Teacher Profile: James Kreutzer

About James Kreutzer

Jimmy Kreutzer is a Washington, D.C. area Guitar, Piano, Flute, and Saxophone Instructor who specializes in both traditional and Jazz styles, as well as popular genres.

Born in Dayton, Virginia, Jimmy Kreutzer began his musical journey in 2004 with alto saxophone in middle school band, and also picking up piano at the same time. His musical path took him for quite an expansive journey, one which he did not anticipate at first. He quickly fell in love with jazz music, and began spending a lot of time listening to records, learning the language and harmony of jazz, and developing his ear. He picked up guitar a few years later, and quickly developed a love for picking up new instruments, such as congas, drums, and flute.

Jimmy moved to the Washington, DC area in 2007, and began playing in the Blues Alley Youth Orchestra in high school, as well as attending jam sessions at a place called HR-57, where greats like Corcoran Holt, Donvonte Mccoy, Jimmy Cobb, and Christian Scott were in attendance. He also began to expand his playing into many different genres from playing with musicians he would meet, including music from different places around the world.

Jimmy also studied at Virginia Commonwealth University, starting in 2011, with J.C. Kuhl on saxophone, before embarking to New York City where he attended jam sessions at Smalls Jazz Club, sharing the stage with players such as Jon Batiste and Esperanza Spalding. He also went into deep improvisational exploration with drummer Henry Vaughan and vibrophonist Grady Tesch, who were NYU students at the time.

He also studied with the Kenny Garrett quintet in 2016-2017, not as a member, but as a student who had the opportunity to develop musically and learn with the ensemble. He also was greatly influenced through the tutelage of Vernell Brown Jr., Kenny’s pianist, in 2020-2022.

Jimmy's connection to music is driven by the insight that it is a powerful force of peace, bridging together many different cultures and walks of life. As an active music educator since 2021, his goal is to bring this harmonizing aspect of music into his lessons in a way that his students feel comfortable following their own creativity, as well as incorporating technical theory and wisdom he has gained that can assist the student.

Beginner students will frequently spend some time getting comfortable with playing their instrument freely, then progressing to connecting with rhythm, learning simple melodies, and learning how to read music. Simple technical methods like Faber are also commonly used, as well as whichever songs and artists naturally draw their attention. He likes to bring a fun, holistic approach to each lesson and empower students -- wherever they are at in their journey. For example, a favorite exercise in his lessons is to incorporate music his students enjoy listening to on their own into the learning experience. He has found that this connection inspires them to play more, and from an organic place.

Jimmy considers all his lessons as a mutual learning experience, and not necessarily as a strict student-mentor relationship. In his experience with learning music, he has found that the most success comes from mutual learning environments and through the act of playing music itself, so collaboration and duets are very important to him. No matter the instrument, Jimmy hopes to inspire his students to carry on the musical tradition that has meant so much to him and provide the same outlet for creative and free expression.