Joe O
Instruments: Guitar, Drums, Electric Guitar
Styles: Pop, Rock, Blues, Folk, R&b, Funk, Hip Hop, Electronic, Reggae, Soul, Marching Band

I began teaching music lessons over a decade ago while I was as a junior in high school and continue to teach to this day. While studying music at Umass Lowell, I taught for two years at the local music store, University Music. There, I worked with a diverse array of students from toddlers to adults, many of whom spoke english as their secondary language. After transferring to Umass Amherst to finish my degree, I began teaching at both Guitar Center in Portsmouth, NH and Zach Field Drum Studios in Newburyport, MA. During these last ten years I have focused on teaching students how to read music, develop proper technique and play their favorite songs.

For beginning students, I typically begin by teaching how to use proper technique and how to read music, chord changes or tablature. Once the student is ready, I will work with the student on pieces or songs that we choose together. For guitar students, I use songs as a basis for teaching scales, new chords and improvisation. For drum students, I use songs and solos as a means for teaching rudiments, grooves, fills and improvisation. For advanced students on both drums and guitar, I focus on transcriptions, song writing, improvising and musicianship.