Jake Ford - Guitar, Uke, Mandolin, Piano

As the child of two music educators, Jake was exposed to jazz music such as show tunes and bossa nova from an early age. Although it was rock that first drew Jake to the guitar at age 11, he quickly branched out into jazz, funk, bluegrass, gospel, and other styles. A graduate of Oberlin Conservatory with a Bachelor of Music in jazz guitar performance, he taught prolifically while a student there and continued to teach in the greater Cleveland area afterward, helping students explore Lynyrd Skynyrd guitar solos, Ed Sheeran songs on ukulele, jazz standards, and much more. Jake has played in pit bands for musical theater productions, at jazz clubs, at megachurches with thousands of members, at weddings, and in backyards and living rooms. Jake is currently a freelance musician and educator in NYC where he has performed at Smalls, Brooklyn Bowl, and many other venues. With a deep love for music and teaching, Jake is passionate about helping students explore their musical interests while giving them a strong background in music theory and technique.

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