JacobNiemann

Teaching has been an important part of my musical life since high school, when I began giving trombone lessons to middle school students in my New Jersey hometown. Since then, I have had the opportunity to work with youth at nearly every stage of their development, from beginning instrumentalists to some of the country’s most gifted emerging musicians. Over the years, I have taught through the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra’s OrchKids and Youth Orchestra programs, Harmony Project in Los Angeles, Colburn Community School, and Youth Orchestra Los Angeles (YOLA). Most recently, I mentored fifteen young composers through the Los Angeles Philharmonic’s Composer Fellowship Program, introducing them to the fundamentals of conducting and later leading professional orchestral recordings of their works.

Conducting pedagogy has become a particular focus of my teaching. At the Curtis Institute of Music, I taught Elements of Conducting for six semesters, working with undergraduate musicians on the core concepts of conducting and score study. I have since taught conductors from a wide range of backgrounds and levels of experience, both in person and online. Every student comes with different strengths, questions, and ambitions, so lessons are shaped around the individual and may encompass technique, score study, rehearsal strategy, audition preparation, or career guidance.

If you are interested in studying with me, I offer a complimentary first meeting over Zoom. We can use this time to discuss your background, your goals as a conductor, and the areas you would most like to explore.