Cat Comments

What people are saying....

"We really are grateful for such a wonderful learning space!"

 - Wendy Walker 

"We’ve had such amazing experiences with your studio and your teachers! So far we’ve done singing lessons and percussion lessons and soon saxophone!! Gil is so quick to respond to my Facebook messages asking for teachers and someone is usually reaching out to me within hours offering their services!"  

 - Aimee Miller Ott

"I am so happy and honored to support Hip Cat Music School’s program! And thankful for Gil and his wonderful teachers who promote a very valuable learning experience for the children in our community! These children are not just learning to play music, they are improving their lives and expanding their life skills. It has been said many times that music is our universal language, but it is much more than that. We are changing and improving our children’s lives and forging a beautiful and better future for them. I salute the parents that realize the importance of music education and child development. I am blessed that I can play a small part of that. And, thank you Gil for doing so much for our community!  Long live Hip Cat Music School!"   

 - David Horine    Owner - Horine's Pianos Plus

"Charlie (Charlie Machamer) is the best piano teacher in histery!"

 - Leah Strange (Age 8)

"I just wanted to let you know how well lessons with Bella (Isabella Ancira, piano) are going! So well that I convinced my partner to start working with her twice a month .. and he's having a great time! She really is the best and we're lucky to have found her!" 

 - Joe Reda

"Chris Wiman (guitar) has been a fantastic instructor and I wanted to let you know I appreciate working with him. He always takes time to answer my questions and explains things in ways I can understand. I have learned a great deal and my confidence has grown tremendously! He is a great instructor!"

 - Erica Knollenberg Tomkinson

"My daughter used to not want to take lessons, but since coming to Hip Cat Music School and working with Peyton Miles (cello), she looks forward to lessons every week. Her playing, and her confidence, have both improved!" 

 - Beth Brady

"We have 3 boys who take music lessons at Hip Cat. They’ve had exceptional experiences with voice, guitar and drum lessons! It’s truly a gem in our community!"

 - Shawn Slagel

"Hannah Manwarring is AWESOME! I was really afraid I was going to feel silly taking violin lessons at age 52, more than 45 years after my last lesson, but I have really been having fun re-learning this instrument that I love with Hannah!"

 - Donna Aldrich

"Just a nice note. My son had his first lesson with Caleb Buie (drums) today. He loved it! He told me that he doesn’t want to wait until next week to have another lesson. This is huge because usually he tells me that he likes an activity but doesn’t want to do it again. It makes my heart happy that he’s found something to enjoy. He also said Caleb was really nice and that he liked him a lot. The whole experience was great! My son will be looking forward to Sundays!" 

 - Lyn Carter

"We love Hip Cat Music School! The teachers and facility are top notch! The teachers are dedicated, love their students and are passionate about helping students learn and grow! So thankful for this music school! Reach out to Hip Cat Music School if you are thinking about music lessons! You’ll be so glad you did!!"

 - Amy Rosado

"I just wanted to share that Maria Emmons (violin/viola) was absolutely wonderful!!!! Exactly what I was looking for! Thank you for all that you do and for making the connection!!!"  

 - Casey Johnson

"We love recitals!!! It's amazing to see all the hard work come together and it's nice to see what others are working on! Such talent and skill in our town! Thank you to Hip Cat Music School and Gilford Moore for a wonderful place for students to learn and grow. Gianna absolutely adores her voice teacher Andrea Lucas. We are so blessed by Hip Cat and all it offers students of all ages!!!" 

 - Amy Rosado

"Your school is really great! I wish something like this existed back when I was taking piano lessons as a kid! Keep it up!! My daughter Sasha is really enjoying her singing lessons with Andrea Lucas!" 

 - Rachael Angelos

"My son loves Dr. Tom Marko. (drums) He's helped him so much. Both the jazz teacher and his regular band teacher have seen such a huge improvement!" 

