Hello!

My name is Mr. Christopher Jala, and I'm very proud to be entering my 5th year as  the band director here at Bragg School in Chester, NJ.  Before I began teaching here at Bragg, I taught instrumental music to students in grades 3-5 with The Anne Arundel County Public School District  headquartered in Annapolis, Maryland. I instructed elementary band and strings students in two schools near Fort Meade, and have taught middle school bands and orchestras in the North County region near Baltimore. Previously, I also lived in the DC suburbs where I served as a substitute band and orchestra teacher with various middle school bands and orchestras within the Loudoun County Public Schools based in Ashburn, Virginia.

My primary speciality is woodwind instruments, with the oboe being my primary instrument.  Outside of school, I'm usually engaged in the very time consuming task of making oboe reeds! You don't need any additional hobbies by the time you're done with that. I do not teach private lessons after school, and will not be taking private students anytime soon. However, I can offer you a list of recommended music teachers in the area if you are looking for private instrumental music lessons.

The universities I have attended had a major impact on my growth and abilities, and I am thankful to my universities for great experiences. I hold a Master of Education degree in curriculum and instruction from The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. I received a Bachelor of Music degree in music education and a Bachelor of Arts degree in anthropology from West Chester University of Pennsylvania. The logistics are still hazy, but I hope to return to The University of Illinois Urbana Champaign as a summers only graduate student in music education. 

I am excited to be your son or daughter's first band director. Elementary band sets the stage for years of musical memories that have a permanent influence on students. Please contact me at christopher.jala@chester-nj.org with any questions