We’ve all heard it before—the regrets. “I wish I had continued to play,” adults often say wistfully as they look back. Jason Tonioli might have been one of them if not for some tough love from his mother.
At first, he admits, playing the piano was fun. “But after you realize you have to start practicing and actually work at it, most kids probably aren’t super excited about that.” He jokingly refers to the period that followed as the ‘Piano Wars.’ “While all my friends were outside riding bikes, playing football, or just having fun, I had to get my piano practice done. And I thought that was terrible.”
It’s a struggle many young musicians face, and it continued for Jason until his sophomore year of high school when he was finally given the option to quit. “I went a whole year barely touching the piano—kind of to prove a point to my mom.” But during that time of ‘freedom,’ something new entered his life: composition.
“I think one of my frustrations—and I know this happens to a lot of people—is that you play these classical pieces, and they’re great, but I wanted to play them the way I felt them. That got me in trouble during lessons because I would change up Beethoven or Rachmaninoff.” His teacher, though strict, had a good sense of humor, joking that Jason would be haunted by the composers if he kept altering their music.
“I’ve never been haunted by a composer,” Jason laughs. “And frankly, if Beethoven could sit in a room with someone, I think he’d play his pieces differently every time. Music is alive—it shifts with how you feel, with the mood of the audience. That’s what makes it beautiful.”
Still, his teachers insisted that in lessons, he had to play what was on the page—until the day he could write his own music. “Ornery teenager that I was, I thought, ‘Fine, I’ll go write my own music then.’ And so I did.”
Jason entered his first composition in the Reflections music contest and won $50. The prize money kept him motivated. “I’ve always heard music in my head. People have different opinions on where that comes from—whether it’s from God or somewhere else—but I believe there’s always music around us. A few of us can tap into it, but even fewer take the time to actually write it out. Lots of people hum, whistle, or sing, but sitting down at a piano and mapping out a song? That takes effort.”
In his early days, that effort included painstakingly writing out sheet music by hand. Now, technology has made things easier, but the skill and discipline he developed have been invaluable. Over the years, Jason has published around 20 books of his compositions, particularly beloved hymn arrangements. His instinct to make music his own has led him to reinvent the simple hymn settings played in most congregations.
“If you played out of a hymn book, they’re great, but they could be greater if you just add a few notes,” he explains. “I just started exploring, and adding to it…. I didn’t even ask [the bishop or pastor for permission]—I just made it my own.”
The Power of Giving Yourself Permission
If there’s one recurring theme in Jason’s journey, it’s his ability to give himself permission.
“Who am I trying to impress? I make music for myself. If you like it, great. If not, that’s okay too. I see so many artists hesitate to put their own spin on things, and I think that’s a shame. Who are you scared of? Nobody has this magic permission slip that they give you.”
He has also learned the importance of trusting himself and his team. “Artists tend to doubt themselves. They don’t believe they’re good enough. Maybe an old professor’s words still haunt them, or a negative review stuck with them. But who cares? Believe that you are good enough. The only thing stopping you is your own mindset.”
From Music to Business—and Back Again
Jason is also passionate about helping musicians make a living from their art. His podcast, The Successful Musicians Podcast, was born from his own frustrating experience in university.
Despite testing out of certain music courses, he was forced to take remedial classes simply to satisfy school requirements. When his professor refused to give him more advanced material, Jason hit a breaking point. “I had a ‘screw you’ moment where I thought, ‘Well, I don’t even want to learn from you.’”
Instead, he walked across campus, signed up for business classes, and eventually pursued a degree in marketing. “That was the best thing I ever did for my music career. I learned about marketing while still playing music because I loved it. That moment made me stop caring about what others thought. I just did what I wanted—for fun. Luckily, more than just my mom and a couple of people in their basement ended up listening to my music.”
With over 25,000 monthly Spotify listeners and more than 100 million streams, it’s safe to say Jason’s audience extends far beyond basements.
What’s Next?
In addition to music, Jason has a passion for publishing. His second book on the stories behind hymns is out now, with more books in the works. He also runs a travel agency.
Musically, he has three albums in development, including Healing Piano, which he describes as some of his best work yet. “ It’s going to be really exciting to see that come out and be shared out there.”
Watch our full interview with Jason on our YouTube channel and explore all of his projects at www.tonioli.com.
