Music Technology

Jason Kent West studied organ, voice and choral conducting at Westminster Choir College, Princeton NJ. Two years later, he made his concert debut at The John F. Kennedy Center in a solo organ recital followed by concerts throughout the US and several European countries. Jason held several organist/director positions in the Washington DC area and in Southern California. He then moved to England, where in addition to singing and playing in various Cathedrals and parish churches, he began working as computer trainer for law firms and in the financial sector.

He then combined his musical, computer, and training skills by becoming a trainer for Sibelius, the music notation software company. After being trained by the Sibelius staff, Jason designed and taught the company’s courses held in London which drew musicians of all calibers from throughout the UK.

After 13 years in England, Jason moved back to the Washington DC area to combine his skills as an IT Trainer/Business Analyst, a church musician, and a Sibelius trainer. He taught Sibelius classes to the music staff of two local schools systems in addition to private clients. Jason was invited to join the WAU Department of Music faculty as an Adjunct Professor in 2019. His own compositions and arrangements are performed in churches in the US and UK including Washington National Cathedral.

The Sibelius course he teaches has been specifically designed to combine the basic knowledge of the program with the practical needs of a trained musician. The course curriculum includes basics but quickly moves on to everyday applications of the software incorporating exercises to reinforce the new techniques. To teach practical applications of the software, familiar music (hymn, refrains, etc.) is used for imputing notations and creating small ensemble instrument arrangements. The course covers a wide range of uses which can be applicable for all levels of musicians.