Jim Funnell
About
Hello and welcome,
I’m a pianist, composer, and educator with a lifelong passion for music as a living, breathing language — something to explore, shape, and make your own.
Originally trained as a classical pianist in France, I later graduated summa cum laude from Berklee College of Music in Boston, where I had the chance to study with inspiring artists such as Danilo Pérez and Joe Lovano, and perform alongside world-class musicians. Since then, my journey has taken me across Europe, the Americas, and Asia — performing, composing, and absorbing musical traditions ranging from jazz to Afro-Latin and Brazilian music.
This wide musical background deeply shapes the way I teach.
In my lessons, the goal isn’t just to “learn piano” — it’s to develop your ears, your creativity, and your own musical voice. Whether you’re a complete beginner or an advanced musician, I help you go beyond notes and patterns to truly understand what you’re playing, improvise with confidence, and connect with the music on a deeper level.
With over 15 years of professional experience as a performer and educator, I’ve worked with students of all levels and from all over the world. Lessons are available in both English and French.
If you’re looking for a personal and meaningful approach to music, you’re in the right place.
Group Class Reviews
Inspiring
Short but informative
Great class. Teacher is enthusiastic and very knowledgeable about improvisation. The class gave me some good ideas of things that I need to start working on (I definitely need to review and study music theory !), and it motivated me to learn about modes. I’m a beginner on my instrument, so some of this class went over my head. The class is more suited for intermediate/advanced musicians.
I watched the video (couldn’t attend live). Mode discussion was interesting. Too much time was spent helping students w their Zoom audio.
Too short for such a vast subject. He was good though.
Teaching Style
My teaching approach is rooted in one core idea: music is not just something you perform mechanically — it’s something you understand, hear, and express.
Drawing from my background in classical training, jazz, and Afro-Latin and Brazilian traditions, I help students to play freely, not just reproduce.
In practical terms, our work together goes far beyond reading notes or repeating exercises. We focus on developing real musicianship:
• training your ear so you can recognize, anticipate, and internalize sound
• understanding harmony in a clear, intuitive way — not just theory on paper
• building technique as a tool for expression, not an end in itself
• exploring improvisation from the very beginning (at any level)
• connecting everything you learn directly to real music you love
Every lesson is tailored to you — your level, your goals, your musical tastes — whether you’re discovering the instrument for the first time or refining an advanced artistic voice.
Many of my students come to me because they feel stuck, disconnected, or restricted by traditional approaches. Together, we break through these limitations by combining structure with creativity, so that progress feels both clear and inspiring.
Above all, I aim to help you become independent: to trust your ears, understand what you’re playing, and develop your own authentic musical voice.
Curriculum
I combine proven materials with custom arrangements and exercises to create a structured, flexible curriculum.
Depending on your focus, our work may include:
• technical development through targeted exercises and repertoire
• study of harmony and voicing, from fundamentals to advanced concepts
• ear training integrated directly into playing (not treated as a separate skill)
• improvisation practice using real musical contexts
• exploration of repertoire — from classical works to jazz standards and beyond
• transcription and analysis to deepen musical understanding
I regularly draw from a range of renowned pedagogical resources, for example:
• Bach Chorales — for harmonic awareness and voice leading
• The Jazz Piano Book (Mark Levine) — for jazz harmony, voicings, and language
• Charlie Parker Omnibook — for phrasing, articulation, and improvisational vocabulary
You’re also encouraged to bring in music you love. Whether it’s a classical piece, a jazz standard, or a personal project, I'm always happy to integrate your interests into the learning process to keep things engaging and meaningful.
Credentials & Affiliations
I hold a degree in Performance and Jazz Composition from Berklee College of Music (summa cum laude, full-tuition scholarship), and a Diplôme d’Études Musicales (DEM) in classical piano from the Conservatoire in Évry, France.
During my time at Berklee, I studied with internationally renowned artists including Danilo Pérez, Joanne Brackeen, Joe Lovano, and Greg Hopkins, and performed with musicians such as Marcus Miller and Meshell Ndegeocello.
As a performer and bandleader, I have toured internationally across Europe, the Americas, and Asia, appearing at venues including Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club (London), Central Park SummerStage (New York), and Sunset Sunside Jazz Club (Paris), as well as festivals such as Malta Jazz Festival and Kanazawa Jazz Street.
My compositions have received recognition including the Composition Prize at the Trophées du Sunside (2011), and my work has been featured in publications such as All About Jazz, London Jazz News, and Jazz Magazine.
Alongside performing, I am deeply committed to education. I have given workshops and masterclasses at institutions including Cardiff University, BRICKS Music Salon, and Koyo Conservatory.
I was nominated “Jazz Piano Teacher of the Year” (2019), “Berklee Alumni Teacher of the Year – Audition Prep” (2024), and "Music Theory Teacher of the Year" (2025) by Lessonface.