Jacob is now offering lessons from his private studio 2 miles North of downtown Ashland. He draws on a decade of experience as a private instructor to construct a personalized curriculum for each student, and is equally qualified to teach children (age 5 and up) and adults. His students range in skill level from the total beginner to the professional  looking to expand his/her capacities or get a new angle on an old problem. Adult beginners are definitely welcome; it's never too late to start learning.

 For Beginners:                                                                                  

       Jacob's teaching philosophy takes into account the great diversity of learning styles and gives each individual a unique approach . The principles of good musicianship are universal, but we each have our own way of understanding and internalizing them. Every student will learn solid fundamentals on his/her instrument, but from the beginning, material is chosen based on its appeal to the student as well as its pure educational benefit. It's a simple fact that you learn better when you're excited about what you're doing, and there's more than enough good music out there for everyone to find something that's fun and "good for you too."

      All of the technique that Jacob teaches is classically based,  but his teaching style is much more flexible than what is usually associated with classical training.  Spontaneity and  improvisation are strongly encouraged .While most students choose to emphasize one genre, i.e. Jazz, Classical, Bluegrass, Rock, etc,  they are all given a sampling of the many diverse styles which contribute to the melting pot of American music.

 

For Intermediate and Advanced Players:   

        The breadth of Jacob's  performance experience gives him a unique vantage point from which to solve problems of technique, interpretation, and style. Having met many challenges in his own development as a player, he is able to advise in all matters, from  improvement of timekeeping to time management within a practice routine .

      Many of Jacob's students start with no prior experience and steadily progress into proficiency, while others arrive already possessing a high aptitude in several areas but lacking crucial background information necessary to expand into an unfamiliar style . Many highly competent classical musicians benefit from guidance in the areas of improvisation and interpretation of folk styles. Seasoned rock musicians who learned everything they know by ear often need help with conventional music notation, lead sheet reading, or the music theory which underlies the most complex jazz material. Some individuals simply need a refresher course after a decade or so away from an instrument which was once second nature to them.

     Whatever your situation, please take a listen to Jacob's music and call or email to discuss your background and specific needs.  

        Lessons for   
   Guitar   Violin     Bass   Piano  Mandolin