About
Hi! I'm Jay and I have over 25 years experience in multiple aspects of the music profession as a high school vocal and instrumental teacher and as a vocal and instrumental performer. My undergraduate degree from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is in K-12 Vocal and Instrumental Music Education (major in trumpet) and I have a Master's degree, also from SIUE, in Orchestral Conducting. Music has taken me across the country and to Austria, Germany, Italy, Ireland and Scotland; it has even taken me to Carnegie Hall a couple of times! I have a passion for teaching individualized lessons and love working with students of all ages and ability levels.
I have been a bass-baritone section leader in the St. Louis Louis Symphony Chorus and with various other choirs in and around St. Louis. I am currently principal trumpet of the Edwardsville Community Symphony and have played trumpet in many different groups in many different styles in and around town. I also sing, play guitar, and arrange music for an a capella band called The Wee Heavies--we focus on Celtic folk music and music influenced by those traditions.
When I'm not teaching or performing music you can often find me near a body of water casting a line to catch fish that I love to bring home and fry up with my father-in-law for my family. I enjoy hiking, cycling, grilling, and traveling. Most importantly I'm the dad of two wonderful daughters, Gwen Elizabeth & Eliana Clare, and husband to Jen, who is also a private music teacher. We love that our careers of teaching music privately allows us to balance our family and work lives.
In my studio we strive for a focused yet relaxed atmosphere, one in which the students are able to thrive and develop new musical skills quickly in a friendly and comfortable environment. We put a strong emphasis on the fundamentals, but I remind students often that it is called playing music for a reason. Since I have made music and taught music in all sorts of situations from school and community to professional groups I am able to help students wherever they currently are on their musical journey.
BM in Music Education from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville MM in Orchestral Conducting from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville