Jason is both a broadly experienced player as well as an experienced teacher. He began
playing drums at age 7 and was soon playing with friends and musical groups in SLC. At age
13 he began teaching lessons at home and at a store called Brighton Music, and he kept that up
through high school. That store became Musician's Pro Shop and he taught lessons there while
attending the University of Utah. In 1992 Jason co-founded his own teaching studio called On
Track Music; began performing assemblies in schools called the Potential through Music
Program; was on Utah state adjudication boards for music festivals in Utah and Colorado; and
was performing in different bands five nights a week. During this time Jason was getting calls
from players and shows in New York, and after auditioning over the phone, he flew to New York
to go on tour with the Big Apple Circus. From there he continued to play in bands and theater
shows in New York City, before pursuing a Masters Degree in Jazz Performance, where he
studied with the top jazz artists in the world. Jason graduated with honors and taught jazz at a
community college before starting a 21-year career as a middle school Band Director. During
that time he still performed and recorded with many jazz, rock, funk, Latin, Reggae, country and
techno bands, eventually starting his own 17-piece big band, the U r kul. Project, which was part
of his foundation for mental health. (Visit Urkul.org to read more about it). In addition to that,
Jason and his wife Misa raised their six children in New York, and now have 8 grandchildren.
So, Jason brings a big world of experience to each student and class, and a unique ability to
understand students' needs and aspirations, to create goals and tailor lessons to their individual
learning styles and pace. Jason loves to work with anyone willing to learn and discover the
world of music with him. Students come to him specifically for his knowledge of musician life,
musical styles and performance situations, (just his stories alone are worth it…), and to gain
advanced technique/improvisation/soloing skills. Jason's enthusiasm for music, drumming, and
learning along with his students is immediately felt with his infectious energy. This, together with
his life's experience and his simple philosophy that learning music is really learning about
yourself and your "ginormous" potential, it's something too precious to miss.