Teaching

I design and teach programming that explores music, history, language, and social theory, as well as writing and creativity. More recently, I’m interested in developing coursework that bridges the individual with the communal through broader themes of the collective unconscious and attention. I work in-person and digitally, as a freelancer and in partnership with alternative classroom spaces in New York City and beyond.

Upcoming Courses (2026):

Dream Sip and Paint with Moonzescope (Monthly, beginning January 2026)

Archiving the Collective Unconscious through Dream Work with Underneath.Study (February 2026)

Selected Past Courses:

Dream Sip and Paint at Moonzescope (Summer 2025)

Pop Fandoms at the School of Attention (Summer 2025)

Dream Work at Index Space (Winter 2025)

Communion with the Mystic divination workshop series at Index Space (Spring 2024)

Divination (Western + Eastern Astrology, Nordic Runes, I-Ching, Tarot), at Sixth Street Haunted House (Winter 2022)

Japanese Postwar Music at Sixth Street Haunted House (Spring 2022)

Demystifying China in Transition, 1850 – Present at Sixth Street Haunted House (Winter 2021)

Private and group Japanese lessons (ongoing since 2019)

Private and group Chinese lessons (ongoing since 2019)

Private and group writing + reading comprehension lessons (ongoing since 2019)

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A Few Student Testimonials:

Jillian excels at making curriculum engaging and accessible … Since she rejects the holier-than-thou, gatekeeping attitudes and practices of Academia, her pure aim to pass on uncommon knowledge and promote deeper cultural understandings is felt through the course’s relaxed learning environment… She demonstrates mastery of her scope of knowledge by adapting to the flow of discussion and by providing keen supplemental insight or relevant anecdotes to any thought, comment, or question you may raise. But most of all, her course is fun, rich, inventive, and inspiring! — Laurie P., Japanese Postwar Music

I’ve had the pleasure of taking several of Jill’s classes, and continue to sign up every time she offers a new one. No matter the subject, her classes are always the perfect blend of fun and thought-provoking. As a teacher and a person, Jill is so passionate, supportive, and down-to-earth. I highly recommend her classes to anyone who wants to expand their horizons and have fun learning! — Will D., Intro to Japanese, Japanese Postwar Music, and Jazz Deep Dive

What a wonderfully rare combination of being able to get a glimpse into history, but dare I say, soul understanding while also HAVING A BLAST. Jill provided readings which really expanded my understanding of the ways in which we can think…  In general, these aren’t classes where someone is monotone lecturing AT you, you will also be given some opportunities to discuss really interesting and difficult things with your classmates and Jill, in a non-judgemental space. — Charlotte S., China in Transition and Japanese History and Society Through Music