Jacob Sieckman

I am an energized and animate music professional passionate about enhancing students competence in music performance, compositional craftsmanship, theory and knowledge of music history. My education has afforded me the opportunity to develop and refine skills beneficial to teaching. These skills include directing, creativity, analyzing, planning, research, writing, performance, composition, and arranging.

Education and Training

I attended New England Conservatory of Music in Boston, MA for a Bachelor of Music Degree in Jazz Studies graduating during 2014. Also, I attended Arizona State University in Tempe, AZ for a Master of Music Education graduating during 2017. 

Current Professional Experience

Currently, I am playing a weekly gig with a group named Nuance. We play standard jazz repertoire although I also play classical repertoire. In 2017 I recorded and released a CD of my original jazz sextet compositions. The release party was at the NASH in Phoenix. Also in 2017, I attended the National Association of Jazz Educators conference in New Orleans and performed with a jazz combo.

Teaching Experience

During my time at Arizona State Unviersity I was a teaching intern where I did the following:

• Assisted with teaching up to 30 students in grades 5 – 8.

• Coached students on playing their instruments, observed classroom activities, and taught methodology/pedagogy; explained and demonstrated various musical techniques such as fingerings, slide positions, and embouchure.

• Evaluated student progress through listening and feedback, supervised various lessons throughout the semester, and monitored student behavior and progress.

• Guided learning through demonstrations on various instruments.

• Collaborated with the Band Directors on teaching best practices

I also was an educator at another online platform for a time and did the following:

• Provided personalized lessons toward student goals.

• Effectively communicating verbally and in writing with parents and students.

• Planning, prioritizing and organizing lecture and activities helpful for mastery of various music concepts.

• Making decisions and solving problems regarding objectives and lesson plans.

• Identifying, understanding, and interpreting student needs in order to progress and advance.

I teach to share, impart and inspire children to engage in the creative process of music. Children benefit from this process, be it singing, playing an instrument, movement, reading notation and/or composing/improvising. Children need and benefit from this process. That’s why I teach. 

Additionally, creating a classroom environment that fosters student growth both academically and socially is a primary outcome. As a teacher, I am committed to ensuring students achieve their educational goals. Despite their desire to see success, I also want them to know that the road to success isn't always smooth. My goal is to help students learn from their mistakes and persevere when they face a challenge. To show them how to communicate effectively, I want to show them how to communicate appropriately. By encouraging individuality and promoting life-long learning, I aim to inspire a lifelong love of learning. As a teacher, I want to help students become responsible citizens at school and in the community. To sum it up, I want to make a positive difference in these students' lives.