Music Lessons

Group and Private Lessons on Guitar and Ukulele

About Our Instructor

Joe Miller's reputation as a teacher has brought him thousands of students, including famous musicians like Dr. Elmo, Country Joe McDonald, and John Fogerty's son Sean. His reviewers call him "Mesmerizing", "Stunning", and "Vastly Entertaining".

History

Joe Miller is a humorist, singer-songwriter, and an award-winning acoustic guitarist. He pokes fun at modern life with songs like "Racing Off to Yoga Class" and "Are You From Berkeley?".

Playing a Gallagher "Doc Watson" model guitar custom made for him in Tennessee, Joe has performed across the U. S. and Canada. His off-beat humor and dazzling instrumentals have been well received from Berkeley's Freight and Salvage to festivals in Canada, California and the eastern U. S.

After studying classical guitar, sitar, and Renaissance music in Toronto, Miller settled down to master his original instrument, the acoustic steel string flat top. He moved to the Bay Area in 1978, and won both the California State Flatpicking Championship and the National Fingerstyle Guitar Championship in Winfield, Kansas.

Joe Miller's CD's and Studio Recordings

"West Coast Music for Guitar" and "Semi-Traditional Guitar Solos" (available from ITunes and CDBaby.com) of guitar solos (and two duets with mandolin master David Grisman) brought rave reviews:

"Mesmerizing, astounding... a virtuoso in every sense of the word." - The Daily Californian.

"Awesome solo acoustic... a real talent." - Guitar Player.

"Stunning, vastly entertaining... you have to marvel at the man's technique." - Folk Roots, London.

Other reviewers compared him to John Renbourn and Leo Kottke, who are among Miller's heroes.

Live Performance

Miller performed two of his favorite instrumental pieces for Stefan Grossman's Vestapol video series. On these videos he shares the stage with John Renbourn, Duck Baker, Pat Donohue (of Prairie Home Companion), Bob Brozman, and other prominent fingerstyle players.

As a novelty, Miller developed the ability to play two songs at the same time, an offbeat trick he displays in his "Medley of Medleys". More than one reviewer wrote that the medley "has to be heard to be believed."

His teaching also brought him into contact with keyboardist Tom Constanten, who was brought into the Grateful Dead to be "the far out guy." Joe recorded two of Tom's piano pieces on solo guitar, and the two have remained close friends.

Schedule of Upcoming Group Classes (for adults and teens)

Beginning Folk / Pop Guitar
Ongoing 6 Week Courses See the Events Calendar	Learn to Play the Guitar! Absolute beginners welcome, as are other players who want to work on their technique, theory and reading. This class teaches the basics of playing folk, rock, jazz and blues. The emphasis is on good technique and knowing the names of the notes you play. The cost is $125 for six weeks of one-hour classes. (Fee includes a method book.) Please remember to advance register, since classes usually fill up.
Intermediate to Advanced Classes
Ongoing Contact Joe Miller to Schedule	Guitarists who can read notes are welcome to join a more advanced group. These groups are continuously ongoing. The cost is $125 for six weeks of one-hour classes.
Music Theory for Guitarists
Offered once a year See the Events Calendar	Learn what scales go with what chords, and how to communicate with other muscians. This is a pencil & paper class, not a playing class. The cost is $125 for six weeks of one-hour classes.

Class Photos

Contact Us

Musical Lessons Information

For more information, or to sign up for a class, please contact:

Pre-Registration Instructions

You can pre-register for Group Lessons by sending:
Download Form

1. Lesson Name (i.e. Group Lessons)
2. Student Name
3. Contact Info (phone number and/or eMail address)
4. $125 Check (payable to Joe Miller)

to the following address: