Jason Vance

One-Man Band

Jason grew up in Bluefield, Virginia — right on the border of West Virginia, where his family has lived for over 150 years. Weekend trips to the mountaintop meant listening to his Pa-paw play banjo, his uncle play guitar, his aunt play spoons, while his Ma-maw and Dad flatfooted on the porch. Music was never a lesson — it was just what his family did.

After graduating from UVA and teaching in DC public schools with AmeriCorps, he moved back to that mountaintop, bought several second-hand instruments, and taught himself music theory while teaching middle school English. When he moved to NYC, his Craigslist roommate — a jazz musician — showed him what dedicated practice really meant. From then on, the banjo went everywhere.

Today he carries that tradition forward as a solo one-man band, strapping on banjo, harmonica, spoons, bass drum, tambourine, and stomp board all at once. His shows are loud, joyful, and completely unpredictable — kids sing along, stomp their feet, and become part of the performance. He tours schools, libraries, bookstores, and concert halls across the Northeast.

Interactive Theater

Beyond his solo work, Jason is an actor and deviser in New York's immersive and interactive theater scene. He has worked with Trusty Sidekick Theater Company, Live In Theater, and the Society for Misfit Puppets, creating performances where the boundary between audience and performer dissolves entirely.

His theater work has been featured at Lincoln Center, Park Avenue Armory, and the New-York Historical Society. These experiences shape everything about his solo shows — the audience participation, the improvisation, the sense that anything could happen.

Education

Jason is the Director of Exploration Bands at Brooklyn Music Factory and heads the music program at Middle Way School in the Hudson Valley. He has taught music to kids for over 20 years, across pre-K through middle school.

His curriculum is built on four pillars — Rhythm, Melody, Harmony, and Songwriting — taught from four angles: Ear Training, Theory, Technique, and Community. The approach treats music as a language: with a strong foundation, anyone can become fluent.

He is a regular performer at Maverick Family Concerts, Rough Draft Bar & Books, and Woodstock Library, where he has built a loyal following of families who come back show after show.