Pianist

Walker Jermaine has played piano for over 20 years.  Always a lover of piano collaboration, he was accompanying choir and spring musical rehearsals in high school.  Through college, he taught Choir and Eurythmics in inner city schools in Cleveland, while also accompanying modern dance classes at Case Western Reserve University, while fulfilling his requirements for his Double Major in Dalcroze Eurythmics.  His piano playing and background with choral ensembles afforded him a full scholarship to Indiana University, where he served as a Graduate Assistant and Accompanist for the African-American Choral Ensemble. 

In 2018, Walker Jermaine was asked to fill in as a substitute pianist at the restaurant and musical establishment, Spoonfed NYC.  After an electric first day, he was hired full time, where he served as a house pianist for a year.  Highlights included playing private parties for several musical casts, including the casts of Once on this Island and Wicked.  He even recounts a legendary meeting and evening serenade with congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.

He has since gone on to serve as as a staff pianist at Uncle Charlie’s Piano Bar and The Monster Bar in NYC.

These days, Walker Jermaine is most often found playing for singers in some capacity. In 2020, he served as a collaborative pianist for the 2020 Harlem Opera Theater Competition. In 2021, he collaborated in a recital featuring the music of Black Women Composers sponsored by Austin Opera. In 2023, he performed as collaborative pianist with Grammy Award winning Baritone, Kenneth Overton in a full recital of African-American Art Songs with the Howland Chamber Music Society in Upstate, NY.

Vocal Coach

Growing upon the piano, Walker Jermaine has also run a thriving vocal studio for 10 years.  Known as a rare hybrid between a vocal coach, a vocal teacher, and a repetiteur, he is comfortable coaching and playing all vocal genres, including: Classical, Jazz, Musical Theater & Cabaret, R&B, Gospel, Pop, Rock, Soul, and Fusion.  He also specializes in training voices of color, large voices, belters, cross-over singers, and adolescent voices.

Lessons are one hour in length and topics include: 

• Breathing and Abdominal Support

• Vocal Register Mixing

• Belt Singing for Musical Theater and Pop

• Range Expansion

• Falsetto and Upper Extension Training for Men

• Training Adolescent Voices

• Vocal Resonance

• Vowel Modification and Sound Frequencies

Further Musicianship Training is offered to Advanced Students or those with an instrumental background and include:

• Lead Sheet and Chord Chart Reading

• Piano Accompanying for the Solo Singer

• Music Theory Fundamentals for Singing

Services Offered Include:

• Preparing and Learning Scores

• Preparing “New Music” (Late 20th and 21st Century)

• Coaching Opera Arias

• Coaching Musical Theater Pieces

• Building a Package

Contact for Current Rates.

Group Voice Class

Having also served as a choral director for many years, Walker has developed a charismatic and interactive vocal class which can be taught to a small group.  Founded in the churches of Central Harlem, Walker is able to teach all of this concepts within the solo vocal coaching, but within a supportive atmosphere.  This is particularly a more cost effective solution for communities who are not able to afford a weekly private lesson, but who still want to sing on the highest level possible.  These classes consist greatly of group singing of complex works, group vocalizes, and private 1-on-1 time for all those involved.  These classes typically last 1 hour and 30 minutes, to two hours, depending on the class size.  

Choral Vocal Coaching

A virtuoso chorister with over 12 years of professional choral experience to his name, he also serves as a choral vocal coach and technician.  Walker brings his understanding of musicianship, balance, blend, vowel modification, and vocal technique to amateur and semi-professional choirs.  If there are high notes within the soprano section that can't be tuned, or if the tenors are straining to sing that phrase in Handel's Messiah, or if you have one or two singers who are in need of some extra vocal guidance, Walker can help!  Call me in to solve problems which can't be solved with the entire group.  Think of it as a voice lesson for a full section!  Guaranteed noticeable improvement after two sessions.

Testimonials

"Walker is the first vocal coach I've had that makes it all so comprehensible. When he instructs me, it all just clicks! He challenges me every lesson to be better than the last. Add to that his extensive musical knowledge and his ability to draw more out of me that I thought possible, I am so lucky I found Walker three years ago."
-Nathania | New York, NY

"A few years ago, I searched for a vocal coach to show me how to better sing. I had played guitar for about 15 years at that point, but was not at all satisfied with my vocal capabilities. Walker greatly improved both my vocal range and my confidence in my singing over the few months I was fortunate to work with him. His teaching approach was extremely collaborative and he would push me to sing at my best every time. I've always gotten compliments on my guitar-playing, but since training under Walker, I am constantly complimented on my vocal range. I went from having no consistent gigs to playing music weekly in downtown Cincinnati at the top-rated rooftop bar in the city and I owe my success to the meticulous training by Walker. If you want a no-fluff, honest vocal coach, Walker will push you further than you ever thought you could get!"
     -Stephan | Cincinnati, OH

"Walker Jackson is without a doubt the most exceptional teacher I've had the pleasure of working throughout my artistic and academic career. He looks at the singer holistically, and crafts a teaching method unique for each student. My voice has improved immeasurably during our time together. The confidence I have gained in myself as a vocalist has rekindled my passion for singing. Since I began working with Walker I have booked jobs singing at venues like Carnegie Hall, 54 Below, and The West End Lounge."
     -Samuel-James | New York, NY

"Mr. Jackson has helped me realize that I can sing soprano and has increased my range almost a full octave.  I no longer have stage fright now that I am studying with Mr. Jackson, as he has helped me gain confidence in my singing ability. I have a lot of fun at our lessons too.  He really cares about my progress and it motivates me to get better." 
     -Julia | New York, NY

"I have been a student of [Walker J. Jackson] in various group and private settings for almost two years and have found him to be one of the most passionate and knowledgeable music teachers I have ever known.  [He] is a true pleasure to learn from and I highly recommend him for any teaching position. My first experience as a student of his was in the contemporary gospel group, Sojourner, at Indiana University. He ran quality rehearsals, accompanied the singers with ease on the piano, arranged beautiful music and most importantly, inspired me to be a better singer. Lacking confidence when we first met, he has made a significant impact on who I am as a performer and artist. I can’t imagine having a better teacher and friend than [Walker], and I can assure you that he will be highly successful in all his future endeavors. I just hope that I might have the privilege of working with him again in the future."
     -Cat | Bangkok, Thailand