Academic CV – Max Holm

MAX HOLM

PROFESSIONAL PROFILE
Music educator, former adjunct professor, master class clinician, and published author with university-level
experience teaching jazz piano, composition, arranging, improvisation, and ensemble performance with curriculum development experience. Holds
Oklahoma Standard Teaching Certification in Instrumental/General Music and Vocal/General Music (Pre-K–
12), as well as a New Jersey Certificate of Eligibility in Music. Graduated summa cum laude from Berklee
College of Music and currently pursuing a Master of Music in Jazz Studies at the University of Central Oklahoma
(expected 2027). Also an award-winning pianist, composer, and producer with extensive performance,
recording, and mixing and mastering experience.

EDUCATION
Master of Music, Jazz Studies | University of Central Oklahoma, Edmond, OK | Expected 2027
Concentration: Music Production

Bachelor of Music, Professional Music | Berklee College of Music, Boston, MA | 2020
Summa cum laude; concentrations in Performance, Production, and Composition; Presidential Scholar;

Berklee Global Jazz Institute member

Brubeck Fellowship Diploma | Dave Brubeck Institute, University of the Pacific, Stockton, CA |
2015–2016

TEACHING LICENSES & CERTIFICATIONS
Oklahoma State Department of Education — Standard Teaching Certificate
Standard certificate | Instrumental/General Music (Pre-K–12) and Vocal/General Music (Pre-K–12) |
Valid July 1, 2025–June 30, 2030

New Jersey Department of Education — Certificate of Eligibility (CE)
Certificate of Eligibility (CE), Music (Endorsement 2100) | Authorizes vocal music, instrumental music, and related
theory in New Jersey public schools | Issued October 6, 2025; active; does not expire

Praxis II — Music Content Knowledge (5113), Standardized licensure assessment administered by the Educational Testing Services (ETS) in the United States. Score: 173 (passing score is 149) | May 2, 2025

ACADEMIC & TEACHING APPOINTMENTS

GRADUATE TEACHING ASSISTANT — Jazz Theory, Vocal Jazz Coach & Accompanist | University of
Central Oklahoma | Dec 2025–Present

Arrangements for vocal jazz ensemble — soloists, piano, bass, drums.
Developed comprehensive four-week vocal jazz exercises for primarily classically-trained vocalists
Collaborative Pianist

ADJUNCT PROFESSOR OF MUSIC | Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, Oklahoma | Aug 2024–May 2025

Jazz Piano Class: Developed and taught comprehensive 16-week curriculum for undergraduate and graduate students covering blues, rhythm changes, standards, and modal jazz
Jazz Composition and Arranging I: Created original curriculum teaching students to compose and arrange for five saxophones and rhythm section using notation software.
Class Piano I & II: Taught foundational keyboard skills and music fundamentals to non-piano majors.
Applied Jazz Piano Lessons: Provided individualized instruction in jazz theory, improvisation, and performance techniques
Jazz Ensemble Mentorship: Coached two quartets and a quintet through rehearsals and concert performances with memorized repertoire.
Collaborative Pianist: Accompanied university productions and performances.

Private Jazz Piano Educator | Online and in person | 2020–Present

Teach jazz improvisation, performance, and music production to adult learners, classically trainedpianists, and professional jazz pianists.
Prepared a private student at Nanjing University, China, for international master’s auditions (2023).

Master Class Instructor
Various Institutions | 2020 – Present

Harvard Jazz Piano Initiative, Cambridge, Massachusetts (2020): Contracted by Don Braden to teach Harvard students jazz trio performance
Sedajazz, Valencia, Spain (2021): Jazz improvisation and composition for teenage and college students, adult teachers, and professional musicians
Cambridge School of Weston, Massachusetts (2019): Jazz improvisation and piano technique for high school students
Oklahoma State University Jazz Forum (2023-2024): Jazz piano improvisation and music synchronization licensing

PUBLICATIONS & EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS
“Ace Your Sight-Reading Audition!” / “Domina tu audición a primera vista” / English and Spanish | Amazon Publishing, Kindle

Educational guide for middle and high school piano students, making sight-reading easy and stress-free
Available in English and Spanish (hardcover, paperback, Audible, Kindle)
2024 Honoree by OSU’s Edmon Low Library

“Produce a Track in Under 30 Seconds” / “Produza Qualquer Faixa em Menos de 30 Segundos!” / English and Portugues | Amazon Publishing, Kindle

