Founded over 17 years ago in the year 2000 by renowned Musician & Award-Winning Entrepreneur, Jermaine Griggs.

Jermaine Griggs founded Hear and Play Music at 17 years old in August 2000 with the goal of changing the way the world learns music. Started years earlier as a side project helping kids in his church play gospel music, it spread like wildfire morphing Hear and Play into an international hub for ear-musicians everywhere.

While Jermaine initially took on the role of the primary instructor in the early days, he has since combined forces with the world's best gospel musicians like Jason White, Michael Bereal, Jonathan Powell, Jason Freeman, and others, and produced a range of programs specializing in praise, worship, shouting, contemporary, and urban styles.

As visionary, he is charged with the responsibility of keeping the vision plowing ahead and has continued to be on the cutting edge of music instruction with video, audio, and software programs all aimed at ear-musicians.

He is married to his high school sweetheart of eleven years and has three children (Jayden, Layla and Brendan). he is a graduate of University of california, irvine, and currently resides in Orange County.

Jermaine also enjoys travelling around the world and giving inspirational talks.

About Jonathan Powell, the Director of The Gospel Music Training Center & Lead Instructor

Jonathan Powell came to Hear and Play Music in 2005 and has been responsible for producing countless programs like “GospelKeys Master Class” Featuring Michael Bereal, “GospelKeys Ministry Musician” Featuring Jason White, “GospelKeys Organ” Featuring Kevin Nickelson, and the “Musician Breakthrough” Collection.

He’s had the opportunity to play professionally for dozens of artists, choirs, churches, and producers and is known for his uncanny ability to form and reharmonize two-hand chord voicings with his signature west coast slide and grace note techniques.

He was highly sought after and practically recruited to come to Hear and Play Music and has been a blessing ever since.

In 2008, Jonathan Powell agreed to be the Head Director of The Gospel Music Training Center. Although not an easy task, he took on the responsibility of producing weekly content, which has amassed into hundreds of hours of content.

His natural talent for music coupled with his teaching abilities make for a perfect combination of training found few places. Some teach and can’t play… others play and can’t teach… but Jonathan can do both.

He is married to Shannan Powell and has two daughters and one son (Bradli, Za’niyah, and Jackson). When he’s not helping thousands of Hear and Play students, he’s traveling around the world playing for various artists and producing music. He’s one of few trusted to deliver fresh, practical, easy-to-understand techniques and principles to playing your favorite gospel songs and progressions by ear.

Check Out These Performance Clips From Jonathan Powell (Full Lessons Inside The Gospel Music Training Center)...

Imagine Sounding Like ​​​​​This?​

Founded in August 2000 with $70, Hear and Play Music now helps over 2 million aspiring musicians every year through free online lessons, newsletters, videos, and training programs.

Originally created for piano players, Hear and Play now caters to pianists, organists, guitarists, drummers, vocalists, and woodwind players in a variety of genres: gospel, jazz, salsa, pop, and more.

The product line includes video and audio courses, software tools, online training programs, and intensive home study programs. In addition to paid courses, Hear and Play provides numerous free resources including video lessons, written material, newsletters, blog articles, and an extensive youtube channel featuring hundreds of music video clips.

Instructors include: Jermaine Griggs (founder), Jonathan Powell (Head Director, GMTC), Kevin Nickelson (Organ/GMTC), Jason White, Michael Bereal, James Wrubel, Nena Lockhart, Jeff Goodkind, Kennieth Alexander, Jason Freeman, Stanton Lewis, Marcus Hodge, Javad Day, Jeremy Jeffers, and David Jackson.

Headquartered in Orange County, CA, Hear and Play continues to provide cutting-edge resources specifically for the ear-musician and stays committed to its vision to “Change The Way The World Learns Music.”