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Jake Douglass: Curriculum Vitae

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Education

  • Financial Accounting Certificate Harvard Business School Online — August 2024

  • Executive Development Program University of Washington Foster School of Business — May 2023

  • 200-hour yoga teaching certification Yoga Alliance, through Richmond Beach Yoga — August 2014

  • BA in Psychology Pitzer College, Claremont, California — May 2012

Work Experience

Co-founder, Chairman, and CEO

ClimbHigh.AI — July 2025–present

  • Co-founded a learning platform where creators, educators, and experts bring their own voice, experience, and perspective to a shared learning framework
  • Designed a model in which multiple people can teach the same concept in different ways, so the platform can learn which approaches help different learners succeed
  • Built human expertise into the center of AI-powered learning, using technology to help people share what they know rather than replace them
  • Reserved 67% of company ownership for the creators who build the platform’s learning experiences

Founding Board Member

Classical Transcription Project — July 2024–present

  • Facilitated incorporation
  • Participate in strategic planning and fiscal oversight
  • Ensure CTP fulfills its mission and maintains financial stability
  • Oversee development of programs and services
  • Foster relationships with stakeholders in the classical music community
  • Guide technological integration, including a partnership with Practicing Musician
  • Ensure compliance with nonprofit legal and ethical standards

Founder and Executive Chairman

Practicing Musician — September 2026–present

  • Work continuously toward truly equitable access to high-quality music education, so every child can join a program that speaks to their unique, expressive needs and expands their aesthetic sensibilities

Founder and CEO

Practicing Musician — May 2017–September 2026

  • Designed, wrote, and produced multimedia curriculum for 20 instruments
  • Personally beta-tested the curriculum in 5 schools for an entire school year
  • Designed and implemented the business model
  • Bootstrapped the company to national adoption in four years
  • Built and led a team of 25; coordinated a network of 150+ volunteer contributors across departments
  • Designed and developed scalable technologies for personalized learning, including a patent-pending solution that aims to transform education across multiple disciplines
  • Implemented corporate strategies for global scaling, growing Practicing Musician to 2,821 educators on the platform across 831 school districts in 90+ countries
  • Built video content with a 66% completion rate, nearly double the industry average
  • Collaborated with industry-leading advisors in technology, instructional design, marketing, logistics, account management, product development, business development, professional development, and eCommerce
  • Expanded Practicing Musician’s offerings to include an online platform for K–12 music programs and homeschoolers, mentorship programs, micro-tutoring services, and an eCommerce store for instruments and accessories
  • Spearheaded the Music Educator Online Learning Project, crowdsourcing resources for all music educators: with 150+ volunteer contributors, created 7,500+ educational assets during the pandemic
  • Grew Practicing Musician’s library to 3,800+ video tutorials, 3,000+ compositions, and 3,000+ assignments and assessments

Columnist

In Tune Partners — September 2021–May 2024

  • Wrote the column “Your Passion, Their Success: Modern Teaching Best Practices from Practicing Musician” for the Teacher’s Edition of In Tune Magazine
  • Shared modern teaching best practices drawn from the Music Educator Online Learning Project and extensive experience in music education technology
  • Provided strategies to help educators personalize learning, use technology well, and create equitable access to high-quality music education
  • Collaborated with In Tune Partners to promote resources that support music educators and students nationwide
  • Contributed to the national conversation on the future of music education, emphasizing adaptability, collaboration, and technology integration

Band Director

Gateway Academy (Homeschool Co-op) — September 2021–May 2022

  • Led the beginning concert band program for homeschooled students using Practicing Musician’s instrumental music curriculum
  • Taught foundational technique across woodwinds, brass, and percussion
  • Developed and delivered research-based lesson plans covering instrument technique, music theory, and ensemble skills
  • Developed both individual students and the ensemble through structured practice techniques and performance preparation
  • Created an engaging learning environment that served diverse skill levels and learning styles
  • Partnered with homeschool parents to support practice and musical growth between classes
  • Implemented assessment strategies to track progress and give constructive feedback
  • Organized and conducted performances showcasing student achievement

Private Instructor of Flute, Piano, Drum Set, and Percussion

Self-employed — January 2013–July 2019

  • Taught personalized private lessons to musicians of all skill levels, ages 8 and up
  • Drew on musical experience dating back to 1994 to build trust and foster student growth
  • Designed customized lesson plans for each student’s learning style and goals
  • Provided regular feedback and progress reports to students and parents
  • Maintained a professional studio environment conducive to learning and creativity
  • Stayed current with pedagogy through ongoing professional development
  • Managed scheduling, billing, and studio administration
  • Built a strong reputation in the local music community, growing primarily through referrals
  • Fostered a lifelong love of learning and music in every student

President

Pitzer College Music Coalition — September 2011–May 2012

  • Secured funding for equipment acquisition and replacement
  • Developed, supported, and mentored new bands and performers
  • Partnered with campus departments to showcase live music
  • Organized and promoted concerts, workshops, and music events on campus
  • Managed the club’s budget and allocated resources
  • Collaborated with other student organizations on multidisciplinary events
  • Represented the Music Coalition at college-wide meetings and forums
  • Recruited members and encouraged student participation in music
  • Created a supportive, inclusive environment for students with diverse musical interests
  • Led regular meetings to gather input and feedback from members