 - Larry Helferich

"We have had the best experience at Hip Cat! Ethan Machamer is a great instructor and has been really encouraging of my 11 year old son who is in his 2nd year of playing trombone. Ever since we started the lessons, my son seems to enjoy playing so much more & enjoys band class more because of his improved skill."

 - Jamie Swanson

"Such a great school and location. My kiddo has been taking drum lessons with Sara Eckert and she's amazing! She is extremely talented and very good with kids. She breaks down the lessons very well for a kid to understand, and my kid loves learning with her. I feel like she's learned so much and has fun. You can't get any better than that!"

 - Jen Kinsey

"Gigi takes voice lessons at Hip Cat Music School and she loves it! She’s learned so much and continues to improve in her technique and vocal strength! Her teacher, Andrea Lucas, has been such a blessing to us! We are so thankful for Hip Cat!"  

 - Amy Rosado

" I just wanted to pass along how grateful I am for Julia Lin. (violin/viola) She really went the extra mile helping Julian prepare for his Bloomington Normal Youth Symphony audition. She fitted in extended/extra lessons, picked an audition piece that showed off his skills, and helped with practicing additional scales. He was well-prepared and was asked to join. I'm sure you know how great she is, but just wanted to pass along that little update and let you know how grateful we are for her. I know Peyton Miles (cello) and Andrea Lucas (voice) also work hard to help Jamie and Kate accomplish their goals too. It's so awesome as a mom to see this!" 

 - Melissa Litwiller

"My kids love John St. Cyr ( Mr. John ) for the double bass and guitar! He's a great teacher! 

 - Kelly Elleman

"Alex is learning so much in his lessons with Hannah Manwarring! (violin/viola) She is wonderful!

 - Amy Harmer Clouse

"Vocal instructor Jeff Burke has been amazing with helping my son Reid prep his part for madrigals. We are so grateful for him!"

 - Karin McDowell

"I wanted to give you some positive feedback about your teacher, Olivia Wexler. She’s fantastic and so patient and flexible. We couldn’t ask for a better teacher for my ten year old." 

 - Preetha Bhat

"Very welcoming at homey atmosphere. Gil makes it a point to take on instructors who are TRULY passionate about teaching and engaging with students. He was very professional and courteous when communicating with me. You'll be in good hands at Hip Cat!

 - Jacob Witte

"Bennett and I thought the new violin/viola teacher, Hannah Manwarring, was great! You always have the best teachers!" 

 - Kristin Iannucci

"I just want to thank our teacher, Gil Moore, for your perseverance and ingenuity in getting Maya interested in guitar. She’s now practicing her assigned stuff AND playing previous songs and has finally reached the point where she just wants to play for the sake of it. Never thought that would happen. You are an AMAZING teacher! We’re lucky to have you!" 

 - Rachel Cofer

"We LOVE Hip Cat and our teacher, Ivy Burke! It’s been so much fun watching my son learn piano, that I’ve decided to return to lessons myself after a 25-year break!"

 - Paula Smith

"What a fantastic first cello lesson! Peyton Miles was amazing with Reece! I can't wait to see what they accomplish together!

 - Dezi Knipe

"My daughter has enjoyed her time with Hip Cat Music School. She decided that she would like to learn Clarinet, and we were paired with Kiara Price. My daughter has enjoyed her lessons with Kiara so far. She says Kiara is kind, helpful, and talented. I'm excited to see her progress this summer!"

 - Felicia Jiardina

"LylaRose started with Hip Cat Music School a year and a half ago and she is blowing me away with the skills she’s learned. Julia Lin (violin/viola) does such a wonderful job of teaching and playing with Lyla." 

 - John Perry

"Carter looks forward to coming here for her drum lessons. So glad we found you!

 - Kandi Currie

"My daughter recently worked with clarinet teacher Kiara Price. Addie has had the same band teacher, starting in 5th grade and into Jr. High. She just called me out of the blue to say she's completely blown away by the difference in Addie's playing in the last week. She didn't know that much progress was possible in such a short amount of time! I just wanted to say that the phone call acknowledging Addie’s work and progress is all thanks to Kiara."

