About tHE aCADEMY
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Founded in 2023, Fertile Minds Jazz Academy provides a platform for beginner to intermediate students to learn jazz piano using the teachings and methodology of both Khadijah Simon and the late Bruce Skerritt.
Our approach is rooted in the philosophy that music is best taught holistically, equipped with the understanding that your mindset determines your progress.
Through interactive courses, engaging community sessions, and a wealth of curated content, Fertile Minds Jazz Academy empowers students to become confident, expressive, and versatile musicians.
Who Is This Academy For?
Fertile Minds Jazz Academy is for anyone who would like to learn the “secrets” behind being a great musician that most educators fail to share with their students.
It is for anyone who has the urge to express themselves through the language of music. It is for anyone who wants to learn how to be as creative as possible.
It is for anyone who wants to learn music smarter, not harder.
Meet The Founder
Khadijah Simon, who holds Grade 5 practical piano certification from ABRSM, is an Antiguan-born pianist, educator, and author who has exhibited a profound love for music since her early childhood. This enduring passion has allowed her the opportunity to perform in Antigua, the USA, and the UK with musicians to include Larnell Lewis, Rich Brown, Vince McCoy, and Saadi Zain.
Her formal introduction to jazz is attributed to the late Bruce Skerritt, a pianist, educator, and composer from St. Kitts and Nevis. Under his mentorship from 2019 to his passing in 2021, she learned many techniques that are now part of her playing and teaching style. She has also studied with Harry Likas, the technical editor for “The Jazz Piano Book,” a popular book for jazz pianists at all levels.
In 2024, Khadijah was sponsored by UNESCO to attend “Jazz Emprende” in Havana, Cuba, where she had the opportunity to learn from prominent jazz musicians such as Robert Glasper, Aldo Mazza, and Derrick Hodge.
Khadijah’s dedication to music has also led her to win “Instrumentalist Of The Year” at Antigua’s first ever music awards held February 2025.
