I teach individual and group lessons in my studio space in Downtown Santa Ana! Multiple drum sets, Fender Rhodes electric piano, acoustic and electric guitars and bass - plenty of gear available. I also offer online lessons through Zoom.
Whether you're just starting out and have never touched an instrument before, or are looking for specific, detailed instruction dealing with advanced musical concepts, my studio has something to offer you. With over fifteen years of teaching experience, my guidance and attention help students of all ages to become well-rounded and complete musicians. Lessons are offered either in a private studio space in the downtown area of Santa Ana or at the individual student's homes.
Want to know more about my lessons, availability and rates, or want to request some references? Visit the contact page to email or call me directly at any time with your questions or thoughts.
Jacob's studio offers lessons in;
Drumset & Percussion
Acoustic/Electric Piano
Acoustic/Electric Guitar
Acoustic/Electric Bass
Musicianship & Theory
Ear Training
Composition/Arrangement
Music Notation Software
HERE'S WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING:
(references available upon request)
"I have been taking drum lessons from Jacob for a little more than a year. Jacob has helped me improve my overall performance in my skills not only as a drummer but also as a musician. He has introduced me to many jazz artists to expand my vocabulary and knowledge. When teaching Jacob is very detail oriented. This helped me to make sure that I was playing to the best of my abilities and I was not making careless mistakes. Last summer, I was fortunate enough to go to a jazz camp where there were professional jazz musicians teaching there, among them was Jacob. During my one week at Camp Arrowbear, Jacob taught in a classroom environment with many kids. Even though it was not a one-on-one lesson I still learned so much from Jacob. He is an amazing musician, teacher, and mentor and for the last year I have felt I am improving every lesson I take with him."
Davin - Long Beach
"Jacob is great at providing a friendly, judgment-free zone for his students. He balances catering to the limitations of new students while doing his best to expand their abilities and comfort levels. His organization, preparedness, enthusiasm and passion for what he’s teaching is clear in all of his lessons. I’ve always left lessons with Jacob feeling like I’ve learned something valuable and am confident that he achieves the same results in others."
Josh - San Pedro
"Jacob Wendt is a talented drummer, instructor and composer. He understands what challenges and hardships students have musically and is a great communicator that answers all questions insightfully, for both beginner an advanced levels. He emphasizes foundation and basic skill sets so that students can build solid technique. He has lots of patience with his students and a passion for teaching, and is great at motivating students and so that they improve during every class. He always does his best to make music joyful to everyone! "
Bora - Santa Ana
"Jacob Wendt is the gold standard when it comes to preparation and professionalism in music education. His feedback is always constructive and displays his passion for uplifting and encouraging fellow musicians. I, along with many others, can say that I am a better musician and person for knowing him."
Joe - Placentia
"Jacob Wendt is a fantastic educator based in Southern California, and will go out of his way to ensure each student is getting the most out of their education."
Christine - Irvine
"Jacob Wendt is a natural leader that genuinely cares about music as an art form and those around him. Jacob holds a wealth of knowledge regarding jazz history and performance and is eager to share it. He is a trailblazer in jazz education who inspires others to dive into the genre head first."
Jake - Placentia
"Jacob always provides opportunities and resources for people to take their playing techniques to the next level, and enforces a culture that is inclusive, welcoming, and empowering to all. In addition to his contributions to the community as a scholar and professional musician, Jacob has always been a trustworthy individual when it comes to someone to confide in. I personally have sought out his advice and expertise in forming my own groups, and overall seeking a mentor figure in the scene who has been in the same shoes as me regarding challenges that are unique to professionals in the music industry."
Amanda - Los Angeles
"Learning piano from Jacob has been an enriching musical experience for our 10-year-old son. Adept and quick at assessing our son’s interests, Jacob knows what songs to teach to make learning the piano enjoyable. After just a few months of lessons, our beginning-level son was playing songs from the Lion King, Harry Potter, and the Beatles. It’s been pure joy listening to our son’s piano skills grow with Jacob. We are fortunate to have found not only a dependable and professional music instructor but also a very passionate, patient, and kind teacher for our son."
Joann - Long Beach
"He is a skilled musician and fantastic teacher with the ability to make learning fun. Each week Jacob focuses on basic skills as well as what my son wants to learn. It's not always easy to keep a nine-year-old boy motivated, but somehow Jacob is able to inspire my son to try new things and to grow as a musician. He loves his lesson time with Jacob and I have seen a big change in his abilities. I highly recommend Jacob!!"
Andrea - Long Beach
"Jacob has been a wonderful drum teacher to our son. He's patient, generous with his time, and very passionate about music. Our son looks forward to his weekly lesson, and has even been able to experience a little of what it's like to play in a band when Jacob accompanies him on the guitar. I highly recommend Jacob as a music teacher to those of any age and level of experience!"
Theresa - Long Beach
"Jacob has taught my son drums for 3 years. He took my son from knowing nothing about drums to sitting in for a song with Jacob's trio at South Coast Plaza. Jacob has made learning the drums fun. I highly recommend him!"
Tom - Cypress
"I hired Jacob and his trio to play at a cocktail party. I already knew him and his talents so I did not need to do a search. He is a very dedicated professional musician whose life revolves around music. Although they play many types of music well, I prefer to hear them play straight ahead jazz which they excel at. I like how they know when to play a good background music and then when to kick it up and dazzle the crowd. The cocktail party was two years ago and my friends are still talking about it."
David - Long Beach
In this video I demonstrate a bunch of different grooves, styles, and "feels" on the drumset. Swing / jazz playing, 12/8 patterns, Latin patterns, rock and pop grooves, and more!
This exercise focuses on playing melodies on the ride cymbal, combining ideas from an Elvin Jones clinic and Ted Reed’s book, “Syncopation”.
"Triangle" rolling triplets - coordination exercise around the drums that uses comping melodies from the John Riley book, "The Art Of Bop Drumming"