Jerome K.

Music has been a focal point for Jerome for the entirety of his life. He was born the son of two Richmond Symphony members, and his father has been a music teacher himself for 35 years. Jerome's father was his first musical hero, and he motivated him to pursue the cello as his first instrument at the age of 7. By 9, Jerome was performing more difficult pieces in front of audiences. Under the purview of regarded composer Jonathan Romeo and V.C.U. guitar head John Patykula, Jerome's musicianship progressed as did his social world and creative interests. Randy Rhoades served as a key inspiration, seeming to fuse the technical mastery Jerome learned to value in his early childhood with modernism and stylistic swagger.

As a teen, Jerome transitioned away from the Richmond Symphony Junior Youth Orchestra and began learning and focusing on guitar. He performed with the V.C.U. Guitar Orchestra as well as on club stages in his own bands, as he began assembling his own first songs. Jerome was drawn to New York City in 1999 and it was there that he met his first vocal coach, Thaddeus Motyka. During this time, Jerome honed his songwriting into something leaner and more purposeful, which led him to achieving a deal with producers Daniel Wise (NY Dolls, Suzanne Vega) and Larry Dvoskin (MGMT, Bowie , NYU Songwriting). He began having many exciting music opportunities, and enjoyed sharing stage and/or studio time with Simon Kirke (Bad Company), members of Ryan Adams' and Peter Gabriels' bands, Blue Man Group, and others. Further, Jerome benefitted from the direct mentorship of teachers such as guitar legend Alex Skolnick, Author and Sony staff writer Billy Seidman, and famed Vocal coach Don Lawrence (Axl Rose, Christina Aguialerra).

While Jerome's music career has included numerous impressive experiences as a student, performer, and songwriter, he has thrived as a teacher as well, and has been doing so for over 20 years. Jerome's students range in age from 5 to 69. He seeks to understand what each individual finds beautiful in the music they love at their current stage of growth, rendering a path towards it more accessible. Jerome enjoys seeing his students surprise themselves, and he also loves sharing with them a piece of what music is for him: a meaningful quest, a best friend, and a mystery.