Hey Joe Guitar founder Joe Berger is a fourth-generation New Yorker. He lives with his family in the city.
A performing jazz musician, composer, and teacher, Joe was asked by parents – and adult students — to refer them to an excellent teacher in Manhattan who would come to their home for lessons.
Joe began referring teachers who are patient and consistent as well as highly qualified to teach. Joe had taken on many students who had spent years learning incorrect technique from previous teachers. He decided to collect excellent instructors with high teaching standards and refer them to students.
In a recent interview with NYC parenting blog Mommy Poppins, Joe explained that he would only refer teachers that he would choose to teach his own child.
After a childhood in Great Neck on Long Island, Joe and his guitar hit the road. He has played with BB King, Todd Rundgren, Bette Midler, Buddy Guy, Robbie Dupree, and Walter Booker, among others. Joe majored in music composition at California Institute of the Arts and studied under Ravi Shankar and Morton Sebotnick (http://www.allmusic.com/artist/morton-subotnick-q8019). He also recorded and toured internationally with 80s one-hit wonder band Stars On 45.
He has taught at numerous public and private schools in NYC and performs worldwide. He also records for TV and films.
Joe often answers the phone at Hey Joe Guitar. Feel free to call him about lessons, instruments, and musical goals for yourself or your children.
Joe has performed with the following: