Jess

Which musician would you like to play with?

Elizabeth Cotten

Which musician has influenced you the most?

Nina Simone

What can you teach me better on your instrument than any other teacher?

Love and patience for the whole (messy) process of learning a new instrument. I like to break down the aspects of playing an instrument that feel intimidating and amorphous into approachable, concrete steps. This helps students build a solid technical foundation, and a healthy relationship to their craft.

How did you learn to play your instrument?

With my eyes - my dad always had a guitar lying around, so I noticed the instrument and expressed interest in playing from a very young age (five years old!). I was immediately hooked. With my ears - I began taking classical Suzuki-method lessons on the guitar. This method emphasizes learning by rote, which help me develop a strong musical ear. As I got older, and my tastes continued to evolve, I started playing electric guitar in jazz bands and other group settings through high school. After graduating, I moved on to USC's Thornton School of Music, where I earned degrees in Studio/Jazz Guitar and Songwriting. With my community - Over the past 20+ years, I've had the honor of learning alongside many incredible mentors, collaborators, and friends. It takes a village!

What equipment do you play on today?

Depends on the day and how I want to play! Sometimes, I've got a Telecaster running through my pedal board into a Deluxe Reverb; or maybe my Mustang bass plugged into a interface; or my nylon string guitar on the couch.

Which personal trait helped you the most while practicing?

Endless curiosity!

What does your instrument have that others don't?

Stickers :)

How do you handle children?

With honor - I always enter a lesson with a child ready to meet them wherever they are. If they're feeling energized and confident, we follow that momentum. If it's been a tough day, we give those feelings space and allow the pace of our lesson to unfold from there. With patience - learning a new instrument takes time and consistency, but it doesn't have to be daunting! I break lessons up into small, engaging chunks that keeps up the momentum, always leading with encouragement and enthusiasm. With a little mischief! We are "playing" music after all, so it should feel playful! Improvisation, body movement, exploring all the "weird" sounds we can make with our instruments: these are some of the ways I keep our lessons the perfect amount of silly.

What has been your greatest experience as a musician so far?

I've been on a number of tours over the years, and there's a profound urgency to that kind of work: bringing music I love, with people I love, to pockets of the world that need it most vitally.

What was the biggest stage you played on?

The Novo (formerly Club Nokia) in Los Angeles.

Which record would you take with you to the desert island?

Time (The Revelator) - Gillian Welch

Besides music, what else is important in your life?

I'm guided by community, whimsy, and relentless curiosity!

Music style(s)

RockIndieAlternativeFolkJazz

Level(s) Comfortable Teaching

Beginner to Advanced

What languages can you teach in?

English

Videos

Bands, Projects, Notable Performances, Collaborations

I've played guitar and bass in many different live and recorded projects - Rosie Tucker, Alex Lahey, Olivia Rodrigo, Lily Meola, Temme Scott, Pearla, Wiley Beckett, Julian Julian, Grace Corsi... I also release original music under my own name - my debut record "Exotherm" came out June 2023 via indie label New Professor.

Other Music-related work / goals

I'll be honest - the musician’s work is HARD right now. Unfortunately, the industry mistreats the majority of creative folks, at the cost of their emotional and financial well-beings. 

But! I am relentlessly hopeful, and I believe in a more equitable world. This is lies at the heart of my creative motivation; making and teaching music in pursuit of a more just and connected society. And of course, having lots of fun along the way.

Accolades

My debut record received coverage by Under the Radar, Ones to Watch, The Alternative, and more. During my studies at USC, I received the Faculty Scholarship Award, graduated Magna Cum Laude, and was awarded an Outstanding Senior in my department.

Personal Interests

Hiking! Camping! Cooking! Climbing! My friends! My garden! My pet turtle!