Have fun and achieve your musical/guitar goals, studying with a college trained world-class instructor!

If you want a short and direct answer to the question, “Should I start guitar lessons with David Joel?” then the answer is a resounding YES.

Prior to working with David I had no experience playing guitar. I had a guitar I received as a Christmas gift that had not been touched in over a decade.

David’s structured lessons and tailored approach to my learning needs and musical interests kept me engaged. This allowed me to make consistent progress in both my musical knowledge and playing ability.

After 3 years of lessons with David I went from having zero guitar knowledge to someone who can:

1. Confidently read music (I started learning in my first lesson).

2. Play with proper technique (this becomes increasingly important as the complexity of the pieces you play grows).

3. Music history (classic rock to jazz and more David can answer many questions. Most importantly, when he does not have an answer, he is honest and says so!).

4. Music theory (While I am still no expert David’s organized approach and recommended reading material left me with a strong foundation to build from).

David is a friendly instructor who keeps music fun while still imparting knowledge. He takes his role as a teacher seriously and wants to see you improve as a guitar player. With David’s encouragement I began practicing an hour a day (most of the time) and it allowed me to quickly expand my guitar skills and get the most out of our one-on-one lessons.

Lastly, David doesn’t just have credentials as a Berklee College of Music graduate and former Berklee guitar teacher (among other accomplishments) but also has real experience teaching music. Playing music is a different skill set than teaching music and David mastered both.

When I started guitar lessons, I had 3 different instructors who I would see weekly. They were all excellent and credentialed but David is the one I stuck with, and I have no regrets about it!

My experience with David as my teacher has allowed me to become the musician I am today and to continue growing in a natural and organized way. The foundation that David's teaching method lays down is absolutely crucial to understanding music in a greater perspective. The approach to new subjects was always at a comfortable pace, with regular encouragement from David. I never felt overwhelmed or over my head due to the way information is rolled out slowly once understood through practice. Possibly the best part of lessons with David is his ability to mold the curriculum to fit each student's individual interests while always maintaining a through line of the foundational studies. The organization of David's curriculum and the tips he offers on practice routines have lead me to become a very resourceful and efficient in my routines. I feel comfortable venturing into new topics and musical ventures on my own with these tools. On top of all of this David is a pleasure to sit with for an hour every week, I'll always be incredibly grateful for everything he has taught me over the years.

I wanted an instructor who focused on the instrument and music theory, not genre. And that’s exactly what I got.

Mr. Joel is patient and understanding. He is also quite honestly supportive.

Now, I can play the guitar, read music, know what I’m playing in tabs and figure out progressions by ear. So, I’m a happy student. Really, I am a guitarist.🙌🏽

David is fantastic! Not only is he a world-class musician, but David has an incredible talent for recognizing & guiding students to their full potential.

His attention to detail paired with his warm demeanor makes for an excellent learning experience. You will become a better player than you ever thought possible and have a great time along the way!

I studied with Dave for a little over 2 years. He is an excellent teacher who can meet you where you are at and achieve your goals. He has a highly specific method that I sense he created both from the years he spent at Berklee (both studying and teaching) as well as his own years of developing his teaching philosophy.

Dave will take you back to the beginning to fix bad habits that plague most guitar players who never learned properly. It might feel slow at first but the progress it is able to unlock is more than worth it. Whether you want theory, technique, or help with sight reading and ear training, or even music notation and composition, Dave can help. How much you put in is how much you get out, because Dave can always provide you with more and more materials.

An added fun bonus is you will be regaled with stories and anecdotes about the jazz world, which Dave has experienced more than his fair share of after a career of learning and gigging!

David has Great music and life experience. He cares about teaching deeply and gave some really important skills and foundation.

The passion and intensity that emanates from David Joel's guitar playing and teaching can be felt by his students. I improved so quickly in regards to theory comprehension, soloing, and improvisation when I was working with him He has expanded my musical horizons as well as increased my love for the instrument. He tailored a teaching style around my individual goals and pushed me to be a better guitar player.

When I came to David’s studio I had about 25 years of guitar experience that was based mostly on intuition and guess work. David was able to discern what I was capable of from what I needed to learn and fine tune. With his thorough knowledge of music theory and cross-genre technique David was able to transform my understanding of the guitar from reading music to writing it with confidence. If you are seeking a deep understanding of this instrument David Joel is the person to turn to.

