Hello, I'm Jourdan
I make learning how to play music fun!
As an avid musician, producer, songwriter, and music educator, I ♥️ music. I'm excited to share with you the knowledge I've gained from playing music over the years.
About Me
Education
I was excited to begin my musical studies at the age of seven when my parents enrolled me in piano lessons. In fifth grade, I started the alto saxophone and my interest quickly grew in anything related to music. I gradually began teaching myself guitar, bass, and drums and writing my own songs, in pursuit of more knowledge and experience.
Throughout high school, I was heavily involved in various ensembles including band, choir, and musical theater. I thoroughly enjoyed being emersed in the world of music as much as I could. I loved to connect with other musicians, making friends, forming our own rock bands, and playing local shows.
After high school graduation, I continued my pursuit of music in college and in 2003 received my Associate of Allied Science in Music Production from McNally Smith College of Music in St. Paul, Minnesota. Upon completing my AAS I transferred to UW-La Crosse to further my musical studies and in 2008 received a Bachelor of Science in Music Theory/Composition and Philosophy.
Experience
My playing experience covers a variety of styles and genres including pop, rock, blues, jazz, funk, folk, electronic, and classical. As a multi-instrumentalist, I've filled many roles over the years, which has provided me with a broad perspective of music and a deep understanding of how all the pieces fit together. I’ve had a lot of fun too!
As a performer, some of my previous groups include Scuttlebuttin', Honeyshot, Hot Money, Eden's Empire, Dig, Hypnopotamus, Enowning, and the UW - La Crosse Jazz Ensemble. In 2017 I self-released my debut album Come Alive and in 2020 came out with the follow-up album In Between the Middle.
Over the years I've produced music with some local artists. Those projects have included numerous singles with Annie Lynn, Field Stark's album The Long Goodbye, and Judson Steinback's Jammin' at the Hollow.
You can now find me performing around the greater Madison, Wisconsin as an acoustic duo with my talented wife under the name Dapper Whimsy. You can check out my original music by visiting www.jourdanhines.com.
Other Interests
In addition to my music career, I also do freelance web and graphic design and I'm a certified yoga instructor. When I'm not teaching or focused on music and design projects, I enjoy cooking, reading, riding motorcycle, spending time with Mary, and playing outside with our dog Jaya.
Choose Your Ax
I offer instruction on a variety of instruments and topics. If you have no prior experience or you are wondering where to start, I believe it's best to start with piano and gain some basic keyboard skills, and learn about the fundamentals of music theory. However, I also believe in following your bliss! What inspires you?
Piano & Keyboard
The keyboard is often considered the foundation of music. Its straightforward layout makes it easy to "see" musical patterns and understand the building blocks of theory and harmony. Together we'll work on fundamentals, reading music, building chords/scales, learning how to play by ear, and even try out composing. If you geek out on cool sounds, we can advance to electric piano, organs, and experiment with synth programming or sound design.
Acoustic & Electric Guitar
The guitar is hands down the most popular instrument because of its form factor. Its practicality for solo performers makes it a great instrument for singer-songwriters. From square one, you'll learn how to tune and basic care for your instrument. From there, we'll cover chord shapes and how to solo using the pentatonic scale. If you play acoustically, we can work on strumming, finger-picking, and how to accompany vocals. On electric guitar, we'll cover guitar tones and how to get the most out of your amp and FX pedals.
Electric Bass
The bass is the anchor and foundation for any band. It helps keep the beat with the drums and emphasizes the fundamental notes for the harmony of pitched instruments. In order to rock the low end, you need to learn about scales, chords, and how to make them fit with the ensemble. Often the bass is only playing one note at a time, but that means that every note counts. You will learn what you need to drive the song from point A to point B.
Ukulele
The ukulele is great for campfire sing-a-longs or just for your own enjoyment. It is compact, portable, and generally easier to play than the guitar. Anyone with smaller hands will find this the instrument of choice. You'll learn how to create simple acoustic versions of your favorite pop songs, experiment with strumming patterns, and soon you'll be the life of the party at your next family gathering!
