Jake Smolowe

Specialties

Jake teaches jazz and other popular piano styles to all ages & experience levels. He emphasizes practical learning without adhering to a strict curriculum – learn what you want when you want it, & what you need when you need it.

Specialties:

— Fundamentals

— read, write & internalize notes, rhythms, key signatures & musical terminology

— learn scales, intervals, chords & arpeggios

— play in time, practice efficiently & effectively

— train by ear

— be confident at the piano alone or in a group

— listen to and analyze songs

— Jazz theory & harmony

— harmonize melodies, re-​harmonize chord progressions

— learn voice leading

— move quickly & gracefully from chord to chord

— navigate melodies, then improvise your own

— maximal performance, minimal effort

— Songs & grooves in a wide variety of styles

— jazz

— funk

— blues

— rock

— gospel

— soul

— latin

— beginning classical

— odd-​meter

Flexible rates/​hours.

History

Established in 2002.

Jake fell in love with the languages of music theory, harmony, melody and rhythm early in life and found teaching piano to be a natural fit, as it allows him to explain his favorite concepts to others on a regular basis.

He studied music at Stanford University, and started teaching privately in 2005 while still in school. He graduated in 2006 with a B.A. in Music with Honors in Composition and currently teaches throughout the Bay Area. He also has ten years of experience assisting Stanford jazz program director Jim Nadel with his Continuing Studies Program jazz listening class (2003 – 2012).

In addition to teaching, Jake performs with several local jazz and rock groups, and is available to play public or private events.

Meet the Business Owner

Jake S.

Business Owner

Jake Smolowe is a born-​and-​raised Bay Area pianist, teacher and composer, currently based in San Francisco. A student of jazz from a young age, Jake aspires never to play a song the same way twice. Jake is a regular member of The Tectonics jazz ensemble, as well as rock band Sioux City Kid & The Revolutionary Ramblers, and has albums out with both. Jake has toured throughout the U.S. and Canada with internationally renowned blues harpist and vocalist John Németh, and appears as a contributing artist on Németh’s 2010 release, «Name The Day,» playing organ.

Jake is also a proficient composer and arranger. His varied writing styles reflect his listening habits, which range from Art Blakey to J.S. Bach, Cinematic Orchestra to Bilal, Ray Charles to Bruce Hornsby, and beyond. He has scored music for film, and written for big band, small ensembles and solo piano.

Jake loves playing and teaching music and plans to do so for the rest of his life.