Manager

Pitzer College Sound Crew — January 2010–May 2012

  • Managed audio, visual, artist relations, and equipment for diverse campus events
  • Coordinated with event organizers on technical requirements and expectations
  • Set up, operated, and troubleshot sound and lighting equipment
  • Managed a paid student staff, assigning roles based on individual skills and interests
  • Trained team members on the proper use and maintenance of equipment
  • Developed and implemented safety protocols for crew and attendees
  • Coordinated with facilities, IT, and other departments for smooth event execution
  • Managed inventory and kept equipment in good working condition
  • Coordinated sound checks and technical needs with artists and their representatives
  • Delivered excellent service to event organizers, attendees, and performers under pressure

Presentations

  1. The Future of Music Education (2025) — Keynote, Practicing Musician’s First Annual Winter Workshop
  2. Effective Use of Practicing Musician V4 (2024) — Practicing Musician’s Fourth Annual Summer Symposium
  3. Effective Use of Practicing Musician V3 (2023) — Practicing Musician’s Third Annual Summer Symposium
  4. Individualized Instruction for Mastery (2023) — Practicing Musician’s year-round workshops
  5. Personalized Mentorship for Homeschooling Parents (2023) — Gateway Academy Homeschool Co-op
  6. Equity in Education (2022) — Practicing Musician’s year-round workshops
  7. Practicing Musician 101 (2022) — State Education Agency Directors of Arts Education Watercooler
  8. Utilizing Instrument Rentals as Music Program Fundraisers (2022) — Dade County Music Educators Association
  9. Effective Use of Practicing Musician V2 (2022) — Practicing Musician’s Second Annual Summer Symposium
  10. Music as a Spiritual Tool (2022) — Practicing Musician’s year-round workshops
  11. Implementing Music Technology in the Classroom (2021) — Kansas Department of Education
  12. Educational Technology of the Future (2021) — Knight Foundation and Miami Foundation
  13. Your Passion, Their Success! — Keynote, Practicing Musician’s First Annual Summer Symposium
  14. Effective Use of Practicing Musician V1 (2021) — Practicing Musician’s First Annual Summer Symposium
  15. Free World-Class Music Education That Meets the Needs of All Students (2021) — Wichita Public Schools
  16. A Comprehensive Guide to Getting Your Time Back (2020) — International Music Education Summit
  17. Music Educator Online Learning Project Orientation (2020) — Music Educator Online Learning Project Forum
  18. Implementing Music Technology in the Classroom (2020) — NAfME Northwest Division Conference
  19. Narrowing the Achievement Gap (2019) — Washington Music Educators Association Conference

In-Services

  1. San Diego Unified School District (2024)
  2. San Bernardino City Unified School District (2024)
  3. San Bernardino City Unified School District (2023)
  4. Miami-Dade County Public Schools (2023)
  5. San Bernardino City Unified School District (2022)
  6. Miami-Dade County Public Schools (2022)
  7. San Bernardino City Unified School District (2021)
  8. Miami-Dade County Public Schools (2021)
  9. Wichita Public Schools (2021)
  10. Miami-Dade County Public Schools (2020)

Curriculum Design

Band instruments (each method): teacher manual plus Flute, Oboe, B♭ Clarinet, Bassoon, Alto Saxophone, Tenor Saxophone, B♭ Trumpet, French Horn, Trombone, Baritone, Tuba, and Percussion (glockenspiel, crash cymbal, snare drum, bass drum). Orchestra instruments (each method): teacher manual plus Violin, Viola, Cello, and Upright Bass.

  • Online Multimedia Concert Band Method 3 (2022–23; in production) — oversaw instructional design of the full scope and sequence, managed composers for all sheet music, and planned production of video tutorials
  • Online Multimedia Orchestra Method 2 (2022–present; in production) — oversaw instructional design of the full scope and sequence, managed composers for all sheet music, and planned production of video tutorials
  • Online Multimedia Concert Band Method 2 (2021; in production) — oversaw instructional design of the full scope and sequence, managed composers for all sheet music, and planned production of video tutorials
  • Online Multimedia Concert Band Method 1 (2017) — personally designed the full scope and sequence, composed all sheet music, and produced all video tutorials
  • Online Multimedia Orchestra Method 1 (2017) — personally designed the full scope and sequence, composed all sheet music, and produced all video tutorials

Technology Design and Development Leadership

  1. Led conceptualization and strategic development of Practicing Musician’s educational technology platform, including the learning management system, micro-tutoring infrastructure, and content delivery systems
  2. Architected student progress tracking and assessment tools that integrate Model Cornerstone Assessments, enabling personalized learning paths within the ensemble and mastery-based advancement
  3. Spearheaded a scalable video tutorial system supporting 3,800+ instrument-specific lessons with synchronized sheet music and practice materials
  4. Designed user interfaces and learning flows for K–12 educators, students, homeschool families, and administrators to ensure accessibility and engagement
  5. Developed specifications for cross-platform access across devices, including offline learning capabilities
  6. Architected integration systems for video tutorials, sheet music, assignments, and assessments within one learning environment
  7. Led development of analytics and reporting tools that track student progress, practice time, and learning outcomes
  8. Designed and implemented security protocols for COPPA and FERPA compliance in handling student data
  9. Oversaw development of administrative tools for content, user, and program management

Patents

  1. U.S. Patent Application No. 18/673,158: Methods and Systems for Online Artifact Creation and Management (filed 2024)
  2. International (PCT) patent application: Online Artifact Structuring and Management (filed 2026)

Trademarks

  1. Practicing Musician
  2. Large Music Model (pending)