Mandolin Lessons in Hazelwood. Amazing Teachers.

I began learning mandolin several years ago and am proficient with chords and tunes. Classical or bluegrass style. I can teach sight reading music notation as well.

A two-time Acoustic Music Seminar participant and a graduate of the Berklee College of Music, mandolinist Jake plays and writes music that is galvanized by roots music from around the globe. Music has taken him all over the country, yet he was introduced to acoustic music in his hometown, the greatest bluegrass city of all time: Akron, Ohio. Jake joined his uncle’s bluegrass band (The Blue Ribbon Bluegrass Band) playing mandolin and spent the next two years refining his craft. In his years with Blue Ribbon Bluegrass Band, Jake recorded two CDs and played countless gigs all over the northeastern United States. After being urged by his friends and family, Jake applied to the Berklee College of Music, where he graduated in 2017 with a degree in Mandolin performance and American Roots Music, mentored by greats such as Joe Walsh, Maeve Gilchrist, David Wallace, and Matt Glaser. He now tours nationally with the band The Page Turners.

I love to teach and hope to make you a more conscious

I have over 20 years of profession touring and studio experience playing with some of the biggest names in the business that I bring to my lessons. I studied music in school and have continued to teach over the years which gives me the ability to use teaching and music school language with real world live performance experience. If you want to learn to play the way the pros do and have a lot of fun in the process, then this might be for you. My approach involves learning songs that you want to learn and teaching you techniques and theory in the process. Music is fun and should also be when taking lessons. Let’s get started!

In addition to being a percussionist, I am also a mandolin player with experience playing Celtic, Bluegrass and Old Time music. With an emphasis on rhythm and technique I can help take your mandolining to the next level!

Teaching beginning bluegrass and Irish mandolin styles using standard notation and tablature.

Have you ever wanted to play the mandolin, but never knew where to start? Do you have trouble learning correct technique, practice strategies, or struggle finding good repertoire to learn? Well, you've come to the right place!

In our first lesson, I will likely ask you to demonstrate your level to me, either by telling me or showing me what you know. I will use this to better understand your strengths and weaknesses and go from there. You can expect to come away from our first lesson with some learning materials, a plan for going forward, and an encouraging start to our journey as musicians together!

Some examples of things students can learn from me include: expanding repertoire, ear training, music reading, improvising, jamming, music theory, and technique.