Drums & Percussion
Drummers primarily focus on rhythm but that doesn't mean there isn't still a lot to learn. In the beginning, the focus will be on sticking technique and coordination. On the drum set, we'll learn a variety of popular drum beats and how to implement fills to give a song mor flair. I will teach you how to practice using a metronome to develop a better sense of timing and beat. The best drummers are rock solid and know how to accompany the band. That could be you!
Saxophone
Beginning with reeds, the mouthpiece, and how to put the horn together, lessons begin with studying how to develop good breath support and the foundation of tone. As you progress, I'll introduce vibrato, how to increase fingering speed, and even make the horn growl! Primarily a melodic soloing instrument, you'll get to learn how to improvise over a song.
Voice
The voice doesn’t come with an instruction manual so training your voice and learning how to direct it is about learning how it works. Discover what your individual voice can do and learn how to develop a style that is all your own. Breath support is key to a strong foundation and while you work on learning how to sing better, you will also be training your ears to sing better in key. The voice is often considered the most expressive of all the instruments instrument because it’s part of your identity and one of the primary ways of sharing your thoughts and feelings.
Music Theory & Songwriting
At the heart of all music is melody, harmony, tone, rhythm, and form. I will teach you how to put these elements together in creative ways to craft your own unique compositions. You'll learn how other artists compose songs and find inspiration through our popular predecessors and role models. By learning about the songwriting process, you'll get more control to express what you hear in your own head without having to keep guessing or looking for what you want.
Recording, Music Production, & Live Sound
Get your feet wet with audio basics and learn how to run a mixer or DAW. You will begin by learning how to understand signal flow and routing and how to create balanced mixes using EQ, compressors, FX, and automation. If you are into music production, I can teach you about the recording process and the best practices to get awesome takes and how to edit them seamlessly. With live sound, we'll discuss strategies to avoid feedback, maximize the quality of the monitor mi,x and create a clear mix for the front-of-house.
Music Business
If you want to make a career out of music, it’s important to understand the business side of music. Get business savvy and learn about the logistics behind self-management as a professional musician, artist, or band. We'll talk about branding, how to market yourself, and what it takes to be a pro. Together, we'll cover what you need to do to book gigs, promote, and you will learn all that goes into marketing your debut album.
Lesson Information
Playing an instrument is an exceptionally rewarding experience. I can help you connect the dots, see the bigger picture, and I do so in a fun and engaging manner.
Lessons to Fit Your Needs
All Ages & Abilities Welcome
Accommodating Approach to Meet Individual Needs
Variety of Instruments & Musical Topics to Explore
Flexible Scheduling Options
Online Lessons Make It Convenient To Do Lessons From Anywhere
Personalized Student Portal With Access to an Assortment of Tools
Positive, Fun, Upbeat, & Supportive Instructor
Additional Information
Jourdan's Teaching Philosophy
My goal is to empower students with the tools they need to be successful. The path we take to achieve this goal is individualized. Whether it be a professional career in music or a personal hobby to share with friends and family, I strive to make music a positive and rewarding experience that lasts a lifetime.
Testimonials
"Jourdan has been an excellent guitar teacher for our son the past three years. He is organized, reliable, and provides clear instruction. He has personalized his approach to meet our son's interests, learning style, and passions. Perhaps most critically, Jourdan's incessant positive mood and outlook have countered moments of frustration and helped our son persist."
~ Stephanie House
"Jourdan's combined patience and knowledge make learning music a pleasure. His teachings are balanced progressions of technique, theory and hands-on practice. Always informative and always fun, I am happy to have Jourdan as my teacher for years to come."
~ Paul Nitsche
"We feel fortunate to have Jourdan as our teacher. My son is learning to play music that he likes, both by ear and from written music. Jourdan challenges my son to work hard, but always maintains a positive and patient approach. He also makes rescheduling as painless as possible, with the online scheduling tool. He is a professional in every aspect of our experience!"
~ Suzie Madden