Jakob is from Durham and holds a BA in Music and English from UNC Chapel Hill. He has 7+ years of experience performing professionally in jazz, funk, indie rock, RnB, and gospel groups. Jakob’s teaching background⁠ ranges from brass instructor for high school marching band to ukulele/guitar instruction for an English immersion program in Poland⁠, and is united by a core belief that learning music is an excellent way to develop confidence and creativity in all aspects of life.

Jakob’s musical journey started as an elementary schooler hauling his dad’s guitars to gigs around town. He soon began playing those guitars and in middle school started bass guitar and trombone. Since then, he’s picked up skills in keyboard instruments, composition, and music production, becoming leader and music director of the SMYA jazz fusion ensemble and instrumental RnB act jus3horns.

His teaching style is heavily influenced by a background in improvised music, so he looks forward to helping his students develop a strong musical imagination in addition to technical abilities on their instruments.

Jakob teaches piano, guitar, bass guitar, ukulele, and trombone.