 - Nikki Giosta              

"Our daughter really enjoys taking drum lessons here from Lauren Bobarsky! The space is nice and well decorated with lots of musicians of all ages busy through the 10 or so studio spaces."

 - Bryan Flick

"Lauren Bobarsky is a great teacher! An excellent addition to Hip Cat! As an adult beginner, I most strongly recommend trying lessons with Lauren if you ever thought you might want to be able to play drums. 

 - Bill Trimble

"My 7 year old granddaughter had a great first session on the drums with Hannah Fedorchak!"

 - Kandi Currie

"Ivy Burke is such an amazing teacher! I love how patient she is with her students! Including my son." 

 - Jennifer Johnson

"Love it here! My favorite are the comfy soft chairs while I wait. Most importantly though, my teen's guitar teacher, Jack Miller, is fabulous - patient, kind, accepting, & always positive."

 - Kristen Dunlap Prahl

"Your place is so cute! I'm so happy to have found you and your teachers, it's so awesome! I looked for so long to find my girl a place to teach her piano and everywhere I could find was so expensive. You have made it affordable for people that can't afford the lump sum of payment. It's truly a blessing. My girl comes home so happy from her lessons with Maura Nika. I'm so excited to see her play her piano!"

 - Scarlett Arnold

" One of my favorite things about Hip Cat Music School is the waiting area! The boys grab a hot chocolate and have great conversations while they wait for their lessons." 

 - Lauren Wise

"I wanted to share some positive feedback. My daughter is taking guitar lessons with Chris Wiman and it’s going great! For as little as she knows she has so much fun and comes home excited. Thursdays have become her favorite day of the week!" 

 - Shana Kagel 

"I started music at 5th grade. I went on to spending 8 years with some of the best local and national instructors during my concert and marching band experience. When it came time for my 5th grader to start her journey we chose Hip Cat Music School and we are so happy we did. Our teacher Ryan Baur is easy to talk to and a great instructor. The owner and staff here are always courteous and professional. My daughter loves it here. Highly recommended." 

 - James Wallace

"The owner is very responsive and the instructors are great. My son takes lessons from Jameel and he is a great instructor. Very knowledgeable, patient and kind."

 - Kim C.

"My daughter loved her first voice lesson with Andrea Lucas! They did a lot of great vocal and breathing exercises. Today was her first day and her teacher wanted to see her range and is making a plan for lessons going forward. 

 - Amy Rosado

"My daughter is trying out for jazz band (piano) which is unfamiliar territory for her. Her wonderful instructor Chris Callahan has been a great help and she’s having so much fun learning this new style! "

 - Rachel Mitchell

"I just want to let you know Daria may be the best teacher I've seen! My son is pretty young so harder to teach. Daria is so patient and smart about how she gets him to do things. We are really happy with her!"  

 - Kristin Innacucci

"Hip Cat Music School has been easy to work with and has wonderful teachers who truly love introducing music to their students while helping them find passion for their instrument of choice. I highly recommend Hip Cat Music School for music lovers of all ages."

 - Michael Freyman

"Another fantastic addition to Hip Cat! Darius is an incredible musician and teacher!!!"

 - Tony Marinello

"Jameel is a consistent and punctual teacher. He always has a positive attitude and is easy to work with. My son looks forward to his drum lesson with him every week. This past week he invited us to hear his jazz ensemble. It was such a fun way to see his talent in practice. It was a great motivator for my son."

 - Hillary Tanner

"I just wanted to reach out and tell you that we LOVE your music school. My 5 year old is very shy and his piano teacher, Ivy, is SO good with him!

 - Stephanie Stone

"All three kids finished their lessons. Guitar last night and violin today. I was very impressed with your teachers! The kids loved their lessons!

 - Kristin Iannucci

"I would like to say that my son's drum lessons with Jameel are going great. We couldn't be happier with his progress and how things are going!"

- Michael Freyman

"I can't recommend this music school enough! We love Hip Cat!"

