Biography

I am a public elementary school music teacher in Indianapolis. I also direct the children's choirs at our church. I love to play piano. I play solo piano jobs around town, and also lead a jazz trio (piano, bass, drums). I am 48 years old.

I got GarageBand in the summer of 2004, when I upgraded from my trusty indigo G3 500 mhz iMac to a 1.25 ghz eMac. The eMac is not the sexiest machine Apple makes, but it sure can do a lot. I've used many diifferent kinds of sequencers over the years (Cubasis, Yamaha XGWorks, Digital Performer), but GB is by far the most fun.

My first Mac was a 1998 PowerPC 5500/225 all-in-one computer, designed for the education market. A lot like the the iMac -- CD drive and floppy drive (and all other computer guts) in same housing as monitor. It still works great, in my daughter's bedroom. My 2001 indigo iMac also still runs great.

I have had a couple of choral pieces for children's choirs published. One was published as an octavo by Hal Leonard Publishing, and the other was published as part of anthology by LifeWay. That was about five years ago. Feeling the flush of publishing success, I sent off many other pieces in the next year or two, only to meet with polite rejection letters. After a couple of years, I stopped trying. I had visions of retiring from teaching to concentrate on getting my compositions published, but it was not to be, at least not now. Maybe someday I'll dive in again and send off some more stuff. In the meantime, producing my own jazz piano CD has been an excellent "alternate outlet" for my creative urges.

Since 1991, I have been a piano judge for the Indiana State School Music Association's yearly auditions. That has been a great experience. My hand gets tired from writing by the end of the day, but it's worth it for the kids' sakes. I try to be as positive as I can be in my comments, even when a student has a bad case of the nerves. And this judging experience has allowed me to reconnect with people that I went to music school with at Ball State many years ago (1978-82).

My wife is also an elementary music teacher in Indianapolis. We have three kids, ages 9, 13, and 15. The youngest one still takes piano lessons. The oldest one did, and begged to quit, so we gave in. He now plays in the church bell choir, which is better than nothing, I guess. He also plays baritone in the middle school band, so that's good, too. None of them likes to practice. Our middle child is now playing violin, and has violin lessons, so we let her quit piano.

Here’s my 2008 jazz piano CD, “Jazz Meets Classical!”, available on CD Baby, and the iTunes Music Store.

Here’s my 2005 jazz piano CD, available on CD Baby, and the iTunes Music Store.

Also check out my jazz piano website at www.johnstebbe.com

Blog rss

Smoke-free piano job February 3, 2006
I can breathe!
Comments (1) | Read more »
Restaurant piano job January 14, 2006
Playing with pain
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Music rss

