John Bochnowski

Introduction: I began my teaching career in 2012 as a workshop assistant to Vince Chandler at the Duke Ellington Conservatory and Bob Hurst at the University of Michigan. After graduating with my degree, I went on to teach at School of Rock Ann Arbor, where I taught lessons on piano, guitar, bass, and voice, in addition to running student rehearsals for different age groups. I also participated in ongoing teacher training. I taught workshops, classes, and led rehearsals for the Williams Syndrome Association, and I took part in specialized training to work with children and young adults with disabilities. I designed and taught clinics for the Ann Arbor Blues Society in addition to hosting open jams. In 2015 I began my own independent teaching studio, and I have been fortunate to teach a small group of dedicated students ever since. My experience and training as a music teacher helps me to provide my students with the best experience possible, and I continue working to improve my ability as a musician and a teacher. I received formal training from the University of Michigan, where I graduated with a degree in jazz studies in 2014. My primary instrument was bass guitar, but I also spent time studying upright bass, piano, music production, dance, and liberal arts. In 2018 and 2019 I continued my education with courses at Berklee College of Music in piano performance and music production. In 2020 I began studying with Dr. Barry Harris, participating as a student panelist in his workshops on harmony and improvisation. In 2021 I was accepted to study at Canterbury Christ Church University in Canterbury, United Kingdom, where I will be pursuing a Master’s of Music in keyboard performance. I’ve been studying music privately since I was a child, and I have since been fortunate to study with some of the best musicians of our time. At university, I studied privately with Bob Hurst and the late Geri Allen. After graduation, I went on to continue private study with Rob Pipho, Christina Dragone, Big Ive Williams, and Richard Clements, among other Detroit-based jazz and gospel musicians. I took additional lessons with Tony Monaco, Ruslan Sirota, Vince Chandler, and Rossano Sportiello, and I attended master classes and workshops with Jeff Watts, Ron Carter, and Victor Wooten. The wisdom and knowledge imparted upon me by these masters has been invaluable. I do my best to pass on what I’ve learned to my own students. While I love to teach and learn music, nothing is more rewarding to me than music performance. I’ve had the good fortune to record for Antwaun Stanley and accompany Shana Wilson-Williams, among so many other musicians from Detroit and beyond. I have performed at venues like the Michigan Theater and Baker’s Keyboard Lounge, in addition to other clubs, private engagements, and pit orchestras. I’ve recorded in studios large and small, from the Duderstadt Studio and Willis Sound to home studios and remote recording sessions. I’ve been hired as a music director and musician at many churches in metro Detroit. Most of my students want to perform, and my experience as a working musician serves their goals and aspirations. One of the things that sets me apart as a musician and teacher is my knowledge of the fundamentals of technique and harmony (what most refer to as music theory). I’ve been amazed by other musicians who seem to possess such a natural gift for music. I’ve always had a deep passion and work ethic, but I’m no music savant. I’ve learned ways to break music down to its fundamentals in order to improve. With Christina Dragone, I learned Taubman Approach, which is an approach to play faster, healthier, and more efficiently. With Dr. Harris, I learned his intuitive harmonic system, which allows musicians to create music with the utmost freedom. These teachings have improved my playing by leaps and bounds, and I impart them on all my students. I love exploring my influences and new musical knowledge in order to create something new. As a teacher, I seek enthusiastic, passionate students who are interested in doing the same in order to unlock their creative voice. Working with students like this will always inspire me and give me energy to be a better musician, myself.