Jacob B.

I've been playing and pursuing music for my whole life. I started taking formal music lessons on the piano from ages 5-8, and switched to guitar lessons from 8-12 years old. When I was 11, I secured a spot playing in the Middle School Jazz Band, and also joined the Concert Bands' percussion section. The following year, I started singing in the choir and playing bass guitar in the concert band. I got a drum set when I was 12, and by 13 I was writing and recording music with my friends. I performed covers and original music with them at charity events, coffee houses, talent shows, birthday or graduation parties, etc. We went on to play at local venues across CT and RI. I continued playing in the Jazz Band and singing in the choir throughout Middle and High School, competed at regional competitions, and landed a spot in the Chamber Choir my senior year. My band recorded several bodies of work at different professional studios throughout High School and College, and we continued to widen our reach, playing shows for larger audiences in NY, MA, and PA. At UMass Lowell, I learned about the fundamentals of Music Theory, Composing, Arranging and Music Direction. I learned how to compose, arrange, and score music for any variety of musicians in any medium. I also studied Guitar, specifically jazz, blues, and classical techniques. I left UMass Lowell after 3 semesters to move to Boston and pursue music with my band, where we found success in the college music scene and continued recording newer collections of music. I enrolled in The Recording Radio and Film Connections' Certificate Program for Advanced Audio Engineering and Music Production. I learned to properly record my own and others' music, which largely expanded my ability to produce music professionally. I joined a band playing drums, who also let me mix their debut record. My time in Boston was spent between performing and working with the two musical groups I was with, completing the Recording Radio and Film Connections' Certificate Program, and working full time as a barista at Starbucks. After completing the program, I moved to New York with my band to continue pursuing music together. Since then, we have played nearly 100 shows, recorded and released an LP of original material ourselves, and sold out our release show in Brooklyn. Growing up pursuing music with people I consider to be family has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. Creating together has consistently provided fuel to expand our limits as musicians and as people. Out of all the different ways I've been involved with music, the moments I excelled in the most involved collaboration with others, writing and sharing music together, and exploring the possibilities of what we can accomplish. Seeing myself and my lifelong friends learn from each other and make progress as musicians and people has been very gratifying for me. Since last May, I’ve been performing solo shows in NYC and recording a collection of five original songs, which I plan to release before the end of 2026. I’ve found a lot of confidence and satisfaction in performing as an individual artist, and I’m in the process of finding others to perform with me. In October of 2025, I became the musical director, guitarist and backing vocalist for a NY-based artist named Magdala. I play guitar and sing in the live band, and write out charts of the music for the other band members bassist, drummer to reference. Over the years, I've naturally found myself wanting to share what I know with people who are interested in picking up an instrument or pursuing music themselves. I began by teaching guitar or bass guitar informally to my friends or anyone who was interested, but I eventually found some consistent work independently teaching students for a fair rate. I worked with a guitar player in his teens for over a year, and it was exciting for me to see him grow and get inspired by his own progress. More than anything else, I enjoy teaching, learning by teaching, and growing alongside budding musicians, and seeing each other progress. I've witnessed the value in sharing my knowledge of music, and the reward in supporting musicians in so many different ways, which makes me feel confident in my ability to offer a proper education in Music. I've always felt passionate and motivated to get involved with teaching music because of how positively my music teachers have affected me and the trajectory of my life. It would be an honour and a joy to give back to the community that continues to shape me as a person.