Educator Highlights

  • An accomplished guitarist and flutist performing in Chicago for many years, he founded The Bloom School of Jazz (1975).
  • Assimilating knowledge from Berklee College of Music, study with notable players Buddy Guy and Reggie Boyd, and his custom approach, his teaching methods create dramatic results.
  • Recognized as Jazz Educator of the Year by The Jazz Institute of Chicago (2017)  
  • ​Featured on cover of Chicago Jazz Magazine with in-depth interview (2018)
  • The School’s 38th Anniversary Cool Heat Concert aired on Chicago’s WTTW television and featured some of Bloom’s Grammy-winning students.
  • Approach: Bloom’s jazz-as-language approach incorporates linguistics, philosophy, aesthetics and music. By listening to jazz masters, Bloom has taken their musical values and developed exercises that demand those sensibilities.
  • Results: Through the years, thousands of students have discovered that their abilities far exceeded their original expectations. His innovative methods break through musical and psychological barriers.
  • Genres: Jazz, classical, rock, blues, flamenco, country and pop musicians have come to the Bloom School to expand their musical vocabulary and to enhance their own particular genre.
  • Courses: In addition to group combos, vocal and private lessons, courses such as The Perfect Set, where students complete an entire album/set of material, as well as Guitar-obics and Black-Out, keep students engaged and growing. 
  • Alumni include: Bill Horburg (Hollywood producer, The Talented Mr. Ripley, Cold Mountain) and Alex Wurman (Hollywood film composer, March of The Penguins and Anchorman, Rob Mazurek, Chad Taylor, Graham Mabe (bass player with Joe Jackson), Regina Brown, Steve Rodby (13- time Grammy Winner, bass player with Pat Metheny), Cliff Colnot (Conductor at DePaul University), Larry Gray, Mark Yonally (Chicago Tap Theatre), Tom Burrell (CEO, Burrell Advertising), Blanche Manning (retired Federal Judge), Mark Colby, Rob Parton, Anthony Wonsey, Jon Weber, Peter Lerner, Mike Raynor, and many more.
  • Taught improvisation to Air Force National Guard Band for four years, as well as at Roosevelt University Chicago and Northwestern University​
  • Developed Minor Blues Storytelling Contest for teens, an event featured on a major media outlet.
  • ​Featured in print: Chicago Tribune, Chicago Jazz Magazine, Guitar Player Magazine, Chicago Reader and more.
  • Featured on television: WGN Channel 9, CBS Channel 2, NBC Channel and WTTW Channel 11
  • Presents regional workshops on Improvisation and more
  • Wrote eight music method books: Minor Blues for Guitar, Major Blues for Guitar, Melodic Chords for Guitar, Rhythms Around the Body, Melodic Linkage, Ear Training-Sight Singing, The Question and Answer Book, and the II V I Book, distributed by Hal Leonard.

More Teaching: Bloom School of Jazz | Teaching Philosophy | Testimonials | Workshops