Music B.A. education specialist offering beginner-advanced piano instruction from home and in Orlando

Find out more about Jacob

• 1) When did you first develop a passion for music and your favorite instrument?

  Some of my earliest memories of loving music ranged from extremely dated electronic music, my Dad's jam bands, video game tunes, and everything in between! I had piano lessons for a bit at a young age before struggling with the challenge of self-practice, and later became classically trained at the University level while I discovered my passion for pedagogy and music technology.

• 2) Is there a particular type of music or artist that you listen to on a loop without it driving you crazy?

  As much as I want to say "I listen to everything"- that's what everybody says; I suppose it depends on the mood. Though I often aim to constantly discover new things to listen to, Jamiroquai's discography stays remarkably fresh upon repeat listens.

• 3) Explain to us the most difficult or riveting course you could personally give to a student of music.

  I find studying Bach's counterpoint, especially his Inventions and early keyboard works, to be particularly focus-demanding. As for guitar students, executing solos over harmonic key changes or through modal interchange can be quite difficult as well.

• 4) What do you think is the most complicated instrument to master and why?

  Though many people see instruments as having different skill ceilings, I don't think any of them have a limit on what they can accomplish. Any instrument permits infinite room for improvement, even beyond 10,000 hours of dedicated practice. If I had to be picky though, piano may offer one of the more complicated learning journeys at higher levels of playing, due in part to the multitude of voices (unlike single-voiced instruments such as winds and brass).

• 5) What are your keys to success?

  -ENJOYABLE Practice: dedicating time and brainpower to one's instrument in a manner that is engaging and interesting as opposed to dull and daunting is what I'd consider to be a paramount key to musical success.
  -Community: through performing, discussing, or thoughtful shared listening, forming meaningful connections with others provides a network of musical appreciation to keep one's goal in mind.
  -Self-confidence!!: "Never be upset about the success of others. Be brave enough to give the credit where it’s been earned and use it as motivation to bring out the best you." -John Cena

• 6) Name three musicians you dream of meeting in your favourite bar in the early hours of the morning. Explain why.

  -Terry Riley: An early pioneer of electronic music, Riley's experimental approaches and their connection to contemporary music technology have flipped the field on its head. I would be curious to learn about his perspective on electronic music education today!
  -Wes Borland: Hours and hours can be spent talking about the decisions behind his guitar rig, practice routine, performative quirks, and the like.
  -iglooghost: Frankensteining such a wide variety of acoustic and digital sound sources to create hyper-maximalist textures must take an extreme proclivity for experimentation; Iglooghost is one of the most exemplary arguments for the musician as a type of scientist, and attaining a deeper comprehension of his compositional process could shift my perspectives of music greatly.

• 7) Provide a valuable anecdote related to music or your days at music school.

  There were days when I would walk back to my dorm after a long day of practice and lessons feeling unsure about my progress with any given piece. It would often be the very next day after some rest and more intentional practice when I would do the same walk but with my head held high, knowing that I was slowly improving and headed towards my goals through persistence and deliberation. I didn't leave every practice session feeling like Hiromi Uehara or Leon Russell, but sharing my journey with like-minded pianists and keeping my goals in mind kept me going through the tougher times. Struggle, grind, shine!

• 8) What are the little touches that make you a Superprof in music?

  Much like language, which activates the same neural pathways, music does not necessarily have to be examined as a solitary concept devoid of connections with other fields. Language students can feel disinterested or endangered when being taught a new way of communicating; Understanding that these new ways of communicating can be used to discuss our interests, ideas, and values in new ways that are uniquely our own can invigorate students. Thus, considering the wants, needs, and habits of every individual student is something very important to my teaching style and I.
  Does your child seem addicted to video games? Good. We'll look at game music on top of our normal practice drills to maximize engagement while fostering healthy technique. Do you love heavy metal but want to learn more about the fretboard and melodic movement? Great. Let's check out some Bach guitar etudes after we practice your favorite Metallica song. Not quite sure how to practice theory, but know what sounds you love? Awesome. Show me your favorite songs so we can see what makes them work, why, and how to replicate that feeling.
  As opposed to being put into any invariable box, considering the goals and passions of my students helps me formulate the best path for that person and their specific objective. Without any specific objective in mind, consulting towards a goal through discussions of musicianship and exploration of options with any instrument allows us to formulate an idea of what we hope to achieve and how. Your success in music is my profound joy and utmost pride.