Jennifer Döndrup Grant holds a Bachelor of Music from Indiana University and a Master of Fine Arts from the California Institute of the Arts. Her undergraduate studies were focused on the performance of standard classical piano repertoire and her graduate work was an in-depth exploration of contemporary-classical music performance and extended piano techniques, with secondary studies in African and Indian music and dance. Her primary piano studies were with Evelyn Brancart, Edward Auer, Elizabeth Pridonoff, Marilyn Neeley, Vicki Ray, Bryan Pezzone. Her world music studies were with Swapan Chaudhuri, Alfred and Kobla Ladekpo, Beatrice Lawluvi, and John Bergamo.
Jennifer has been teaching students of all ages for 25+ years. While providing structure and thorough training in piano performance, technique, musicianship, and music theory, Jennifer strives to discover the unique qualities of each student and the music that will ignite their creativity and love of music. She has successfully been training students in the Music Teacher’s Association of California’s Certificate of Merit Program at all levels (Preparatory- Advanced) for 25 years, and her students are regularly awarded State and Branch Honors and are invited to perform at the MTAC’s annual State Convention. Jennifer’s students have also had much success in piano competitions, including Marin Music Chest, MTNA/CAPMT Honors Competition & Contemporary Competition, San Domenico Conservatory’s Annual Piano Competition, Margaret Bean Davis Piano Competition, and the UC Berkeley Concerto Competition.
She served on the piano faculty at San Domenico Music Conservatory for 14 years and directed the Conservatory’s Piano Honors Program for 6 years. She is a member of the Music Teachers' Association of California, Music Teachers National Association, and California Association of Professional Music Teachers. In addition to her work in the music field, she also teaches meditation in the Tibetan Buddhist tradition. She completed the traditional Tibetan 3-year retreat in 2005 and is the resident lama at Sukhasiddhi Foundation.