Jay Jay W
Instruments: Piano
Styles: Classical, Jazz, Pop, Rock, Blues, Folk, Country, R&B, Gospel
Jay Jay W
Instruments: Piano
Styles:
Classical, Jazz, Pop, Rock, Blues, Folk, Country, R&B, Gospel
Where I Teach:
Ages Taught: 5-80
Bachelor of the Arts (Music Composition and Psychology) from UC Davis
Teaching is my passion. I love to watch as a young piano student matures into a truly exceptional musician. I love watching children experience that "Aha!" moment when they realize "This is fun!" From the youngest beginners to advanced adults, every student I've taught has developed a love for the instrument, the same love that I feel. I believe that anyone can learn music and to play this beautiful instrument. If I can do it, so can you! I am very patient and have a great sense of humor! I get along great with children and adults alike. I started his musical journey as a self taught student, using materials his mother had bought from a family friend and playing on an old electric organ found at a garage sale. It became very clear that music was meant to be a part of my life so he pursued formal training at the University of California, Davis. There I cultivated my skills as a soloist, ensemble player, and accompanist for several student recitals. I received his Bachelors of the Arts in Musical Composition and Psychology, with Honors in both, in 2009. While working towards my degree I began teaching both group classes and private lessons in the Elk Grove area eventually expanding to the greater Sacramento area and Davis during my almost 20 years of teaching. I became a member of the Music Teacher’s Association of California (MTAC) in 2010 and held many positions in the organization for the Yolo County Branch, including Chair of the Composer’s Today program (a program that holds an annual recital for students who compose their own music), Recording Secretary, and I'm currently finishing my tenure as Branch President. As a member of MTAC, my students also participate in the Certificate of Merit program that holds an annual student evaluation in the Spring. I am also a member of the American College of Musicians who sponsors an annual evaluation called the National Piano Guild Auditions, in which I have many students participate.
From the moment my fingers touched the keys, my passion for the piano never ceased. Starting as a self-taught player, I received formal training in the instrument at the University of California, Davis under the instruction of Marilyn Swan. There I played in several chamber ensembles, including a performance of Schubert's Trout Quintet. I have also accompanied recitals for fellow musicians of various instruments, including a double bass and a cello. I have also had the opportunity to work with American Bach Soloists director Jeffrey Thomas who conducted the UC Davis Symphony Orchestra in conjunction with the University chorus where I played both piano and celesta parts. It was a frightening and exhilarating experience and I would do it again in a heartbeat. As a soloist, I have performed several piano works of many of the great classical composers ranging from Beethoven piano sonatas, Bach prelude and fugues to Chopin nocturnes, Brahms intermezzos, and many, many others. Besides piano, my other emphasis is composition. My senior project was a song cycle using texts from poems by Robert Frost and was scored for soprano, mezzo-soprano and piano. I received my Bachelor’s degree from UC Davis in Music and Psychology in 2009. As an active member in the Music Teachers Association of California (MTAC), I have held numerous positions in the Yolo County Branch. I have recently finished my tenure as Branch President and in the past I have been Recording Secretary and Chair of the Composer's Today Program, a program designed to encourage student composers with an annual recital to showcase their original works. Also, I have had many students successfully participate in the annual Certificate of Merit evaluation sponsored by MTAC, receiving high marks and even being invited to perform at the state convention.
I teach traditional music theory and sight reading focusing on reading music and learning musical vocabulary and symbols. My students will learn the fundamentals while also exploring different musical genres, ranging from the classics like Beethoven and Mozart to modern idioms like jazz, pop music, and even musical theater standards. In addition learning repertoire from a wide range of styles, my students also learn the fundamentals of music theory, from rhythm, basic harmony, and intervalic reading to more advanced harmonic and structural analysis.
My goal is always to encourage students through their musical journey by honing in on their strengths while also addressing areas they can improve upon. At each lesson, I make very clear goals for each student to work on for their next meeting with me. I always like to supplement their lesson material with music that speaks to the student's interest, be that something more jazzy or from a pop artist. I always try to keep a positive atmosphere and encourage students to always to their best.
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