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Pop piano, built around the songs you love

Pop Piano Lessons
in Chicago.

You don’t need ten years of classical training to play the songs stuck in your head. Pop piano is about chords, feel, and playing by ear, and from the first lesson we work on real music: the songs you actually want to play, not method-book exercises. In-person at the studio in Ukrainian Village, or online via Zoom.

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Voice student? Book your first lesson →

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Nick Olynciw, pop and contemporary piano teacher in Chicago
DownBeat Award ×2 · Somatic Voicework™ I–III · MM Music Performance · Real instruments: Hammond B3, Rhodes, grand
What you’ll actually be doing

Start with a song, not a scale.

Bring a song you love and we’ll get you playing a version of it, today. From there we build the skills that let you play almost anything: reading chord charts and lead sheets, common chord shapes and progressions, left-hand patterns that groove, and the ear training to figure out songs on your own.

The goal is independence, the day you can sit down, pull up a song, and just play it. Whether you want to accompany yourself singing, jam with friends, or finally play that one piece, we shape every lesson around where you want to go.

What your first few weeks build

A song you love, sooner than you think.

LESSON 1

You leave playing the chords to a song you chose, by ear and by feel, not a page of notation.

FIRST FEW WEEKS

That song fills out: real voicings, a groove in the left hand, and the parts that make it sound like the record.

BY THE SEASON

A handful of songs you can sit down and play, and the chord sense to pick up new ones fast.

Simple, honest pricing

Most students pay $100 per lesson.

Every lesson is 50 minutes, one-on-one, in person in Ukrainian Village (a 10-minute walk from the CTA Blue Line Division stop) or online via Zoom. No contracts you can’t exit, and if the first month isn’t working, you owe nothing more.

Start here
Try it first
$25
30-minute trial lesson
Bring a song you love and we start there. No preparation, no commitment, and you leave knowing exactly how lessons here work.
Book a $25 trial →
Semester enrollment
$100
per lesson · billed $400 every 4 weeks
Your weekly time reserved all term. First-month guarantee: if it’s not working within four lessons, you owe nothing more.
See how enrollment works →
One at a time
$125
single lesson · pay as you go
A tune-up, audition prep, or a first look before anything bigger. Book from open times, no strings attached.
Book a single lesson →
Who this is for

For adults who want to play, not just practice.

The most common student here is an adult who always wanted to play piano and is tired of apps that go nowhere. Total beginners and rusty returners are exactly who I teach. Serious teens are welcome too.

Lessons are private, 50 minutes, Monday through Thursday, 3 to 9pm. Pricing runs from a single lesson ($125) up to semester enrollment ($100 per lesson, billed $400 every 4 weeks); the most common starting point is the 4-Lesson Pack at $450.

Taught by Nick Olynciw, a working Chicago musician, in a real instrument-filled studio. Lessons meet you at your level and move at your pace.

Common questions

Quick answers about pop piano lessons.

Do I need to read music?

No. Pop piano leans on chords and your ear more than reading. We’ll add as much notation as is useful to you, and no more.

Can I learn to play and sing at the same time?

Absolutely, that’s one of the most popular things students work on here. We build the two skills separately, then put them together.

I’m a total beginner. Is that ok?

More than ok, it’s the norm. You’ll be playing a real song sooner than you think.

What students say

5.0 on Google · teaching adults & teens since 2012

★★★★★
“He always provides repertoire that matches your current level while still challenging you to grow technically and musically. Excellent at guiding students through improvisation in a way that feels approachable and rewarding.”
Giuliano G.
Adult pianist
★★★★★
“He’s done an amazing job at building my skills and understanding from the ground up. He paces what I am learning very well so that it can feel challenging but doable.”
Cass H.
Jazz piano student
★★★★★
“Nicholas was my daughter’s voice teacher. He’s very perceptive at quickly getting to know a student as a unique individual.”
Amee M.
Parent · voice & musical theater student

Read all reviews on Google →

Play the songs you actually love.
Try a $25 first lesson at the studio piano — 30 minutes, no commitment. Trial students get first access to fall slots.
Try a $25 Lesson →
Fall 2026 enrollment

Not ready to book yet? Stay on the list.

The studio holds 24 weekly lesson times, one student each. Weekday evenings fill first; afternoons from 3pm are wide open. Join the list and I’ll tell you what’s still free.

One or two emails a season. No spam, ever.

Try a $25 Lesson →