David is a detailed and methodical teacher who cares deeply about his students. I very much enjoyed my lessons with him and highly recommend him to anyone who is serious about improving their skills!

I hadn't played guitar for several years before being invited to audition for the band at my church. When I discovered and started studying with Dave he worked on improving my technical skills and my theoretical knowledge. I'm now on my way to playing with the confidence, accuracy and velocity that I long admired in other professional players.

David is the "real deal" for students who are serious about studying the guitar and seeing results in their playing technique and musicality. His teaching methodology is well vetted and draws upon his experience as both a Berklee instructor and professional musician. I've studied several different instruments over the years and David ranks among the best teachers I've worked with.

I was new to guitar and had very little musical experience before practicing with David, but working with David quickly turned into one of the highlights of my week. He was patient and exacting, supportive and motivating. His teaching style helped me grasp the basics of reading as well as playing music. From him I've "learned how to fish" and I'm grateful for our time together. I would still be his student but for the fact that I am moving out of the east coast. If you are in the market for a great guitar teacher, look no further; you've found one!

Phenomenal teacher. I had years of study and schooling before joining David as a student and I think we made more progress in two years than I had made in the decade prior. Lessons were fun and David really cared that I was getting the most value out of my time and money. I cant recommend David highly enough.

David is a phenomenal teacher. He quickly diagnosed my skill level and knowledge base, and we moved forward from there. I had quite a bit of experience before studying with David but had let some of those skills atrophy. David made me significantly better guitar player and musician than I had ever been before. He cared about my progress and me getting the most of out the experience. Beyond being a great musician and teacher, David is a wonderful human being. I cant recommend working with him enough!

After briefly studying the guitar as a teenager, 6 months of lessons at the back of a music store, with rudiments of solfège learned at school, I thought I was able to play. But I had never listened or taken quite the time to push myself for more than okay.
I had never had the discipline and proper guidance to learn music and the instrument. So after many years of noodling I decided that either I would stop playing or I would give myself a chance and improve.

That’s when I contacted David.

David was my professor for almost three years. The only reason I stopped my lessons is that I had to relocate. I would still be his student otherwise.

I remember our first lesson, the reintroduction to the instrument, notes, music. A part of me thought “I know that”. But I didn’t. I just kind of knew. So with David, we got back to the fundamentals of music (reading and theory) and of the instrument technique and specificities. You will read and play scales. And you’ll enjoy it. You’ll play music from the method book and play the tunes you like. The method book looks a bit daunting at first. It is the greatest tool and its transformative powers will grow on you.

David is passionate about music and about your learning, you’ll probably have to let him know sometimes that you got his points.
He is a professional, educated in the best music schools and willing to share is immense knowledge with you. Music is demanding and fun. So is David. When my frustrations arose he was always persistent and supportive, getting me to overcome my blockages, defusing my tension with humor and his kind perspective on life.
He is always available during the week for questions and he is an unlimited source of music and advice. David is genuinely interested in you, as a fellow human being.

Overall, I think that you’ll only learn as much as the mindful time you put into your practice. And to achieve your goals you need to aim high and keep at it steadily. David helps you do that. Through his knowledge, support, care, insights, encouragements as well as the discipline he gently requires.

I have definitely made significant improvements on all levels. Precision, touch, rhythmic accuracy, feel, improvisation, reading, self confidence. I can say I enjoy myself much more and feels I am a much better musician thanks to David.

Folks, if you are serious about your playing, David will get you where you want to be.

Have fun playing!

David’s teaching style and personality have made things very enjoyable and rewarding for me. I played guitar as a teenager and took over a 20-year hiatus, never picking up a guitar during that time. I wanted to start playing again and I was looking for an experienced, professional teacher to help me get back in to playing. David Joel is exactly the teacher I was looking for. He has given me the solid foundation I needed and continues to build on that with each lesson. He’s helped demystify music theory for me and has shown me how to apply it to the fret board. Playing guitar and taking lessons is something I will never regret. I would encourage anyone who has ever wanted to learn how to play, or wants to take their playing to another level to take lessons from David. I think you will find it as rewarding as I have.

David is a patient knowledgeable teacher and is very encouraging. He knows how to evaluate his student's knowledge base, and make sure the student understands the basics. Once the basic skills are there, he focuses on what the student wants to learn.

I have tried other teachers, and am sorry I didn't find David sooner! There is no comparison between my experience with David and the others. If you want to play guitar the choice is simple.