Joseph L  
Instruments: Piano, Guitar, Bass Guitar, Ukulele, Mandolin
Styles: Classical, Jazz, Pop, Rock, Blues, Folk, Country, R&B, Gospel, Latin, Funk, Hip Hop, Electronic, Spirituals, Reggae, Latin Jazz, Swing, New Age, Samba, Bossa Nova, Soul, Punk, Avant-garde

I teach for several different schools in the Seattle area in addition to Musika. I've taught mandolin to an elderly woman who wanted to sing German folk songs to her grandkids, I've taught piano and ukulele to kindergartners, I've helped teenagers write their own songs and perform them to peers, and I've helped dads in their thirties to relive the glory days of Shoegaze and Grunge. With all of these students, I've helped them love the subtle, intricate, surprising parts of music and how to not only play music, but have their life enriched by it and share that with others. In everything from reading music (both traditional methods and modern methods), ear-training, rhythmic drills, performance techniques, songwriting, and theory, I want you to get the very most out of our lessons.

Guitar: For beginners who are kids, I usually start with the FJH Beginner Guitar Method, while also implementing fun melodies they know that can be played on single strings. Once the student has progressed a bit, we will work in chords, more advanced rhythms, and songs appropriate for a recital. For older beginners, I usually start with Hal Leonard's Complete Guitar Method, while again finding songs that match their musical taste and working towards their specific goals (i.e., I really want to start a punk band with my friends next summer, or I'd love to play this Taylor Swift song at the school talent show). For adults, I always start off with the list of five: five songs and/or artists that inspire them. This gives me an idea of what they want to be learning in the coming months, and I create a path for them that leads that direction, from the very first step. We will spend a lot of time on the fundamentals (scales, chords, rhythm, sight-reading) but all in the interest of using these tools on the songs they love. Piano: Faber and Faber Book series, pop melodies, etc. (similar to above) Ukulele, Bass, Mandolin: Hal Leonard Method books, pop/rock/bluegrass riffs (similar to above). I also love working Sagreras' First Lessons on Guitar for Classical, and Jazz Standards like Misty, I Remember April, Autumn Leaves, Black Orpheus, etc.