Tyler Lustek
Tyler Lustek is a jazz pianist, composer, and educator. In addition to his Jazz & Contemporary Piano Instructor position at MacPhail, Tyler serves on the jazz faculty at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, teaches summer jazz programs at the Shell Lake Arts Center, and hosts a competitive lessons studio in Eau Claire.
Tyler leads a cutting-edge jazz ensemble, the Tyler Lustek Confluence, which released its debut poetry-centric double album Shmehara: Live at Jazz Central Studios in 2025. Tyler has shared the stage with world-class musicians including Kenni Holmen, Sharel Cassity, Wayne Bergeron, Anat Cohen, Gunhild Carling, Sherrie Maricle, Sean Carey, John Raymond, and Dean Granros. Tyler has performed in a wide variety of jazz, pop, funk, rock, and wedding bands including the Tyler Lustek Jazz Orchestra, the Chippewa Valley Jazz Orchestra, the La Crosse Jazz Orchestra, the Blue Ox Jazz Groups, the Bad Habits Brass, Uncommon Denominator, Eau Claire Funk Machine, B n’ the Spice Cabinet, the Other Brothers, and Duo Vivace, among many others.
Tyler’s teaching philosophy centers on providing a welcoming, diverse, and collaborative environment that empowers students to freely explore their musical curiosities. Tyler’s real-world musical experiences directly inform his teaching approach, ensuring that what students learn is always practical, engaging, and grounded in the realities of today’s music scene.
The core of Tyler’s instructional method is grounded in treating the learning of music the same as learning a language. Tyler holds a deep respect for the historical and cultural traditions of the musical styles he performs and teaches, with a focus on forward-looking progression and conversational interactivity. Tyler’s goal as a music instructor is to motivate self-sufficiency and empathetic listening, and to encourage the artistic confidence needed to tell one’s own musical story.
Tyler holds a bachelor’s degree in music education from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and a master’s degree in jazz studies from Northern Illinois University.
Outside of music, Tyler enjoys cycling, hiking, and spending time with friends.