Jesse Stacken, piano M.M., Manhattan School of Music B.M., University of Wisonsin at Eau Claire "I keep lessons fun and interesting and aim to demonstrate how much fun playing can be so that the student will want to have a great time at the instrument. My goal is to create a life-long love, respect, and understanding of music in all my students." www.jessestacken.com Jesse Stacken started studying piano in Hopkins, Minnesota because "my mom made me. But then I ended up falling in love with it." Jesse strives to encourage the same love of music in his students. "I keep lessons fun and interesting and aim to demonstrate how much fun playing can be so that the student will want to have a great time at the instrument. My goal is to create a life-long love, respect, and understanding of music in all my students." A trained jazz musician, Jesse is open to working on students on a variety of musical styles and genres. Jesse teaches students of all ages and levels. With young children he starts teaching pieces by rote learning, introducing note-reading slowly. "I model my approach after how children learn a language. First they listen, then they speak, and finally they begin to write. I also play many musical games with the kids. It's fun for them but at the same time they learn a lot of information." Jesse also teaches adults and uses their life experience as an asset in lessons. "With adults, whether they wanted to or not, they've been hearing music for years. They know a lot of music and that music can be used as examples." Sensitive to the fact that many busy adults don't always have a lot of time to practice Jesse tries to "keep assignments simple and direct." From Bach to Beethoven to Ellington, Jesse's favorite composers span a wide range of styles. "Lately I've been interested in composers who challenge the definition of music such as Cage, Stockhausen, and Feldman." Jesse most enjoys performing modern jazz but also enjoys playing jazz standards as well. Currently he is involved with three performing ensembles including The Jesse Stacken Trio, which performs his own composition, No Truck, an improvisational quartet, and The Stacken/Knuffke duo with trumpeter Kirk Knuffke. "I love the intimate setting of a small group in a small room with as big of an audience that the room can squeeze in." His latest CD released on Fresh Sound New Talent records features The Jesse Stacken Trio and includes ten original compositions and two group improvisations. Jesse spends time each day practicing lyengar Yoga and also indulges his love of Japanese green tea. "I work on perfecting my brewing techniques every time I have friends over." He also enjoys reading and tries to stay connect to nature in urban New York by "visiting parks, the Brooklyn Botanical Garden, and growing houseplants."