An Irreverent Bio
1971 – 1988: Early Life (Living With The Curse Of Normalcy)
On May 16, 1971 the Kansas City Royals defeated the Oakland Athletics 10-4, let by 3rd baseman Paul Schaal’s 3 hits. Jay’s parents did not allow him to attend the game at Municipal Stadium in Kansas City because he had just been born a few hours earlier. He has since forgiven them. “He actually came out wearing khaki trousers and a polo shirt,” his mother said, which would suit him well as he would grow up in preppy Johnson County, and have the distinction of living in the poorest city in the richest county in one of the poorest states in the richest country in the world. Jay spent his childhood days watching baseball, memorizing Bible verses, puffing on asthma inhalers, and playing the piano, sometimes simultaneously. 
In 1983 his father purchased a Commodore VIC 20 computer and Jay began to show signs of the then-unknown “Geek” disorder, which he suffers from to this day (untreated).
1989: Music (He likes it.)
At age 18, with a vocal range of a full 4 octaves notes, Jay decided to focus on the piano. He was thrilled to receive his acceptance letter from Johnson County Community College, the closest open-enrollment school to his (parents) house, and began his junior college career in which he squeezed his 2-year degree into just 3 1/2 years. 
Then in 1993, most likely due to a computer error, he was accepted at the University of Missouri-Kansas City Conservatory of Music, where he was privileged to study with Richard Cass. When Jay was just 12 hours away from his music degree, upon the advice of his trusted friends, Jay dropped out of school and joined a rock band. His parents have since forgiven him. The band (Waterdeep) was “really good“.
1998 – Present: Marriage (Amelia)
In 1997, Jay discovered there was a special lady who had been looking all her life for a Rock-n-roll playing / college-dropout / asthmatic who knew a lot of Bible verses. Her name was (and still is) Amelia. After six months of dating, Jay finally proposed marriage. After a six-month engagement, they were finally married, settling in Mission, KS, with Jay teaching piano at The Piano Man Music Center. Juggling Waterdeep and teaching 40 students became too much, and Jay decided to focus on his students, leaving Waterdeep in 1998 after recording what many say is the band’s best album: Live At The New Earth. The album turned out so good, many music critics wonder just how far Waterdeep would have gone if Jay had left even earlier. But there would be other bands to leave…
2000: California (Jay’s Big Break)
Jay’s new wife Amelia was from California, so after her first sub-zero Kansas winter, the couple moved to Orange County, California, where Jay landed a job teaching retirees to play the organ. One day, as Jay was demonstrating an organ at a Mission Viejo pharmacy and listening to the in-store music which had not been turned off, he realized the in-store music was a song by the band Sixpence None The Richer, a band he had opened for while in Waterdeep. His career had finally taken off. 
Jay then realized how lucky he was — an up and coming musician living just south of Los Angeles, possibly the life insurance capital of the world. So he took a break from music and became a technical writer for Pacific Life Insurance Company for two years, until the birth of his first child, Nicholas.
2003: Nicholas (Blistration)
I love him but he cried a lot! Wow! I didn’t realize…
2003: Goin’ To Kansas City (The Comeback)
Amelia and Jay (and baby Nicholas) loved the beauty and diverse culture of Orange County, but chose to forgo the high rent and mandatory plastic surgery ordinance and move back to Kansas City, the city of fountains, home of Charlie Parker, where jazz grew up, and the former home of possibly the most famous actor who played a television executive in America, 70s T.V. star Ed Asner. Jay began teaching piano again, with renewed purpose, and reconnected with some old musical friends. At the age of 32, he had made a comeback. And then his daughter was born.
2008: Naomi (20 Hours Per Day Of Joy)
Statistically, if your first child has colic, your second child does not, so we didn’t think…
2006: The Culture House (Jay’s Dream Job)
In 2006, Jay joined the staff of The Culture House. He still serves as the School of Music Director, teaches piano, and writes for various Culture House dance and theater productions. 
He also does quite a few string arrangements for bands, keyboard tracks, chord charts, transcriptions, and I’m being totally honest here, anything else that’s legal for $50/hr.
2011- Present: (It’s Mostly About The Kids)
His son Nicholas is now (current year minus 2003) years old, is sitting on the couch right now, is very cool, and would like to say the following:
“I like legos and Club Penguin. My favorite Marvel superhero is War Machine. My favorite Lego product is Hero Factory.”
-Nicholas Pfeifer, 2011
His daughter Naomi, now (current year minus 2008) years old, is very cute, and was unavailable for comment. She loves to play with her dolls, and sometimes if there’s a real loud noise, like the blender or something, she falls over. Jay loves to drive the kids to their various activities in his car, a hybrid model, which burns both gas and oil. And the only thing he likes more than watching Kansas City Royals baseball, is watching whatever is on with Amelia. Or just watching Amelia, who like a fine sports car, appeals to him from all angles.
20**: The Future (Bright)
Jay’s goals:
- Change the way piano is taught to children, making it a more cognitive, and less behavioral experience. You can learn more about that on this site.
- Grow in his faith, at Holy Trinity Orthodox Church.
- Lose some weight.
- Be a spy when I grow up, have a good schoolyear, and start a rock band with my friends. [These are actually Nicholas' goals--he's right here on the couch like I said. I'll just delete these after he gets up. He's still here. I'll just remove this one later...]
