By Steve H.

At the age of nine, Jordan Rudess entered the prestigious Juilliard School of Music for classical piano training.

Upon hearing Keith Emerson and Rick Wakeman (The Six Wives of Henry VIII) all hell broke loose. Classical music seemed an anathema. “My strongest memory, of all the memories that really changed my life, was listening to Tarkus by ELP,” Rudess says. “That was just an awakening for me, because never before had I heard the keyboard possess such strength and power. [I was thinking] ‘The keyboard can be an instrument that really rocks.’”

By nineteen, he began to include the rapidly developing world of synthesizers in his recordings and performances.

Today, Jordan is a world renown recording artist, composer, producer and performer and an integral member of the world renown, progressive rock band Dream Theater.

Jordan’s list of collaborators reads like the Who’s Who of music: Dixie Dregs, David Bowie, Jan Hammer, Enrique Iglesias, the Paul Winter Consort, with Keith Emerson, Rick Wakeman, Patrick Moraz, Tony Levin and, of course, John Petrucci and Mike Portnoy of Dream Theater.

Jordan’s creativity spans the musical universe. The diversity his solo work displays his unstoppable desire to expand the language of tonal expression. From solo piano to sound design Jordan leaves his distinct creative stamp on every genre he touches.

Throughout his career, Jordan has immersed himself in music education including several best selling keyboard technique books and the creation on his own online conservatory.

All of us at NonLinear Educating are honored to have Jordan Rudess performer, synthesist and music educator as a part of our extraordinary educational team.