About

"He is an exceptional player who fully understands the jazz language and is fully conversant with all genres of the music.”

- Kenny Barron

Hello!

As the creator and founder of Whalen Jazz Lessons, my mission is to light the path for you on your musical journey. I'm here to share the lessons learned from my own experiences, to guide you through the complexities of this amazing art form, and to inspire you to become the musician you've always dreamed of being.

I'm looking forward to being on this journey with you.

If you want to learn more about my experience as a musician, you can click the button.

Tim Whalen Music Website

IT'S NEVER TOO LATE TO START

I wanted to be a great jazz pianist.

The moment I first heard "Milestones" by Miles Davis my senior year of high school, I felt a profound shift within me. That album sparked a deep and unwavering passion, sealing my fate and setting me on a path to dedicate my life to jazz.

My Story

I started college as an opera singer (yes, you read that right) on a full scholarship to the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1992. That didn’t last long, because my love for jazz piano took over, and by the fall of 1993 I switched majors to jazz studies and haven’t looked back since. Starting at 19 meant I was a latecomer to the music, with a steep learning curve ahead of me. But what I lacked in early formal instruction, I made up for in determination and a deep love for the music. My journey was one of self-taught lessons, countless hours of practice, and an unwavering commitment.

Relentless dedication leads to transformation...

I devoted countless hours to practicing and listening, gradually becoming my own best teacher. One of my biggest frustrations was deciding what to focus on next, as the sheer volume of information was overwhelming. Through experience, I realized that success wasn’t about knowing everything; it was about mastering the right things.

Then I found teaching...

I started teaching private students in 1997, and it’s been a rewarding journey ever since. Along the way, I've had the pleasure of teaching at the Manhattan School of Music, the University of Toledo, countless masterclasses, as well as running a private studio. Now, I’m thrilled to invite you to join me at Whalen Jazz Lessons, where we’ll continue this exciting journey together.

For the past 25 years, I’ve taught jazz piano and improvisation to students from all walks of life.

I’ll provide you with the knowledge, inspiration, and tools you need to become the jazz musician you aspire to be.

There is simply too much information available in jazz education. This can be overwhelming and very frustrating, leading to a loss of motivation.

But here’s the good news: you don’t need to know everything! (That’s a relief, right?) Even the jazz masters we admire didn’t master it all.

What you DO need to know are very specific concepts that will be the basis for everything else you do.

I’ve refined these concepts into a clear and concise teaching philosophy designed to deliver real results.

TESTIMONIALS

Zach N

I took lessons with Tim during my senior year of high school leading up to college. Not only is he a fantastic musician/composer, but Tim is an amazing educator. Through my lessons, he helped me better understand bebop and jazz improvisation as a whole. I appreciated how invested he was in my path and how much he catered to my specific needs. Tim has a wealth of knowledge in improvisation, composition, arranging, piano, and so much more. I can’t recommend studying with him enough!

Sinetra B

After many years of studying classical piano and receiving a degree in classical piano, I grew stage fright. But my love for playing and learning other genres of music never stopped. I felt that learning to play jazz would be impossible but then I met Tim Whalen who took me on as his student. Tim is ridiculously talented and he effortlessly shares his love for piano as a teacher, coach, and mentor. Tim meets you where you are musically. I can definitively say that he is one of the best teachers I've seen. His teaching style is efficient, gratifying, and digestible which is how I described my lessons and weekly trainings. I am a better musician because of his training/teachings.

Kevin R

I was an experienced jazz player, had played in combos with instruction but found myself at a plateau. I wanted to improve my rhythm, vocabulary and ability to play as a soloist, but my previous learning lacked guidance on problems specific to jazz piano. Tim instructed me in working on foundational material, solo transcription, and arranging tunes for piano solo. His comprehensive approach guided my playing to a higher level by teaching me how to practice jazz.

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