 - Leeanne Forshee

"Hip Cat is the best!" 

 - Jennifer Mirock

"I can confirm that if you have little ones, both Hip Cat Music School and The Little Art School are amazing! I'm not affiliated with them, but I know they do amazing work and have amazing stuff for kids to do!

 - Jillian Meszar

"Folks, you will do you yourself a favor signing up for guitar lessons with Olivia Wexler!    

- John Larson

"For the first time in my life I'm taking music lessons, and I'm loving it. Thanks to Hip Cat Music School and my teacher Isabella Amulraj! It's never too late...DO IT!

- Brando Maloney

"Thank you kindly for being the "go-to" place for lessons in the area!"

- Emmy Lou

"This place is so cool! Very hip! Brianne Steif is the best!"

 - Seann Berrocales

"First guitar lesson, with teacher Christopher Wiman, in the books and he LOVED it!" 

- Jessica Miller Howe   

"Isabella Ancira is amazing. A very patient teacher for my 6 year old. He really loves going here!"

- Katelyn Trunnell

"If you are looking to get your kids into music lessons in BloNo, Hip Cat is great! The owner matched us with a teacher who has experience teaching students with ADHD. Gregory really likes her. Isabella Ancira, "Miss Bella", is great!

- Amanda Swartz

"My son needed a little help with a specific piece of music. Jonah, the drum teacher, helped him “get it" in 20 minutes. I highly recommend Jonah for anyone who needs drum lessons or assistance. What a valuable resource!"

- M.H.

"Cara Fletcher is amazing! She seamlessly transitions not only between students of different ages & levels - but different ages & levels on different instruments!"

 - Jill Smith Nydegger

"I highly recommend Emily Shelburne. She is very talented and is a kind and patient piano teacher. She can also lend her services to studio work."

- Jay Toncray

"Brianne Steif is a fantastic performer and educator! What a wonderful addition to the faculty at Hip Cat Music School!"

 - Cynara Pierzina

"Isabella Ancira is a swell piano teacher because she relates well to kids, understanding they need encouragement  and patience. She is always punctual to teach my seven year old twins. They are progressing quickly under her instructional talent. " 

- Linda Carter Ellerman

"My daughter, Maeve, enjoys her piano lessons with Chris Callahan so much! He is able to challenge her while still keeping things fun. He listened to her when she told him she was tired of the book series and brought in some of his favorite pieces. She is so confident in her playing now!" 

 - Rachel Mitchell

"Joe really enjoyed his first tuba lesson with JT and is looking forward to learning with him!" 

 - Sheri Honzel

"We take cello lessons here with a great instructor, Cara!!"

 - Kim Brockman

"My daughter absolutely loves Megan for her voice teacher! She is so gentle and  encouraging!"

 - Cori Strong Burns 

"Gil is a great teacher! He taught my daughter ukulele and was always patient and creative in his approach. He made sure to find her songs that she liked and helped her learn the basics in the process. I highly recommend Hip Cat Music School!"

 -  Kevin Bersett

"Kenzie is the best voice teacher I have ever had and both of my parents think she's amazing!" 

 - Demi Carlson

"Brock is enjoying his violin lessons and is really passionate about playing!" 

 - Destini Fincham

"My first voice lesson was wonderful! Megan is a great teacher!"

 - Lauren Schaff

"They just had their first piano lesson with Chris and they absolutely loved it! As soon as both kids came home they were eager to practice and show off what they learned!"

- Hayley Reynolds

"We really do love Hip Cat Music School!" 

- Natalie Vorass

"As an adult learning French horn, my teacher Victoria and Hip Cat Music School are perfect! Low pressure, but high quality and very inviting and friendly. Great for adult learners!" 

 - Sue Rovens

"If you have been looking for a music studio to perfect your music passions, check out Hip Cat Music School! Gil made it so easy to get started immediately with some really awesome teachers!"  

- Nicole Elger

"I’ve had a great experience with my guitar lessons. Gil has made it a very stress free process and I’m really excited about the lessons!" 

