Chapin and Chapin

Bill Chapin, Musician

Bill has also worked since 1978 as a professional pianist in the Chicago area--as a leader of a combo, as a free lance member of a variety of groups, and as a solo jazz pianist. He also teaches jazz piano and improvisation and enjoys playing piano with the College of Lake County Monday Night Jazz Ensemble.

His early training consisted of 13 years of private 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:

• Attended Jamey Aebersold Jazz Combo Clinic in 1979 and 1982
• Took leave of absence from teaching 81-82 to study jazz pinao and improvisation with Alan Swain, one of the premier jazz educators in the Chicago area
• Played in the College of Lake County Monday Night Jazz Band, 82-84, 95-96, and since 2006. While there, he has played with a host of guest artists, including Bobby Shew, Ashley Alexander, and Rich Matteson.
• 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
• Has taught jazz piano and improvisation privately 1996 to present
• Currently studying with Jim Trompeter

Bill Chapin—Educator, B.A., M.Ed., C.A.S.

Bill has been employed at Warren Township High School since 1978, first as an English teacher and, since 1995, as Director of Educational Technologies. While there he has taught a variety of English classes, advised several student groups, done public relations for the district, and supervised the installation and operation of Warren’s first large-scale technology initiative.

He has also taught undergraduate classes in English at the College of Lake County and graduate classes in technology at National-Louis University. In 1993 Bill was a finalist for the Illinois State Board of Education’s Those Who Excel, Teacher of the Year award, and in 1994 he was named a Milken National Educator.

When not involved at Warren, taking a class to advance his knowledge, behind a piano, or watching birds, he is enjoying his greatest passion, being a husband and a father.