Jim has over ten year's experience teaching drums and percussion. He earned his Bachelor of Music from Shenandoah University in 1992. After gaining experience working at various resorts, hotels and restaurants, Jim returned to teach drumline for high schools in Central Pennsylvania, and to teach privately in the Philadelphia area. His students have participated in local and regional competitions and have been accepted into music programs at West Chester and Indiana Universities, and the University of the Arts. Jim has been a fixture on the Philadelphia jazz scene for over a decade, playing with local legends such as Larry McKenna, Bootsie Barnes, and John Swanna. His performance experience includes national radio shows, commercial jingles, local television broadcasts, and several jazz recordings.