Episode 050 Chicago Music Revealed with special guests Michele Thomas, Darren Scorza and Bill Chapin

Bill’s early training consisted of 13 years of traiditional piano study with Earl Ricker of Sterling, IL. Ricker was an innovative, dedicated piano educator who was one of the first to offer group piano instruction. Bill benefited greatly from taking lessons and playing with four other young piano students. After college, Bill decided that he wanted to continue playing the piano, and this decision led him to undertake a journey into playing jazz. Below you’ll see the stops on this journey:

• Studied jazz piano and improvisation with Alan Swain, from 1981-1982
• Attended Jamey Aebersold Jazz Combo Clinic in 1979 and 1982
• Led his own jazz combo/wedding band 1981 to 1996
• Provided solo jazz piano entertainment for hotels, private parties, and private homes 1980 to present
• Taught jazz piano at the College of Lake County 1988 to 1996
• Taught jazz piano and improvisation privately 1996 to present
• Directed and taught group (combo) jazz instruction since 2001 through the Grayslake Jazz Combo Workshop
• Studied with Jim Trompeter, 2011 to present
• Played in the College of Lake County Monday Night Jazz Band, 82-84, 95-96, and 2006 to the present. While there, he has played with a host of guest artists, including Bobby Shew, Rufus Reid, Ashley Alexander, and Rich Matteson.
• Directed Warren Twp High School pit bands–2012 & 2013–for Annie and Hairspray
• Director of Carmel Catholic High School Jazz Combo, 2016-2017 school year