Jonathan May is a pianist from Southern California who specializes in many styles of piano. At age eighteen, Jonny became the youngest pianist to perform at Disneyland. Each week he entertained thousands of guests with his arrangements of American classics and Disney songs. Jonny has also performed with the Youtube group Postmodern Jukebox, and has played piano for Comedy Central and Universal Studios. He has accompanied Grammy Award Winner Lari White, and Tony Award Winner Lin Manuel Miranda. In his spare time, Jonny loves to go snowboarding and work out at the gym. He is happily married to his lovely wife and biggest fan, Crystal May. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j2qw9lD2CYk
About Jonny May

Years of piano experience

26


Favorite piano styles
  • Jazz Swing
  • Contemporary & Pop
  • Ragtime & Stride
  • ... Everything

Fun Fact

At age eighteen, Jonny became the youngest pianist to perform at Disneyland.

Jonny May's Latest Courses

Learn harmonized turns, a soloing technique that adds a magical, whimsical sparkle to your solos, fills and melodies. You'll go from the basic concept to building your own improvisations over popular pop chord progressions.

Bring lively, energetic movement to your right-hand solos with turns, one of the most useful ornaments in pop piano. You'll learn the essential turn types, the right fingering and the rhythm, then use them to improvise over popular chord progressions.

Take the One Chord Wonder to the next level with a rich, lush 4-note cluster you can play over any chord in your left hand. Then use it to build fresh, memorable solos that break you out of the same old scales.

Make every chord progression sound more colorful and sophisticated with one simple right-hand shape. It's an easy way for beginner and intermediate players to take both their chords and their solos to the next level.

View All of Jonny May's Courses

Jonny May's Quick Tips (Instructor)

Learn three of Post Malone's pianist David Crutcher's best licks (funk, blues turnaround, and a showstopping waterfall lick), all built on a simple three chord system.

Learn three levels of walking bass lines using upper neighbor notes, swing, and triplets to create authentic-sounding bass lines you can use in a variety of tunes.

I'm breaking down 4 of the things that make Luca Sestak’s playing so fun to listen to.

In this live lesson, I'll be breaking down the two major chord shapes behind modern gospel piano and show you how to use them to harmonize an entire major scale.

View All of Jonny May's Quick Tips (Instructor)


Jonny May's Quick Tips (Writer)

Learn three of Post Malone's pianist David Crutcher's best licks (funk, blues turnaround, and a showstopping waterfall lick), all built on a simple three chord system.

Learn three levels of walking bass lines using upper neighbor notes, swing, and triplets to create authentic-sounding bass lines you can use in a variety of tunes.

I'm breaking down 4 of the things that make Luca Sestak’s playing so fun to listen to.

In this live lesson, I'll be breaking down the two major chord shapes behind modern gospel piano and show you how to use them to harmonize an entire major scale.

View All of Jonny May's Quick Tips (Writer)

Jonny May's Smartsheets

Learn three of Post Malone's pianist David Crutcher's best licks (funk, blues turnaround, and a showstopping waterfall lick), all built on a simple three chord system.

Learn three levels of walking bass lines using upper neighbor notes, swing, and triplets to create authentic-sounding bass lines you can use in a variety of tunes.

Learn harmonized turns, a soloing technique that adds a magical, whimsical sparkle to your solos, fills and melodies. You'll go from the basic concept to building your own improvisations over popular pop chord progressions.

I'm breaking down 4 of the things that make Luca Sestak’s playing so fun to listen to.

View All of Jonny May's Smartsheets

Jonny May's Latest Shows
2026 Student Awards Party

Mark your calendars for the most beloved PWJ event of the year - the Holiday Awards Party, where we'll be celebrating the end of the year with YOU, our wonderful PWJ community!

Student Recital (December 2026)

Recitals are an opportunity to showcase a final performance of what you’ve been working on in front of a live audience - your fellow PWJ students!

Live Workshop (December 10)

In this workshop, Jonny will teach a live lesson while students ask questions.

Live Workshop (November 19)

In this workshop, Jonny will teach a live lesson while students ask questions.

Learn from Jonny May

Get access to all of Jonny May's courses, lessons, quick tips and more with a PWJ membership!


Guided Learning Tracks

View guided learning tracks for all music styles and skill levels

Progress Tracking

Complete lessons and courses as you track your learning progress

Downloadable Resources

Download Sheet Music and Backing Tracks

Community Forums

Engage with other PWJ members in our member-only community forums

Become a better piano player today. Try us out completely free for 14 days!

Get Started