Axes Music Offers the Whole Package

What do Brett Michaels of Poison, Chevelle, Eve 6, Local H, Gin Blossoms, Eddie Money, Instant Funk and Kool N The Gang have in common?

They’ve all visited Mokena. You can thank Axes Music for that.

Not only does Axes Music provide musical equipment to buy and musical instrument lessons, but they also have a full recording studio right inside their store, complete with an acoustically tuned live room and multiple isolation and control rooms.

Anyone can purchase studio time for music, TV and radio productions. Those who have include the aforementioned well-known bands and rockstars, plus dozens more.

According to Clyde Richardson, co-owner of the family-owned Axes, the business opened about 12 years ago when he decided to open something on his own after playing and performing since the age of four.

“My dad pretty much forced me into playing, but that’s a good thing,” Richardson said. Now, Richardson’s own son teaches at Axes.

Richardson said he chose to open in Mokena because he loved the area. He and his family now live in Bourbonnais, but he said once his daughter gets married next November, they’ll move to Mokena.

“We want to move closer to the city but still far enough away,” Richardson mused. “We like the area and the people. They are good, solid people that work for a living.”

Axes Music has seven instructors, all of whom have music degrees, are working on a recording project or perform.

“One of our teachers is in a band that has opened for Santana, the Wallflowers and Roger Waters from Pink Floyd,” Richardson explained. “And my son’s band opened for Blues Traveler last year.”

Not only do the instructors have great background experience, but they all love what they do, according to Richardson.

“We do this because we love doing it. That’s the only reason we do it,” Richardson said.

Richardson stated that Axes has a couple hundred students each week for lessons for acoustic, electric or bass guitar, drums and piano. Most students live in Mokena, Frankfort and New Lenox. Guitar is the most popular instrument among his students, with drums coming in a close second.

As far as musical genre, Richardson said basic rock n’ roll is most popular, but some students learn finger picking, bluegrass and classical. There is no age requirement for taking lessons. Richardson said they’ve had students begin at five.

“If their attention span is good enough and they can focus, they seem to do well. At that age, it’s touch and go,” Richardson explained. He said that if the children aren’t ready, the teacher will let the parents know.

Richardson also said that they have people in their 70s taking lessons, and the oldest they ever had was 98.

Many students go on to record at the recording studio inside Axes. Richardson said that if a student is trying to dial something in, they’ll give them free studio time.

Aside from lessons and recording, Axes sells numerous instruments, amplifiers, electronics and recording extras. If you just need a repair for your own instrument, Axes offers numerous repairs with affordable pricing.

Richardson stated that Axes stands out from others not only because of all they offer under one roof, but because they make learning fun for their students.

“Half of a lesson is what the teacher needs the student to know, and the other half is spent on what the student wants to learn,” Richardson explained. “So they’re getting the basic reading and theory but in a practical application suited to what they want to play.”

Teachers and students attend local open mic nights together every once in awhile, encouraging students to participate to see what performing live is all about. Richardson said Axes will soon offer recording classes and band recitals.

Many students go on to do great things, according to Richardson. One student is now at Tribeca Flashpoint Academy in Chicago and has already performed and ran sound at the Chicago Theatre, the Vic and other major venues.

Like Richardson said, he and the other teachers do this because they love it. He said that the teachers and students develop a kinship to each other.

“I don’t see any of us getting rich doing this, but we do it because it makes a difference in the world," he said. "Or at least, we feel it does.”