Joseph Mammarella
Joseph (he/him) is a Portland-based guitarist who regularly performs in a number of styles ranging from jazz to rock to musical theater. Joseph earned his Bachelor of Music from Portland State University in 2019, and released his debut album “Unleashed” in July 2022. Lessons with Joseph focus on helping his students find their own unique voice on the instrument.
What age were you when you first started taking music lessons?
7 years old
Tell us about an early music lessons experience that helped shape you as a musician or teacher:
I went to a summer camp at Berklee College of Music, and two guest speakers were asked the same question: how do you find your own sound? One answered, “Listen to as much music as you can” and the other answered “Don’t listen to anyone other than yourself”. I realized that every musician has to take a different journey, and that there is no right or wrong way to learn music.
What are your favorite bands or musicians?
I’m heavily influenced by jazz fusion greats like the Chick Corea Elektric Band and Tony Williams Lifetime, but I like to listen to all kinds of music. Lately I’ve had Hiatus Kaiyote and Anderson .Paak on repeat, and I’ve been getting into Brazilian music from artists like Seu Jorge.
Do you have a highlight of your music career so far that you would like to share?
Releasing my first album, “Unleashed”! It’s an incredible feeling to have my original music available all over the world.
Describe your ideal student.
My ideal student would be someone who is passionate about playing guitar and music in general, and is willing to put in the work needed to excel.
Describe what your students should expect in their first few music lessons.
For our first lesson, we’ll talk about what your goals are and what sort of music you like. We’ll learn some fundamentals about how the guitar works along with some basic chords, and we’ll be learning how to play songs in no time.
Why did you want to become a music teacher?
Playing music has had a massive impact on my life, and shaped me into the person I am today. I’m excited to be able to share my love of music with my students, and hopefully it can positively impact their lives as well.
Want to take lessons with Joseph? Follow this link to get started!