About

EJ Crocker (they/them, she/her) is a performer and teacher from Denver, CO. In their 9 years of performing around the South Sound, EJ's work has run the gamut: classic to contemporary jazz; Brazilian sambas, choros, and classical guitar; acoustic folk to Chicago blues; DIY indie rock to supporting hip-hop and rap artists. A firm believer in the power of listening, EJ takes pride in feeling at home on any stage, and in sharing those skills with students.

Methodology

EJ's primary goal is to guide students toward developing their relationship with the music they love: lessons are always oriented towards learning the songs and styles that students want to learn. A student of a wide range of guitar styles, EJ understands that while there are many techniques and best-practices, there is no one 'right answer' to the question of how to play the guitar.

Some things, however, are some non-negotiable things. Students will learn to communicate with other musicians, learn the aural skills necessary to play by ear, and ready themselves for sharing their music with others, all in whatever capacity makes sense for their lives. More importantly, students will cultivate an independent awareness of what they are doing on the instrument–of how to listen to, notice, and (kindly) evaluate one's own playing, with the end of finding one's own path through the music.

Other Teaching

Outside of EJ's work as a private instructor, they are a Master Teaching Artist at local arts non-profit Tacoma Arts Live. In their five years at TAL, they have led and written curricula for ukulele after-school programs; taught arts and wellness courses for adults, seniors, and service members; and developed music-based social/emotional learning activities for classroom use. They have also researched and implemented strategies for working with students across the autism/ADHD spectrum.

Performances

As a performer, EJ plays several times a month at various venues in the South Sound. Their complete performance schedule can be found at ejcrockermusic.com/calendar, or posted on the Ted Brown bulletin boards. Current projects include jazz organ trio Threocracy and indie-rock outfit Sweet Marilyn.

While most of these performances take place at 21+ venues, ears of all ages are always welcome at EJ's once-monthly American Musics Series, presented at Franke Tobey Jones Wellness Center (north Tacoma). This combination performance/lecture series centers ‘peripheral' histories of American musics across genres and time periods, and showcases a different band and style of music every month.

Past performances include the PLU Guitar Festival (2024); the Panama Jazz Festival (2020); the Tacoma, Olympia, and North Bend Jazz Walks; Madame Lou's; the Sea Monster; McMenamin's Spanish Ballroom; as well as many bars and coffee shops throughout the Pacific Northwest.