Jonathan Harnum
BA, MA, PhD

Playing music has been a major focus of mine for over 40 years. For over 25 of those years I've helped students from age 4 to 76 in my private studio, as a band director in public schools, and at universities like Northwestern University, and DePaul in Chicago.
You can catch me playing around Bend in a few places. I often play with the Gypsy jazz quartet, Swing 44 (guitar and trumpet), and with Shireen Amini's Latin dance band ¡Chiringa! (trumpet and keyboard), and now and then with Woodsmen, The Cutmen and other Bend bands.
I'm an expert on practice. Both from 40 years playing music (trumpet, guitar, percussion, piano, etc.), and my PhD research on practice which resulted in my latest book, The Practice of Practice.
Having fun and enjoying the process is my primary goal not only for myself, but also for students. That's what makes music a lifelong enjoyment.
Writing is another passion of mine, and I've been a published author since 2001 with seven books on music so far, including a title for Hal Leonard as well as some scholarly publications. I post interesting and useful stuff on two of my blogs: The Practice of Practice and Essential Trumpet Lessons. And a weekly newsletter with practice tips, 6-Bullet Saturday.
You can catch me playing around Bend in a few places. I often play with the Gypsy jazz quartet, Swing 44 (guitar and trumpet), and with Shireen Amini's Latin dance band ¡Chiringa! (trumpet and keyboard), and now and then with Woodsmen, The Cutmen and other Bend bands.
I'm an expert on practice. Both from 40 years playing music (trumpet, guitar, percussion, piano, etc.), and my PhD research on practice which resulted in my latest book, The Practice of Practice.
Having fun and enjoying the process is my primary goal not only for myself, but also for students. That's what makes music a lifelong enjoyment.
Writing is another passion of mine, and I've been a published author since 2001 with seven books on music so far, including a title for Hal Leonard as well as some scholarly publications. I post interesting and useful stuff on two of my blogs: The Practice of Practice and Essential Trumpet Lessons. And a weekly newsletter with practice tips, 6-Bullet Saturday.
Some examples of my playing (trumpet/guitar)
IF YOU DON'T HEAR A TRUMPET, I'M ON GUITAR
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Though trumpet and guitar are my main instruments, I also play hand drums (especially djembe and conga), didgeridoo, and flute, I'm intimately familiar with all band instruments and their particular needs and challenges, especially for beginners. Just getting started? Check out the Beginner's Boot Camp, offered monthly.
I also mess around with other more unusual instruments like the Vietnamese dan bao, and I love to experiment with electronics. I just received one of the very first BoPad smart drums and am excited to mess around with it. Music is play. Practice can be play, too. If you're interested in learning more about music gadgetry, check out the next upcoming Electronics Track. The curriculum for this track changes regularly.
I also mess around with other more unusual instruments like the Vietnamese dan bao, and I love to experiment with electronics. I just received one of the very first BoPad smart drums and am excited to mess around with it. Music is play. Practice can be play, too. If you're interested in learning more about music gadgetry, check out the next upcoming Electronics Track. The curriculum for this track changes regularly.

I founded Swang, a Chicago Gypsy Jazz quintet in which I played trumpet and rhythm guitar. I've played trumpet in many big bands, wind ensembles, state and regional honor bands, orchestras, brass quintets and quartets, and brass choirs. I also co-founded Meh!, a Chicago-based free improvisation collective in which I played everything from a gong to the walls and other unexpected instruments.

I hold a BA (University of Oregon), MA, and Ph.D. (Northwestern University, 2013) in music eucation. Music practice was the main focus of my Ph. D. research.
While at NU I played in the big band and dug deeply into the learning sciences, curiculum design, secondary general music, and improvisation.
All students receive my books for free. Since 2001, I've given away well over a million digital copies of my books to music students around the world, including the best-sellers Basic Music Theory: How to Read, Write, and Understand Written Music; The Practice of Practice; and Sound the Trumpet: How to Blow Your Own Horn.
Learn about my books over at Sol Ut Press, or order one today on Amazon.com.
While at NU I played in the big band and dug deeply into the learning sciences, curiculum design, secondary general music, and improvisation.
All students receive my books for free. Since 2001, I've given away well over a million digital copies of my books to music students around the world, including the best-sellers Basic Music Theory: How to Read, Write, and Understand Written Music; The Practice of Practice; and Sound the Trumpet: How to Blow Your Own Horn.
Learn about my books over at Sol Ut Press, or order one today on Amazon.com.
Click a cover to learn more about the book
These books are provided at no charge for my students.