About James

James Levy is active as a pianist, teacher and composer. As a jazz pianist he has played at clubs such as Blue’s Alley, Twins and has been heard nationally on NPR’s “Jazzset.”

In the mid-1980s, he founded the Jazz Studies Program at the George Washington University where he still serves as Adjunct Professor Emeritus and teaches Jazz Piano.

For the past 13 years Mr. Levy has also taught in the DC Public School system. He is the author of the DCPS piano method book and is a principal contributer to the DCKeys curriculum.

Since 1991, he has served as Organist/Choir Director at Rockville United Church, and has presented several of his choral compositions at the National Cathedral. A setting of Psalm 121 was performed by the Paul Hill Washington Singers in a concert featuring the music of area composers. His title music for “To the Moon and Beyond” was heard on most of the nation’s PBS affiliates.

A GWU student made a short documentary on James Levy’s approach to teaching.

Jim, using a light comic style, writes about some aspects of his gigging life in Memoirs of a Cocktail Pianist.