Olympia native, Jon Balsley, has a passion for making good music and for helping others learn to do the same. Having played on multiple projects and in several different bands, he understands how to work with other musicians in a group setting. He played and toured throughout the country with his band Great Wilderness, Repossess Band, and artists including Christina Mulkey, Dylan Cochran, Elijah Grindstaff/Marathona. They opening for acts including alt-J, Of Monsters and Men, The Civil Wars, MS MR and many others.
Jon loves a wide range of music and enjoys working on different styles with his students. He studied Guitar Performance at Hillsong International Leadership College as well as Classical Piano, Music Theory, and Jazz Guitar at SPSCC and majored in Music Composition and minored in Psychology at The Evergreen State College where he studied with Dr. Andrew Buchman and Dr. Andrea Gullickson. After graduating he continued studying Music Composition at UW with Dr. Huck Hodge and privately with PLU professor Greg Youtz. He has a strong grasp of music theory and a passion for making advanced concepts more accessible for students, helping both deepen their fundamentals and bringing the songs they love more into reach.
In his personal life Jon has a passion for helping people. He recently spent a month living and working in the ravished country of Haiti. During that time he developed a strong love and connection to the people. When Jon’s weekends aren’t filled with running a recording studio, he spends his time hiking during the summer, and snowboarding in the winter.
STUDENT REVIEWS
“Jon has been excellent help. He takes the time and effort to help you understand music and play. I have had 4 other music instructors and by far Jon has been the best music instructor I’ve had.” -Kyle C.
“I have two boys taking lessons at Jammin Music Studios and they love it. I have been so pleased with their progress, desire to learn & motivation to practice. What a great place to take lessons. Here is what my boy Parker said about his instructor Jon Balsey. Jon is the best instructor ever. He teaches you well and if you don’t get something right, he’ll help you with it. He is nice, helpful and fun. He has 2 really cool guitars!” -H. Family