About
**NOT CURRENTLY TAKING STUDENTS**
Hi there - I am Jessica Jurgenliemk, a folk-pop singer-songwriter from rural Canada. I love playing pop, country, indie, folk, blues and soul. I was trained on classical piano and voice, and have had lessons and experience on guitar as well. I am a seasoned performer who has learned to build a set around my audience, engage appropriately based on the venue, and collaborate with other musicians! I can finger-pick and strum on a guitar, read sheet music or chord sheets to play different styles of piano, and love exploring with different vocal tonalities - belting, breathy and soft, classical, soul, etc. I can offer you beginner to intermediate knowledge in many genres! I also am an experienced songwriter, having started around 12 years old to perform and record original music, with over 200 songs to my name. I can guide you along your own music playing and writing processes to make the music that you want to make!
My 4 year music degree has focused on a wide range of instruments and musical skills, so I can offer suggestions about general musicality, practice habits, theory and technique. I am passionate about teaching students in the style, level, and approach that suits them best - perhaps you want to be a world-class performer one day and need a very technical approach, perhaps you just want the confidence to pick up a guitar and play and sing your favourite songs. I will support your learning goals and allow you to be the best musician you can be in the way that makes you happiest. My degree is in Music Therapy (not education), and so my approach is very flexible, acknowledging that each individual has a different background, skill set, pattern of obstacles. My goal is to help you achieve the musical ability that will allow you to feel fulfilled, confident, and expressive in your personal life!
Bachelor of Music Therapy (Candidate May 2020) - Acadia University
- Includes courses in: collaborative music making, classical music theory, jazz, music production
Classical Piano Lessons (2004-2015) - Royal Conservatory of Music Grade 7
Blues/folk Finger-style Guitar Lessons (2014-2015) & Applied Guitar Courses (2018-2019)
Classical Voice Lessons (2016-2018)
Cello Lessons & Youth Orchestra (2018-2020)
World Rhythm & Drumming Course, Percussion Lessons (2019-2020)
I have been teaching part time for the past 5 years. Some of my experience includes:
- Pop voice lessons
- Country guitar lessons
- Folk/pop piano lessons
Teaching a diverse set of people:
- Teens (Individually and through group music programs; music gives us an outlet to express ourselves!)
- Older adults (Anyone can learn to play an instrument, no matter how late they think they've started!)
- Individuals with disabilities (Adapted lessons with individuals with disabilities can include creative ways around physical limitations, flexible goals which might emphasize enjoyment/personal meaning or cognitive/physical exercise over 'perfect' musical performance!)
- Dyads (Two people - parent/child lessons, couples looking for an activity together?)
Most of my students have had little musical training or experience, but all had unique musical strengths and benefited from having music in their lives, and acquiring the independence to play how they wanted, using skills they were proud of!
Bachelor of Music Therapy (Candidate May 2020)
Grade 7 - Royal Conservatory of Music Piano Exam
Lesson plans and reccommended student texts will depend on the type of music you would like to learn. Classical music typically requires reading sheet music (which I can also help you learn!) whereas pop will not. I can suggest different approaches and resources depending on your interests and learning goals.