Title Genre Released Plays
Sing Alleluia Spiritual/Gospel Jul 12, 2009 354
This Is My Father's World Jazz Apr 28, 2009 577
Be Thou My Vision Jazz Apr 5, 2009 373
Silent Night (jazz trio version) Holiday Dec 21, 2008 634
I Love To Tell The Story Spiritual/Gospel Mar 13, 2008 677
50 States Song Childrens Mar 11, 2008 4734
Grandfather's Jazz Clock Jazz Jan 22, 2008 655
O Christmas Tree (jazz piano trio) 2007 Holiday Dec 7, 2007 659
Crown Him (Kids Sing 2007) Childrens Oct 28, 2007 316
God Knows (Kids Sing) Childrens Oct 21, 2007 494
He Is The Way (John 14:6) Childrens Oct 14, 2007 407
Stebbe's Favorite Jokes Comedy Sep 5, 2007 334
Trumpet Piano Collab Collab Jazz Aug 30, 2007 597
Indy Summer jazz piano trio Jazz Jul 18, 2007 453
Bossa Blue Latin Jun 23, 2007 433
Wonderful Words of Life (kids sing) Childrens Apr 15, 2007 865
Here's A Song For You (kids sing) Childrens Apr 15, 2007 380
Living For The King (kids sing) Childrens Mar 11, 2007 644
Come Thou Fount (kids sing) Childrens Feb 25, 2007 524
Christmas Day (kids sing) Childrens Dec 10, 2006 569
While By The Sheep (kids sing) Holiday Dec 3, 2006 548
Brahms Jazz Piano Trio Jazz Nov 18, 2006 1164
I Want To Follow Jesus LIVE Spiritual/Gospel Nov 12, 2006 561
Two Spiritual Rounds LIVE Childrens Oct 29, 2006 486
Oh, How I Love Jesus LIVE Childrens Oct 22, 2006 1048
He's Got The Whole World LIVE Childrens Oct 8, 2006 1129
Oh, How I Love Jesus (jazz) Spiritual/Gospel Sep 1, 2006 1011
Blessed Assurance Sax LIVE Jazz Aug 8, 2006 1207
Stebbe LIVE Combo Blues Blues Jul 29, 2006 578
Brethren, We Have Met To Worship Spiritual/Gospel Jul 16, 2006 3274
I Am Not Ashamed (Romans 1:16) Spiritual/Gospel May 22, 2006 1527
Mother's Day Song II LIVE Childrens May 14, 2006 668
Love Like No Other Childrens May 1, 2006 764
Mother's Day Song Childrens Apr 26, 2006 930
John Stebbe: A Slice Of Life Music Videos Apr 10, 2006 755
After Summer piano jazz trio Jazz Apr 3, 2006 1501
God On High (kids sing) Childrens Mar 26, 2006 603
Holy Holy Holy (kids sing) Spiritual/Gospel Mar 17, 2006 630
It Is Well (kids sing) Spiritual/Gospel Feb 26, 2006 941
One, Two, Buckle My Shoe (kids sing) Spiritual/Gospel Feb 26, 2006 2731
God Made Me (kids sing) Childrens Feb 12, 2006 711
Latin Steinway Latin Feb 12, 2006 985
Oh Susannah piano jazz Jazz Feb 5, 2006 1421
LuvdByYouPianoOnly Rock Jan 30, 2006 660
Luvd By You (Steinway) Collab Rock Jan 30, 2006 1221
Jazz Bosendorfer Jazz Jan 22, 2006 1257
My Wild Irish Rose piano jazz Jazz Jan 16, 2006 1251
It Is Well With My Soul Spiritual/Gospel Jan 11, 2006 6614
John Stebbe Trio LIVE Music Videos Dec 20, 2005 1304
What Child Is This? Holiday Nov 27, 2005 1183
Dream Vaporman Collab Other Nov 23, 2005 707
Kum Ba Yah (kids sing) Childrens Nov 20, 2005 1417
God Rest Ye Jazzy Gentlemen Jazz Nov 7, 2005 1046
Christmas Medley Piano Solo Jazz Oct 23, 2005 1658
Jolly Old St. Nick Jazz Jazz Oct 13, 2005 868
ISTEP Test Song Childrens Aug 27, 2005 1690
This Little Light Of Mine (piano jazz) Jazz Aug 22, 2005 11284
Latin Jazz Collab. Jazz May 1, 2005 947
Mozart jazz collab Jazz Apr 10, 2005 1555
Piano Funk! collab Collab Jazz Mar 31, 2005 1159
Ode To Joy jazz collab Jazz Mar 24, 2005 1192
Beethoven Collab Jazz Jazz Mar 23, 2005 1393
Shenandoah2 (Ivory piano/pad) Jazz Mar 20, 2005 1110
Surely I Am With You Always (kids sing) Childrens Mar 20, 2005 845
Just A Closer Walk With Thee (kids sing) Childrens Mar 13, 2005 884
KumBaYah (Ivory piano solo) Spiritual/Gospel Mar 12, 2005 993
Take My Life (kids sing) Spiritual/Gospel Feb 27, 2005 963
Shenandoah (piano solo) Jazz Feb 26, 2005 2332
