Music Theory

Jacob Head

Jacob Head has been teaching at Maxwell’s House of Music since August of 2016 and has become one of the store’s best musical assets since joining the team. Jacob began playing music at the age of nine, beginning with violin.  He has since become accomplished on mandolin, guitar, piano, and ukulele. He is a 2015 graduate of the University of Louisville School of Music, with a Bachelor’s degree in Music Therapy. He is the worship leader at LifeBridge Christian Church in Louisville, the founder of the group “Compass Quartet,” and recently has begun working with private clients as a board-certified Music Therapist.  In addition to teaching at Maxwell’s, Jacob manages the very popular “Blue Note Café” monthly concert in the Maxwell’s Stage Room. In his free time, Jacob enjoys arranging and composing music for himself and the Compass Quartet, as well as spending time with his wife, Kara.  He enjoys teaching students of all ages, levels, and abilities.

Jeff Howard

Jeff was drawn to music and theatre at an early age. He has a bachelor's degree in Music Composition (with a minor in piano) from Roosevelt University in Chicago and a Master of Divinity from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville. He has had diverse musical opportunities throughout the years from singing and dancing on a harbor cruise ship – The Spirit of Norfolk, singing with the Oklahoma Singing Churchmen, playing horn with various bands and orchestras, to leading worship in churches in Minnesota, Oregon, Washington, Oklahoma, Southern Indiana, and Louisville. His dream job was accompanying vocal students and choirs, teaching piano and music theory, and leading the chapel orchestra at Southern Seminary and Boyce College which he did for five years. Jeff loves many different styles of music as his diverse career illustrates. He also loves the joy music gives to those that make it and experience it. And he enjoys seeing students of all ages learn the skills and theory of music and then use their gifts to better their lives, families, and communities. Currently Jeff enjoys playing for singers and instrumentalists, playing horn in the Louisville Philharmonic Orchestra, and leading the music and choir at Bethany Baptist Church on Taylorsville Road, in Louisville. He has been married for 28 years and has four boys and a daughter in law.

Rone Sparrow

Rone Sparrow is a concert percussion and drum set performer and educator. He is an Army Veteran, having served as a member of the West Point Band at the United Stated Military Academy from 2002 to 2024. Highlights include performances on the Today Show and the Macy’s July 4th primetime special on NBC, multiple appearances at home games of the New York Yankees, New York Jets, and New York Giants, and concerts at The United Nations and with the New York Philharmonic at Lincoln Center. While living in New York he also performed with the Hudson Valley Philharmonic, The Music Boutique, and was a member of the Analog Jazz Orchestra.

Prior to his time at West Point his career included engagements with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, Sundance Summer Theater, The Drifters, Walt Disney Corporation, and performances at the Montreux and North Sea international jazz festivals.

Now residing near Louisville, Kentucky he has performed with the Kentucky Opera, the Owensboro Symphony, Orchestra Kentucky, and for the University of Louisville.

Rone earned a Bachelor of Music in Percussion Performance and Pedagogy from Brigham Young University and a Master of Music in Percussion Performance from The University of North Texas. While at UNT, he taught in the percussion department, performed with the UNT Wind Symphony, played in the UNT jazz department in both big band and small group settings, and was a member of the Percussive Arts Society World-Champion UNT Drumline.

Rone proudly endorses Pearl/Adams musical instruments and Innovative Percussion Inc. sticks and mallets.

Tim Pitts

Tim Pitts has over 35 years teaching experience. He teaches all aspects of music theory including reading, improvisation, composition, style, complex rhythms, melodic concepts and technique. He has authored two instructional books: Learning Guitar Book 1 and All About Chords. Styles covered include rock, blues, metal, shred, jazz fusion, neoclassical, acoustic, and altered tunings. His teaching strengths include enabling students to open up to improvising leads, understand what scales to use, read timing, and utilize advanced creative melodic concepts. Supplemental instructional CDs and tab booklets from Tim’s Master Classes are also available on a number of subjects. A strong effort is made to gear lesson material towards the student’s goals and interests. Helping students maintain interest and providing them with inspiration is job number one. Tim’s music education includes five years of private lessons with instructor Mark Smith, one year with Jeff Sherman, three years with Alan Phelps, and one year with GIT graduate Pat Lentz.  He is best known locally for performances with his bands SandPit and The Gary Sanders Band. Tim has written and recorded six internationally acclaimed CDs and is always working on a new one. His sense of humor and vast knowledge ensure a fun lesson every time.