Jill Kocher is a native of Rochester, NY. After completing her Bachelor’s degree at SUNY Fredonia in New York, she moved to Greenville, NC where she completed her Master’s degree at East Carolina University and continued living, teaching, and performing there for seven years. In 2009, Jill made the great trek across the U.S. to the west coast with her husband. In 2011, she became a teacher of Music for Young Children™, and has been excited to see numerous students thrive with this creative and comprehensive music and piano curriculum. Jill also enjoys playing other instruments including cello and French horn, cooking, creating mixed media art, visiting art galleries, running, hiking, gardening, and most of all, spoiling her dog.

Ms. Kocher strives to offer the highest quality music education to all students she works with and to provide a warm and nurturing learning environment. Jill Kocher’s students have performed at consistently high levels in local and state contests of North Carolina and California, often receiving honors ratings. Several students have been awarded top prizes at the local level. She has also had students continue on to be music minors and majors at the undergraduate level. At the same time, Jill takes much pride in working with hobbyist students who have no or little interest in performing and simply enjoy playing for recreational purposes.   

 
Jill Kocher was a recipient of a full graduate scholarship, graduate teaching assistantship, and Graduate Scholar Award in the School of Music at East Carolina University. In 2002, she became a member of the Pi Kappa Lambda Music Honor Society. Jill was a finalist in the 2001 concerto competition at East Carolina University, and a finalist in the 1998 concerto competition at SUNY Fredonia. At SUNY Fredonia she was also a recipient of the Amy Bromelly Piano Scholarship, Jesse Hillman Piano Scholarship, and Piano Faculty Scholarship, and was awarded membership to the Kappa Delta Pi Education Honor Society. Recently, Jill Kocher has been a recipient of MTNA grants for continuing education in 2017, 2019, and 2022.