Jacob M. Dakon is a violinist and Assistant Professor of Music Education and Music Therapy at the University of Kansas. Dr. Dakon earned his Ph.D. in Music Education at The Ohio State University with Dr. Robert Gillespie. He received his B.M. in Music Education from the University of South Carolina and M.M. in Violin Performance from Appalachian State University. Other pedagogical training includes pre-service teaching at the USC String Project, Suzuki pedagogy with Carrie Reuning-Hummel, and conducting with Dr. James Allen Anderson.

Dr. Dakon taught string orchestra in the public schools of South Carolina and served as adjunct faculty at the Appalachian State University Hayes School of Music in Boone, North Carolina. Other positions included String Coordinator and Violin Instructor for the ASU Community Music School and Suzuki Violin Instructor at the James C. Harper School for the Performing Arts in Lenoir, North Carolina.

As an active researcher, Dr. Dakon has presented his work locally, regionally, and nationally for music organizations such as the American String Teachers Association and the National Association for Music Education. Dr. Dakon has also published in the Journal of Historical Research in Music Education. His current research focuses on string pedagogy for the heterogeneous string class, the cognitive processes associated with music learning in beginning-level instrumentalist, and the history of string education.

Dr. Dakon is an active musician and conductor in chamber and orchestral settings. He has guest-conducted local and regional student honors orchestras in South Carolina, Ohio, and Kansas.

Dr. Dakon lives in Lawrence, Kansas where he enjoys being a part of the KU faculty and Lawrence community.