Cynthia G. says, "We’ve been working with Jantzen for over a year now, and I genuinely cannot say enough good things about him or the experience our 11yo daughter, Leilani, has had learning from him. I spent a lot of time looking for the right music teacher for her, and he was the only person I found who offered the kind of well-rounded approach to music that we really wanted for her.
One of the biggest things that initially drew us to Jantzen was his teaching method, and his Music Discovery lessons. I honestly wish this was something more music teachers offered, for adults and kids alike. Rather than expecting a child to already know which instrument or area of music they want to pursue, he gives Leilani the opportunity to actually explore. She gets to experience different instruments, sounds, styles, and parts of making music and figure out what genuinely interests her.
That’s actually how she discovered how much she enjoys drumming and percussion. It came from having the freedom to explore during her lessons, and now percussion has become another part of what she studies with him. I love that because it feels like her musical interests are developing organically instead of us choosing a path for her and telling her what she should learn.
It also keeps her lessons FUN. She never knows exactly what she might discover or become interested in next, and there is always room for curiosity. The best way I can describe it is almost like art therapy, but through music. There is room for creativity, emotion, experimentation, and just playing around with sound without everything having to be about perfecting a song or getting something “right.” As parents, that was incredibly important to us.
At the same time, Jantzen’s teaching can be surprisingly technical and academic. He doesn’t just teach Leilani how to make a certain sound with her voice. He explains what is physically happening when she does it, including the actual anatomy and muscles she’s using, why certain techniques work, and how different parts of the body contribute to her voice. She has a really impressive range, and he’s helping her understand how to use and develop it safely rather than simply teaching her to sing higher or lower.
That balance is probably one of my favorite things about him as a teacher. She’s learning legitimate vocal technique and music theory, but somehow it never feels dry or overly structured to her. It feels so great to see how much she LOVES going to her lessons, and even better, that she actually wants to practice what he teaches her at home. She feels so inspired and supported that practicing isn’t something we have to push her to do, it’s something she actually wants to do on her own— 🤯🙏🏼🤩
Her education with him has also naturally expanded beyond voice and percussion. She’s recording her own little projects now and will eventually transition into learning more about music production with him. Jantzen already finds little ways to introduce those concepts. Even if they aren’t having a “production lesson” that day, he might explain something he’s doing while they record or connect it back to something she has learned about rhythm, voice, or another instrument.
Everything connects. That’s probably the best way I can describe his teaching style. Voice, percussion, recording, performance, creativity, technical knowledge, and eventually production don’t feel like completely separate subjects. He ties little pieces together as she goes, so she’s gradually building an understanding of music as a whole.
The growth in Leilani’s confidence over the last year+ has also been incredible to watch. Jantzen is very intentional about encouraging and affirming her while still challenging her and expecting her to put in the work herself. Her confidence is something she has earned through her own hard work, but he has absolutely played a meaningful role in helping her recognize what she is capable of.
Most importantly, Leilani absolutely adores Jantzen. She loves her lessons, she’s excited about what she’s learning, she feels comfortable exploring and being creative with him, and she actually remembers and applies what he teaches her. As a parent, that means everything, you really feel like you’re getting your full value and more.
It honestly feels limiting to call him just her “voice teacher” because he has become so much more than that in her musical education. He’s helping her discover what kind of musician she wants to become while giving her the technical foundation and confidence to pursue whatever direction she eventually chooses.
If you’re looking for a vocal coach or music teacher for your child who will genuinely get to know them, teach them the WHY behind what they’re doing, encourage their curiosity, and allow their own interests to guide their musical development, I cannot recommend Jantzen enough. We feel incredibly lucky to have found him and are so excited to continue watching Leilani grow with him."See more