Peace Round A Cappella Feb 23, 2005 1760
Piano Funk! 2 Jazz Feb 21, 2005 877
Piano Funk! Funk Feb 20, 2005 1656
God Is So Good (kids sing) Spiritual/Gospel Feb 14, 2005 951
Blessed Assurance (kids sing) Spiritual/Gospel Feb 13, 2005 798
Nobody Knows The Trouble I've Seen Jazz Feb 11, 2005 4101
Aura Lee collab. trio -- better Jazz Jan 25, 2005 971
Bach Jazz Trio collaboration Jazz Jan 23, 2005 1690
God Is So Good Spiritual/Gospel Jan 18, 2005 965
Amazing Grace (3 jazz variations) Jazz Jan 9, 2005 3145
Latin Excursion Latin Jan 3, 2005 1194
Railroad Jazz Jazz Dec 28, 2004 1153
Bach Jazz piano solo Jazz Dec 20, 2004 1683
Of The Father's Love Begotten Holiday Dec 12, 2004 1975
Go Tell It On The Mountain (kids sing) Holiday Dec 5, 2004 1091
Glory to God (kids sing) Childrens Nov 28, 2004 929
Beethoven Jazz Jazz Nov 24, 2004 5356
"Aura Lee" jazz piano/bass duo Jazz Nov 15, 2004 1526
Battle Hymn jazz piano solo Jazz Nov 13, 2004 1683
Peace For The World Inspirational Nov 7, 2004 848
Oh, Be Careful Childrens Nov 7, 2004 903
Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus Spiritual/Gospel Oct 29, 2004 1317
Crown Him (Kids Sing) Childrens Oct 24, 2004 930
Six Days Childrens Oct 17, 2004 968
"Dad, Did I Do Good?" Childrens Oct 10, 2004 1300
Razzle Dazzle Cheerleaders Childrens Oct 6, 2004 1381
Bass Fisherman's "ThatGuy" promo Other Sep 23, 2004 710
In My Room (I Sit And Dream) Inspirational Sep 22, 2004 942
Yankee Doodle Blues piano/vibes quartet Jazz Sep 20, 2004 1075
Crown Him With Many Crowns Spiritual/Gospel Aug 29, 2004 2253
Amazing Grace (Live at Nordstrom) Jazz Aug 8, 2004 1507
America The Beautiful jazz piano solo Jazz Jul 17, 2004 7618
Easy Way Out Funk Jul 11, 2004 1016
Cool Samba jazz piano trio Jazz Jul 10, 2004 2999
C Minor Blues (better mix) Blues Jul 9, 2004 1335
C Minor Blues jazz piano trio Jazz Jul 7, 2004 1419
Come Down Spiritual/Gospel Jul 3, 2004 1256
Indy Blues jazz piano trio Jazz May 28, 2004 1657
Surely, Surely Inspirational May 28, 2004 784
The Continents Song Childrens Apr 29, 2004 12401
Rain Forest Rap Childrens Apr 18, 2004 4896
Bye Bye Blues (600 SongFlutes) Childrens Apr 18, 2004 1812
Presidents Song Childrens Apr 17, 2004 24905
The Lord Is My Light Inspirational Apr 17, 2004 1165
Counting By Fives Childrens Apr 17, 2004 3850
Boom Chicka Boom (Hear the crickets?) Childrens Apr 15, 2004 3118
New Testament book list Inspirational Apr 12, 2004 4162
Old Testament Book List Inspirational Apr 12, 2004 3865
The Muscle Groups Song Childrens Apr 12, 2004 1947
"Famous Guitar Player" 1978 Other Apr 12, 2004 4974
The Circulatory System Song Childrens Apr 12, 2004 9048
Chopsticks (with errors) Other Apr 12, 2004 1376
Amazing Grace jazz piano trio Jazz Apr 11, 2004 6058
Danny Boy jazz piano trio Jazz Apr 11, 2004 4499
Weekend Amateur Bass Fisherman Comedy Apr 11, 2004 1246
Bow Wow Doggie Childrens Apr 11, 2004 6307

Collaborations

Title Genre Released Plays
Till There Was You-Know-Who Jazz Feb 23, 2009 177
The Other Side of Night Music Videos Jul 9, 2006 1085
Jazz on Altaïr (with John Stebbe) Jazz Jun 25, 2006 1754
Nobody Knows the Trouble I Have Seen Jazz Apr 5, 2006 3545
Half Baked Blues Jazz Jan 17, 2006 1086
I'm not a jukebox (with ssstebbe) Jazz Jan 16, 2006 1663
Transatlantic Blues Blues Jan 2, 2006 1566
Vap's dream (One more cat licking) Alternative Dec 12, 2005 1705
My Dream [full collab draft] Alternative Dec 12, 2005 3166
When The Crickets Sing Jazz Dec 4, 2005 1617
Louisiana Swing Jazz Nov 23, 2005 1909
Beethoven Jazz II (with ssstebbe) Jazz Nov 21, 2005 2044

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