 - Thom Rakestraw 

"Hannah had a great experience from her vocal lesson tonight. To see her improve in one session and the smile on her face was priceless!"  

- Amber Hodge

"This is such an amazing music school! Amelie continued her clarinet lessons here. Her teacher Gianna is amazing!! I give this school 5 stars!"  

- Leeanne Forshee

"Gil is an amazing person and an incredible teacher. He is unique because of his mutual learning philosophy; while teaching an instrument, he is also learning how he can be an even better teacher. Our son spent 5+ years with Gil in guitar lessons and loved every moment. As a parent I felt incredibly lucky that we found someone who was a perfect match for our son, and I have heard a number of people share the same sentiment. Our family is so thrilled about Hip Cat opening and offering such a variety of instrument & voice lessons to our community, and it's fantastic that local college students are getting teaching experience in such a unique school where quality and a love of learning go hand in hand." 

- Karin Cousteau

"The new place is absolutely adorable! I have been getting lessons for a while with Gil and I’ve enjoyed every single one!" 

 - Olivia Wexler

"My son has been taking lessons from Gil Moore for over 8 years. He is more than a guitar teacher, and has been a blessing for our son who really enjoys talking about and learning about music from him."  

 - Helen Haggarty

"Gil is an amazing teacher to learn from! Great location and decor!"  

- E. Laube 

"Very detailed, positive, and flexible teaching experience."  

- Julie Rabe

"Awesome place to learn an instrument! Cool instructors who love music and teaching! Love this place!"  

 - Tyrone Redd

 "You are a blessing!" 

 - Monica Wong

"Thank you for two years that have absolutely changed my life!"   

- A J

"Thank you Gil. Our daughter really does love coming to you. Unfortunately you have broken the mold. She compares other instructors to you. It's always, 'they just don't teach like Gil does'. She stopped bass lessons because the teacher wasn't even close to the 'GIL' standards. You have made one great impression on her!"   

- T. Rena

"Logan really enjoys you and respects you. He's learning a ton, thanks to you."  

- Cindy Goke

"You're a great teacher, Gil! Thanks for all you are doing to keep Jordan challenged and loving music!"   

- Karin N. 

"We appreciate all you do for us.  Zoe loves coming to lessons. It is a high point of her week."    

- Kari Hazen 

"You really make lessons great for Megan!"   

- Laura Avery 

"My husband and I agree you are a fantastic teacher for Abby. It is not often she both likes and learns from a teacher as she does with you. You have a definite gift."  

- Mike & Jessica Chalmers 

"Greta seems to be enjoying her lessons and playing. In fact, this morning in the car, I was humming an Adele tune and she started telling me the chords as I went along!"

 - Sharon Floyd 

"Emma seems to be really enjoying her lessons!"  

- Cara Shoup 

"Jacob is enjoying his lessons very much. The last month he definitely showed more confidence with his practicing and playing. Last night he had his guitar ready by the door at 4:30, ready for his lesson. It didn't used to be that way."  

- Darla Schwertfeger 

"Occasionally I sit in the chairs between the rooms during lessons. I hear such positive praises coming from your room! I think you would be a good fit for my music-loving son."  

 - Misty Dorgan

"We greatly appreciate all your time, patience and enthusiasm during guitar lessons!" 

- Rebecca

"You are a great teacher!"  

- Kris Baugh

"Thanks for all you do to inspire Andrew on guitar. He has gained so much confidence and is performing now!"   

- Shelley Loy

"My son, Jesse, really enjoyed his first lesson. He said that you were very nice and not 

like a regular teacher. You were more like a friend. He also said he could handle having

guitar lessons with you for the rest of his life! Just wanted you to know you made a great first 

impression."  

 - Daniella Barroqueiro

"You are such an awesome teacher and you are the reason that I have not quit when

I wanted to throw my hands up in the air and give up.  You always make me feel like I can do 

it! :) "  

- Kim Carthans