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Teaches Lessons:
Online, In Person
Styles:
Clawhammer and Old-Time, Other
Levels:
Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced
Teacher Since: 2006
Pricing: We can chat about this
Listing Created: 11/16/2011
Listing Updated: 7/28/2025
More About Me
I'm an old-time musician who was raised on rock n roll, blues, jazz and country. I was in a string band, The Powder Kegs from 2006 to 2008, and together we won a People in their Twenties Talent Contest live on A Prairie Home Companion. From 2011-2015 I recorded and toured with a vocal-centric American folk band, Tumbling Bones, with whom I taught and performed in 15 states and 10 countries and was selected for two cultural diplomacy tours with the US State Department.
I've been teaching banjo since 2006. I've been off the road since 2015, and teaching has become my main gig, not just to pay the bills, but because I love doing it! My mother is a dance teacher and I've followed in her community arts edu footsteps. I prefer teaching in person, but I teach online too. Students range from 6 to 76 years old on banjo, guitar, ukulele, fiddle, voice, theory, songwriting, etc. I adapt my teaching styles to fit students' learning styles while providing instruction on healthy technique and tools for learning on your own. I write out music in classical notation, tablature as needed. I allow my students to record parts of our lessons to practice with at home. Most folks come to me as beginners, and students are often impressed with my patience. I just loving watching people's brains work and grow!
Aside from private lessons, I teach groups and ensembles, I produce records, and I travel to perform and present workshops. I've worked with Blue Bear School of Music in the Bay Area and 317 Main Community Music Center in Southern Maine with whom I managed community music ed collaborations for youth and adults at k-12 schools, libraries, social service agencies, etc. I ran old time music jams in Portland 2016-2019. I enjoy making any event happen that involves old and original music, social dance and good food.
Comments
Jake, please keep me in mind should you start an old time jam.
jim atleson - atleson
Jake,
I'm interested in taking beginner lessons from you in Portland. Do you have room for one more student?? Hope so, and thank you!
Sandra - sparker
Jake,
Is it possible to get a few online clawhammer lessons? I'm in Oberlin, OH but would love a few. - SamBanjoBailey
Jake, sent you an email. Would like to take beginner lessons from you in Portland. Hope you will get back to me. - 4Corgis
Jake: I am in Philly, I am a Mummer. Do you teach Plectrum Style? - rjack3141
Hi rjack, I don't teach 4-string banjo. Occasionally I'll teach country blues or jazz plectrum style on 5-string - UnfaithfulServant
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