Educational guide for music producers of any age, no music notation needed, for any genre of music and any DAW
Available in English and Portuguese (Kindle)

“52 Weeks of Lessons for Teachers of Intermediate Jazz Piano Students” / “52 semanas de lecciones para maestros de alumnos de piano de jazz de nivel intermedio” (In progress. Expected publication December 2026)

Professional Experience
Music Producer & Composer

Sync Licensing Producer/Composer | 2019 – Present

Composed music used in more than 30,000 projects with 131+ million streams across jazz, classical, Mediterranean, and cinematic genres.
Placements include Fox TV, BET+, Univision, Monster Energy, and Cadbury across the United States and international markets.
Film credit: Mother’s Instinct, starring Anne Hathaway and Jessica Chastain.
Composed and Produced the neo-classical album IMPASSE featuring members of the Tulsa Symphony Orchestra.

Professional Jazz Pianist | 200+ performances across the United States and Europe | 2014–Present

Major venues: Monterey Jazz Festival, Dizzy’s Club (Jazz at Lincoln Center), Blues Alley
Arena performances for 60,000+ attendees
Performed with or opened for Jon Batiste, Journey, Stefon Harris, Benny Golson, Poncho Sanchez, and Kirk Whalum

CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT & TECHNOLOGY

Designed progressive jazz piano curricula integrating chord-scale relationships, voicings, harmonic analysis, and performance-based assessment.
Developed differentiated instruction and practical skills evaluation for varied student levels.
Music notation: Sibelius, MuseScore, Dorico. Production: Logic Pro, Ableton Live, Pro Tools. Learning management systems and technology-enhanced instruction.

Technology Integration

Proficient in music notation software: Sibelius, MuseScore, Dorico
Learning management systems implementation in music education
Digital audio workstation expertise for music production instruction – Logic Pro, Ableton, Pro Tools

AWARDS & HONORS

2019: Downbeat Student Music Awards, Outstanding Jazz Piano Soloist
2018: Yamaha Young Performing Artists Competition, Jazz Piano Winner, Honorable Mention in overall Contemporary Piano
2018: TED Talk presenter: “How 7 Blood Transfusions Gave Me a Passion for Jazz”
2016: Best Jazz Album of the Year (NIMA), “The Inside of the Outside”
2016-2020: Berklee Presidential Scholarship ($300,000 value)
2015-2016: Brubeck Institute Fellowship ($140,000 value)
2024: Honoree for Educational Contributions, OSU Edmon Low Library for “Ace Your Sight-Reading Audition!” and neo-classical album “Impasse”
2020: Berklee Anywhere Concert featured global performer

SERVICE & PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES

Adjudication
Texas Music Educators Association (TMEA), All-State Jazz Band adjudicator (2022–2024).

Selected Collaborations & Conference Performances

Jazz Education Network (JEN) Conference performer (2014, 2024)
Oklahoma State University (OSU) Jazz Orchestra: Tours and concerts
University of Central Oklahoma (UCO) Big Band and Ensembles: Tours and concerts
Featured Artist: Performances with Jon Batiste & Stay Human, Poncho Sanchez, Kirk Whalum, Stefon Harris, Ed Simon, Donny McCaslin, Jim Snidero, Dave O’Higgins, Terell Stafford, John Fedchock, Vincent Herring.

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS
International Society of Jazz Arrangers & Composers; Society of Composers, Inc.; Society of Composers and
Lyricists; Chamber Music America; Academy of Scoring Arts; BMI.

MENTORSHIP & PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Master classes and private study with Joanne Brackeen (2016–present), Joe Lovano, John Patitucci, Terri Lyne
Carrington, Dave Liebman, Esperanza Spalding, Danilo Pérez, Kenny Werner, Stefon Harris, Wynton
Marsalis, Chucho Valdés, Harold Mabern, Chris Potter, Taylor Eigsti, and Shelly Berg.

SKILLS & LANGUAGES

Technical Skills

Jazz piano pedagogy and performance; music composition and arranging; music notation (Sibelius, MuseScore, Dorico), digital audio production and mixing;
curriculum design and assessment; differentiated and collaborative instruction.
Languages: English (native); Swedish (fluent); Spanish (conversational).

TEACHING METHODOLOGIES

Differentiated, customized instruction for diverse learners
Performance-based assessment
Technology-enhanced learning
Collaborative learning in ensemble settings

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