Jeffrey Chappell maintains a teaching schedule at Goucher College in Baltimore, at The Levine School of Music in Washington, D.C., and at his home studio. In addition, he gives master classes, workshops, and guest lectures at other venues. Chappell's teaching is client-oriented, placing importance on the goals of the student and on approaches to problem-solving that are adapted to each individual.
Chappell is a full-time faculty member at Goucher College, where he is on the Piano Faculty and is the Director of Jazz Studies. He teaches private piano lessons in classical music and jazz, gives classes in jazz improvisation, jazz theory, jazz history, chamber music, senior integrative projects and independent study, and conducts the jazz ensemble. He recently introduced a new course called "Frontiers of Musicality" which synthesizes his musical knowledge into one classroom experience. More information on this course appears below. During the summer, he is the director of the Goucher Summer Arts Institute Jazz Camp for middle- and high school students.
Chappell is a member of the Piano Faculty at The Levine School of Music, where he teaches private piano lessons in classical music and jazz, gives classes in improvisation and jazz theory, and conducts the jazz ensemble at the Maryland branch of the school. He also gives classes in the Professional Development Program, teaching teachers how to teach, with courses in Introduction to Jazz Piano, Parts I and II. He has also taught classes in Improvisation and in Piano Literature for this program.
In the course of teaching these subjects at both schools and at home, Chappell sometimes includes instruction in composition, songwriting, arranging, classical music theory, and music history.
Students of Jeffrey Chappell have been accepted to The Juilliard School, Yale University, Peabody Conservatory of Music, Oberlin Conservatory, University of Michigan, University of Maryland, Hartt School of Music, Columbia University, Brigham Young University, Boston University, Princeton University, and Catholic University of America. Many have gone on to professional careers as performers, teachers, and recording artists, and among them are a record company executive, a jazz singer, a rock songwriter, and two members of the progressive band Lake Trout. Several are prizewinners in music competitions, and one was selected as the youngest (15 years old) participant in the 2002 "Betty Carter's Jazz Ahead" residency for composers at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.
Jeffrey Chappell is a member of the Music Teachers National Association and the International Association for Jazz Education.
* The following is the syllabus course description for "Frontiers of Musicality":
This course provides the experience and understanding to make it possible for each participant to know his or her musical self. The course acknowledges that each person has different natural tendencies in the way that person relates to music. The course examines the four types of musicians (improviser, composer, arranger, and interpreter), the issues confronting each type, and the techniques available for each type to achieve musical expression. The course looks at the different uses of music including concert music, commercial music, and theater music, and defines broad categories of music, such as song/dance, absolute music/program music, and folk music/art music. Other topics addressed are music theory and notation, music in sociological and historical contexts, the origin and analysis of musical styles, and the acoustical versus psychological aspects of music. Course participants will play music and talk about music, and reading assignments will be taken from the writings of major composers and theorists. Nonetheless, there is no prerequisite in terms of prior knowledge. This course is for the total beginner as well as the advanced student.
The student response to this course has been greatly positive. Here are some quotes from participants:
"This is my favorite class because it is teaching me the most about myself. I'm seeing things I've never seen and doing things I've never done before. This is the first time I've ever composed anything and I love it."
"This class has so far been quite liberating for me in the musical sense. It has started to open a door for me in which I never thought possible. While growing up in different music situations I developed a certain barrier. I had established a certain mentality in which musicians must be good skill-wise if they are to be heard. I allowed myself to put up those standards, and in a way had let it overcome me. I started to degrade my skill in music. I then lost the interest to perform and the confidence to play in front of people. This class is like a new beginning to just make music in a way that is my own. It's my music. I get to be creative in a musical sense and not worry about what others think. I really am enjoying this class."
"Frontiers in Musicality is a great class. I was able to rediscover and maintain my musicality as a musician and as a person. It has helped me to take the first step in realizing that music is a part of me and that I should truly cherish it."