets.
When he's not gigging, Scott loves teaching. From university courses, specialized clinics, and music camps, to intensive one-on-one lessons, Scott has taught hundreds of students at all levels.
View Scott's biography for more info.
With more than twenty years as a music professional, Scott Hesse knows his stuff. He has performed in top clubs in New York, Chicago, and throughout the country alongside a diverse array of musical artists. From straight-ahead to avant-garde, Scott is known in the jazz scene as a solid talent and an innovative soloist. And he doesn't mind sharing his secrets.
When he's not gigging, Scott loves teaching. From university courses, specialized clinics, and music camps, to intensive one-on-one lessons, Scott has taught hundreds of students at all levels.
View Scott's biography for more info.
A Note for Beginning Guitarists
There are many resources available for students new to the guitar. Scott highly recommends that beginning guitarists check out Introduction To Guitar for Ensemble, by Joe Sweet.
There are many resources available for students new to the guitar. Scott highly recommends that beginning guitarists check out Introduction To Guitar for Ensemble, by Joe Sweet.