WELCOME to Music Class! :-)

 

Originally from Stillwater, MN, this is Mr. Jaap's 3rd year at Como. He graduated from Concordia College in Moorhead, MN. He holds a Bachelor of Music degree in Instrumental Music Education, and is endorsed in teaching K-12 Music. Mr. Jaap has taught various music courses (including Digital Music, Band, and Drumming,) through the SPPS Summer School program. Although he is the youngest teacher at Como Park Elementary, he is also the tallest!

 

In music class, Mr. Jaap's students will learn a variety of songs, instruments, dances, and study music of world cultures as well as elements of music theory. During the school year, students also participate in concerts and perform songs, dances, and even compositions of their own! Kindergarten and 1st Grade perform in December, 2nd/3rd Grade in February, and 4th/5th grade in May/June. 

 

Mr. Jaap's instrument of choice is the clarinet, but he enjoys incorporating instruments of all shapes and sizes into his teaching, including the piano, the Autoharp, recorders, ukuleles, rhythm sticks, and more. He has had many performance and conducting experiences through woodwind quintets, clarinet quartets, opera orchestras, chamber ensembles, and full bands and orchestras. He has also toured nationally and internationally with large-group bands and orchestras! Currently, he plays clarinet in the Encore Wind Ensemble in his free time. This summer, he traveled to France to play his clarinet in a chamber music festival.

 

Mr. Jaap resides in the Merriam Park neighborhood of Saint Paul. He loves the greater Minneapolis-St. Paul area, and enjoys all of the opportunities it has to offer, including going to concerts, festivals, and continuing to discover new ways to appreciate the arts around the twin cities. Outside of school, Mr. Jaap enjoys practicing his clarinet and flute, spending time outside (preferably near a body of water,) listening to true-crime podcasts, and cooking!