COMMUNITY OF YOUNG ARTISTS
“Any student who has the opportunity to learn from him is truly fortunate!”
— Kimberly Barnard, 2026 (Mother of the Barnard Boys)
A passionate music educator, Mr. Yoakem has taught as piano teacher with affiliations spanning Belmont University (TN), Cary School of Music (NC), Charlotte Piano Teachers Forum (NC), Chevy Chase Music (D.C. & MD), East Carolina University (NC), and Montgomery Bell Academy for Boys (TN). Yoakem currently serves as Class Piano Instructor at the University of Maryland, where he also teaches music minor students in the piano division and elective piano lessons for outside majors.
He maintains a private studio in Silver Spring and the surrounding area. To those families not so flexible with their schedules, he adapts to in-home lessons and zoom lessons. He will begin teaching at a “boutique” pre-college conservatory in Fall 2026, Capital Conservatory.
Ely Cohen, Piano Elective Lessons (UMD)
Ely studied from 2024 to 2025. Recording from June 2025 at University of Maryland.
“Jared brings a warm and thoughtful perspective to every lesson. He is insightful and a pleasure to learn from.”
Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827), Piano Sonata No. 9 in E Major Op. 14/1 — I. Allegro
Barnard Family Testimony
(Zoom Studio ‘23 - ‘26)
“Over the years, our family has had the privilege of working with many educators, coaches, and mentors. Few, however, have made as profound and lasting an impact on our children as our sons’ piano teacher. As a parent of four boys who have all studied under Jared’s instruction, I can say with complete confidence that he is the most dedicated, knowledgable, and selfless teacher we have ever encountered.
He holds his students to a high standard, encouraging discipline, precision, and artistry. Beyond technique and performance, he teaches something even more valuable: how to work hard, how to persevere through challenges, and how to take pride in meaningful progress. He fosters resilience in a way that extends well beyond the piano bench. These are lessons our children will carry with them the rest of their lives.”
Mirella Testimony
(Fall ‘23 - Spring ‘24)
"As a parent, I cannot say enough positive things about this piano teacher and the impact he had on our daughter. He began working with her when she was in second grade, introducing her to piano in a way that was both developmentally appropriate and genuinely fun. Each lesson was engaging, kid-friendly, and thoughtfully structured to build both skill and confidence.
What stood out most was his patience and understanding. He met her exactly where she was and created a supportive environment that allowed her to grow at her own pace. He also encouraged creativity, giving her opportunities to improvise and explore music beyond just reading notes.
At the end of her time with him, she participated in a beautiful concert where she was able to showcase everything she had learned. It was incredibly rewarding to see her confidence shine.
Now, as a fourth grader, she still loves playing piano and even composes her own music—something we truly attribute to the strong, positive foundation he helped create. We are so grateful for his dedication and highly recommend him to any family looking for a nurturing and inspiring piano teacher."
Lana & Jeff
“Thank you for being a wonderful piano teacher and teaching me all the fantastic songs. Hope you have as much fun with your new students as you did with me.” Love, Mirella
Bhargav now studies with Dr. Moon Choi in Cary, NC - and he has gone on to win prizes at the East Carolina Young Artist Competition and first prize at the Young Artist Auditions of NC under the tutelage of Dr. Moon Choi. This video was a culmination of his earlier studies with Jared.
Bhargav Iyengar
“I was a student of Mr. Jared for one year. I had been learning piano for 8 years prior to being a student of Mr. Jared and I credit him for showing me how amazing classical music is. He was a great teacher and a super nice person. He pushed me to get better but he never pushed me to do more than what I was comfortable with.”
“Jared is a great teacher. He opened my son's eyes to a world of possibilities and really showed him the beauty of classical piano music. He challenged my son to play more complex pieces but always did it in a way that encouraged and motivated my son to do better. Jared's teaching style focuses on positive reinforcement and maximizing a student's abilities based on how much each student is willing to push himself/herself. When Jared relocated, he ensured that my son was put in the hands of another great teacher that has allowed him to blossom even further. One will be fortunate to have Jared as his/her teacher!” - Vinay (Bhargav’s father)