Our Instructors

I had my first drum lesson when I was in the third grade growing up in Atlanta, GA. Then in 4th grade I joined the school band and continued private drum-set lessons and school band all the way through high school. Throughout those years I participated in everything I could from marching band, to the all-city Grammy Band to starting my own Rock bands with neighborhood friends.

After high school I left Atlanta and moved up to the cold midwest to attend Northwestern University. I received a Bachelors of Arts from the Northwestern School of Music in 1998 and then decided to stick around Chicago and pursue a career as a touring musician with the band I helped form in college, Rebecca’s Statue. We moved into a house in Lincoln Park together and took up a variety of ‘odd-jobs.’ It was through a daycare job at an athletic club that I met a kid who convinced me to teach him drums. Shortly after that I applied for a job at Old Town School of Folk Music on Armitage, was hired, and have been teaching drums there ever since. A couple years later I heard about an opening for a teacher at Lincoln Elementary. I have now been the Assistant Music Director at Lincoln long enough to see my students grow up and graduate college.

I continue to teach at both Old Town and Lincoln as well as am hired as a guest clinician/teacher at many schools around the city of Chicago. I have worked at the British School of Chicago, Francis Xavier Ward, Noble Street Charter, Skinner Elementary, the Choir Academy and many many more. I also love to present workshops for both children and adults at summer music festivals, such as Lollapalooza and Summer Camp.

Besides teaching I love to travel around the world finding out about new styles of music and new instruments. I also perform around Chicago in a variety of bands and groups. Variety is the spice of life so I enjoy playing in many different settings from Hard Rock to World Music to backing up choirs and solo artists. I also love to tour. I spent 6 years performing at clubs and festivals all over the country with Chicago Afrobeat Project. Today you can find me on the road with either my original group called Kava, Afro-Zep – an Afro-beat/Afro-Pop group I helped create that plays all Led Zeppelin songs, or my latest endeavor, Smash-Chicago’s first live mash-up band.

Greg Fundis is a rising star among live music fans and music critics alike being described as “phenomenon”, “a monster performer in any setting” and labeled as “killing” by Ravi Coltrane. Greg has found a unique, creative voice through the drums bringing energy, passion, positivity and groove to every performance.

Founder, president, producer, musician, mentor, artistic director, choreographer, just to name a few, are some of the titles Deshon Newman is known for. Best of the best productions, established in 2002, began as a seed that germinated when Mr. Newman started playing drums in elementary school. Throughout the years, Mr. Newman has played a plethora of instruments, becoming one of Chicago’s best extraordinary percussionist.

Drew Littell is a seasoned teacher and performer as well as a native to the Chicagoland area. With nearly 10 years of teaching experience, Drew has worked with students of all different ages and skill levels. From 2 year olds to 70 year olds and most ages in between, Drew has helped beginners and advanced students alike gain a respect and love for drumming and music in general that will last a lifetime. He has experience in group teaching and private lessons.
“I like to tailor the lessons to the individual or group’s needs and wants.” Says Littell. “Some students just want to have fun and learn drums as a cool hobby and some want to take it really seriously and improve their technique, sight reading, improvising, knowledge of folkloric rhythms, etc. it works out because I take percussion very seriously but like to have a lot of fun with the most fun instruments around!”
Drew has studied music since enrolling in the school band program in 5th grade. He has studied day Columbia College and the Chicago College of Performing Arts at Roosevelt University under the guidance of such masters as Tom Hipskind and Paul Wertico (and many others). He is also am active performer and touring artist with groups such as (original funk band) Genome, This Must Be The Band (Talking Heads tribute) and the nationally acclaimed “jam grass” stalwarts Cornmeal.

Music for me is about continuity and foundation. Playing music takes patience and respect for your instrument and the musicians around you”Starting out early as an instrumentalist and songwriter, Chris Gangi has performed throughout the country in folk, bluegrass, American, rock, blues, and funk bands. But it is his current project and mainstay for the last 14 years, the nationally touring progressive bluegrass band Cornmeal, that has brought this bassist to a place of content.

Starting out early as an instrumentalist and songwriter, Chris Gangi has performed throughout the country in folk, bluegrass, Americnan, rock, blues, and funk bands. But it is his current project and mainstay for the last 14 years, the nationally touring progressive bluegrass band Cornmeal, that has brought this bassist to a place of content.

”I finally found the role I have been born to play and the music I was meant to write”

Chris has recorded and produced numerous studio projects including 5 albums with Cornmeal and an internationally distributed tribute album to the band Phish with blues legend Son Seals. For 10 years in between tours he taught at the Old Town School of Folk Music in Chicago, IL with a primary focus on teen music education. He has been working with teen rock groups on and off for the last 15 years with long time collaborator Marshall Greenhouse and continues to teach children of all ages in the Chicagoland area.