From Lesson Plans to Lyrics: Dina Bach, '10, M.S.Ed. '14
By Lia Kizilbash Gillet
Dina Bach, '10, MS.Ed. '14, sings the National Anthem at Wrigley Field. (Photo credit: Steve Green, Chicago Cubs)
For six years, Dina Bach, ’10, M.S.Ed. ’14, taught Spanish to high school students by day while writing long lyrics by night.
She learned to successfully co-exist in her roles as an educator and an artist. However, in 2017, Bach traded her whiteboard for a full-time seat at her piano, stepping fully into her voice.
“Teaching gave me structure, discipline, and a sense of purpose,” she said. “It taught me how to show up every day, even when I didn’t feel like it. That same discipline is what helped me write nearly 200 songs and build a music career from the ground up.”
Bach earned her bachelor’s degree in Spanish from NIU and later returned to complete her master’s degree in education. Her time at NIU was transformative—not just academically, but creatively.
“NIU was where I found my voice, literally and figuratively,” Bach said. “The curriculum was rigorous, but the community was incredibly supportive. I spent hours at the grand piano in Douglas Hall writing songs, and I performed at campus coffee shops. It was the first time I realized music could be more than just a hobby.”
A Youth in Harmony
Growing up in Wheaton, Illinois, Bach was the youngest of five in a lively Italian-German family. Her early years were filled with music—records spinning in the basement, a Christmas sing-along VHS she begged to watch year-round, and the hum of her siblings’ choir rehearsals. In fourth grade, she began playing the cello, her first formal experience with music. Although she learned how to read music, she always preferred to close her eyes and play by ear. By age 10, she started playing piano and translating her cello songs to the piano by ear, and discovered a natural gift for songwriting.
“My older siblings all took piano lessons and quit," she said. "My parents decided not to give me lessons, because they saw I had a natural passion and talent, and didn’t want to stifle it.”
In eighth grade, Bach recorded her first song on cassette and VHS for a friend moving away, and continued to use songwriting as a way to process her emotions.
“I’ve always been an observer,” she said. “That’s what makes me a good songwriter. I write what I feel, but also what I see others feeling.”
Two Languages, One Passion
Bach’s love for Spanish began early, too. Inspired by her older siblings, who were studying Spanish, and a little red Spanish-English dictionary, Bach started teaching herself phrases in elementary school.
“Spanish is such a musical language. I think that’s why I was drawn to it,” she said. “I had an amazing AP Spanish teacher in high school, who encouraged me to continue with the language. I didn’t know what I wanted to major in at NIU, and because I never studied music, that wasn’t even on my radar.”
Choosing NIU to be close to home and rooming with her sister, who transferred from a community college, Bach found the grand piano in the lobby of her dorm, Douglas Hall. It’s where she spent most of her time writing her songs.
“NIU was one of the best choices I made,” she said. “My friends and my sister encouraged me to perform some of my original songs live. I never considered myself a piano player, a singer or a performer. It was all just a means to an end: songwriting. That was my true passion. However, I realized that no one would ever hear my songs unless I shared them. I got my first ‘gig’ playing at Potbelly Sandwich Shop during the lunch hour. I knew all of about six cover songs and played mostly originals.”
Bach became a community advisor and worked in the Honors Program office, where she met Nancy Castle, Honors Program director, and Kate Braser, Honors Program coordinator. The two were incredibly influential women who helped guide Bach as a young student.
“They were the first strong, successful female role models I had (aside from my amazing mother and older sisters),” Bach said. “We had so much fun together planning and implementing events and outreach programs through the Honors Program. They always made me feel like I was on their same level, even though I was only an undergraduate student at the time. They taught me to enjoy life and not take things so seriously.”
A business honors course introduced her to Dennis and Stacey Barsema, who later encouraged her to pursue her passion for music.
“Dennis and Stacey are two incredible people in my life,” she said. “They introduced me to a friend with a studio who helped me record three songs for a professional demo. Dennis and Stacey are true mentors, the kind that light you up and really open your eyes to your true passion in life.”
Balancing Two Worlds
After student teaching at Geneva High School, Bach took a year off to pursue music. She wrote custom wedding songs and performed with a local cover band. Performing on the big stages of casinos and various venues throughout Chicago, Bach confronted her fear of performing in front of large audiences. The following year, she returned to Geneva High School, where she taught Spanish for six years.
“Everyone in my life was always encouraging me to pursue music as a full-time career, but I felt like I really needed to have a ‘real job’ that was secure and stable,” she said.
Bach felt like she was sharing something beautiful and rhythmic while teaching. She found the Geneva community and school district to be exceptionally supportive.
“Teaching was never just a job. It was a community,” Bach said. “I enjoyed connecting with young, bright minds, instilling wisdom and discipline, and being a positive light just like Dennis and Stacey and everyone at NIU was for me. My students, colleagues and even some parents supported my music. One colleague helped me book gigs and encouraged me to perform locally. I went to every open mic night within a 25-mile radius.”
While teaching, Bach launched an ambitious goal to write a song a week. She wrote and shared 98 original songs in 98 weeks. She often drew inspiration from her students and classroom stories, even writing songs based on the Spanish literature they were studying.
“It taught me the power of consistency,” she said. “Not every song was great, but every song was honest.”
Dina Bach sings at Dr. Caw's recording studio. (Photo credit: Craig Williams)The Shift to Full-Time
After six years, with savings and a strong support system, Bach made the difficult decision to leave teaching and pursue music full-time. She dove into performing, often playing cover gigs to make ends meet while continuing to write original music.
“I became an entertainer rather than just a songwriter,” she said. “It broadened my musical horizons, but I sometimes wish I had focused more on my own songs. Still, learning other artists’ music helped me grow.”
Her advice to aspiring artists?
“Save up. Surround yourself with people who believe in you. You can’t pursue a passion alone. You need cheerleaders for the hard days,” Bach said.
Milestones and Momentum
Bach’s musical journey has many high points, including singing the National Anthem for the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field, releasing a full-length album, and touring nationally with the band Journeyman, A Tribute to Eric Clapton.
“Singing for the Cubs was a bucket-list moment,” Bach said. “I grew up going to games with my family, sitting behind home plate. To be on the field, singing in front of 40,000 people—it was surreal.”
She still teaches when she can, offering private language lessons and participating in educational music programs. Her teaching experience continues to inform her music career, from managing logistics to connecting with audiences.
“Being a teacher taught me how to communicate, organize and lead,” she said. “I run my music business solo—writing, recording, performing, marketing, even accounting. Those skills came from the classroom. Having a full-time career in teaching while pursuing music wasn’t always easy (sometimes you’d find me grading papers on set breaks at my shows), but it was certainly worth it.”
The Universal Language of Music
Today, Bach is entering a bold new chapter. She’s ready to take more risks—like shopping her songs to publishers, recording new music videos, and spending more time in Nashville to co-write and collaborate.
“In order to truly learn a language, you have to immerse yourself in it, and that’s exactly what I plan to do with songwriting in the music community,” Bach said. “I want to immerse myself in communities with people who are more talented than I am. I think that’s why I’m so drawn to Nashville.”
She continued, “I don’t want to wait anymore. You can always come up with an excuse to not do the hard things, but in reality, we all have time. It’s the discipline part that holds us back. Consistently showing up every day makes the difference, and I'm ready for it. After all, music is the universal language.”
Check out Bach’s website for shows and new releases.
To help inspire discovery and empower student success at NIU, visit niuforward.com.