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The Piano Studio of Robert Sacks LIMITED OPENINGS Providing Piano Instruction in Naperville for 30 Years

Praise for Mr. Sacks’ Teaching: Hands down, Mr. Sacks has been the best piano instructor I've ever had! I was taught by Mr. Sacks from age 5-18, and I certainly owe everything I've learned to him. I continue to play piano now, and even play professionally in a liturgical music setting. Much of the credit is due to Mr. Sacks’ ability to continue to grow and develop my skills. Since I left for college and beyond, I still haven't found anyone who was as talented, dedicated, and capable of instructing me. He truly is a teacher who can develop people of any age and skill level. I recommend with the highest sincerity! – John Paul L (former student) I joined Mr. Sacks’ studio many (more than 15) years ago as an adult student, when I needed an outlet from a stressful career in software development. Over the years, whenever I hit a musical bottleneck, he encouraged me along and provided me with a choice of repertoire to revive my interest. His lessons are filled with musical and technical insights, and he has a special expertise in finding fingerings to ease difficult passages. I have learned to express the music better, find joy in playing, and I now tackle pieces that I never would have imagined taking up before we started working together. For the last few years, I have often been away for extended periods, and we have continued distance instruction using various technologies. I highly recommend Mr. Sacks to students of all ages and levels. — Wei S. (present adult student) My daughter has been taking piano lessons from Mr. Sacks for over 5 years now and the progress that she has made on her instrument is measurable and amazing. It is thanks to the high expectations, enthusiasm, dynamic teaching qualities, praise, and positive reinforcement that Mr. Sacks demonstrates in his teaching style that she is able to perform so well on the piano. Mr. Sacks has taught her a wealth of piano skills, including precise counting, dynamics, music preparation, note-measure anticipation, music style, music/composer knowledge, self/fellow piano student critique, performance preparedness, and a passion for the piano. Additionally, Mr. Sacks provides numerous opportunities for his piano students to perform and share their talents in solo performances and in group Chamber recital settings. Mr. Sacks has been a wonderful mentor, with a friendly, patient, positive, and highly motivating personality.—Erin L.(parent)

"My teaching studio seeks to provide the highest quality music instruction through a classical music curriculum, designed for the individual needs of each student. More and more, evidence suggests that high-quality classical piano training improves students' learning skills. I believe in the importance of giving each student a strong background in music theory, history, and ear training. Regular recital performances—both solo and ensemble—are available to my students, as well as opportunities to compete, for those suited."

Professional Background

Pianist Robert Sacks is a native of Syracuse, New York, where his early musical training included piano studies with Annetta Kaplan, as well as clarinet, music theory and ear training through the Metropolitan School for the Arts. Mr. Sacks attended the Peabody Conservatory of Music in Baltimore, where he was a student of noted performer and teacher Walter Hautzig. While a student at Peabody, he was the recipient of the school’s Unger Foundation Award. He graduated with a Bachelor of Music degree in Piano Performance.

Upon graduation from Peabody, Mr. Sacks accepted a University Fellowship at Syracuse University, where he earned a Master of Music degree in Piano Performance. While a student at Syracuse, he won the University’s Concerto Competition, and performed the Brahms d minor Piano Concerto with the University Orchestra. He joined the University’s piano faculty after receiving his degree, and at the same time joined the faculty of the Metropolitan School for the Arts. During this period of his life, Mr. Sacks was a founding member of Syracuse’s Crouse Chamber Players, and gave solo and chamber music performances in the northeastern US and in Switzerland.

After a short stint in the financial services industry, Mr. Sacks established a teaching studio in Naperville, IL, which he has operated since 1987. In addition to his private piano teaching, he has been active as accompanist, lecturer, chamber music coach and contest adjudicator. He has authored a number of articles for Clavier Magazine. He spent several years on the faculty of the Division of Preparatory and Community Music at North Central College in Naperville. From 2004-2013 he was a member of the faculty of the OPUS Chamber Music Camp, as chamber music coach and clinician, and was the Camp’s Piano Coordinator. Mr. Sacks is the former studio accompanist for Naperville’s Sapphyre Strings.

In addition to performances with the Spectrum Duo, many of his recitals in recent years have been as a member of the Spectrum Trio, which also includes his wife, violinist Vivienne Venderley, and cellist Edward Moore. The Trio has performed extensively in the Chicago area, and has appeared on a national radio broadcast. In the fall of 1995, the group gave its first East Coast performances. He is presently accompanist and collaborative keyboardist at Bethany Lutheran Church in Naperville.

Teaching Schedule

During the school year, lessons are taught Tuesday through Friday, from early afternoon through late evening. Limited Monday evening openings are temporarily available. Daytime openings are available for adults and home-schooled students. Weekly private lessons range in length from 30 minutes for those students aged 7 and under, up to 60 minutes for advanced students. Most students receive 45-minute lessons. Group lessons are taught during 6 weeks spread over the course of the school year, with 3 of those serving as dress rehearsals for upcoming recitals. Students are grouped by age and level of advancement whenever possible. No private lessons are taught during group lesson weeks.

Summer lessons are not taught according to a fixed schedule, but all students are required to attend a small number of lessons over the course of the summer—typically 5 or 6 lessons—in order to reserve their roster spot for the next fall term.

Current tuition, per lesson: 30 minutes - $36.00 45 minutes - $46.00 60 minutes - $56.00

For more information, call Robert Sacks at

630.717.1366

or e-mail him at piano@spectrumduo.com

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