Brandon Joshua Colon
About
Hi! I'm Brandon Joshua, a guitarist, singer-songwriter, recording musician, and experienced guitar instructor based in San Diego, California.
I studied music and guitar performance at the renowned Musicians Institute in Hollywood, California, and previously worked as a guitar instructor at San Diego Music Academy, in addition to independently teaching private guitar lessons to students of varying ages and skill levels. Throughout my teaching career, I've had the opportunity to work with over 100 students, helping them develop their skills, confidence, and musical abilities.
Beyond teaching, I have extensive experience as a performing and recording musician. I've played hundreds of paid live performances, contributed guitar recordings to other artists' projects, and spent years writing and developing my own original music. I've also had success creating educational guitar content on YouTube, reaching a wide audience and accumulating millions of views through my instructional videos.
My musical background covers a wide variety of styles, including rock, blues, pop, acoustic, and contemporary singer-songwriter music. My influences range from John Mayer, Jimi Hendrix, and The Beatles to modern pop and alternative artists.
Having spent years performing, writing, recording, and teaching, I bring a well-rounded understanding of music to my students. I enjoy sharing the knowledge I've gained through real-world musical experience and helping others discover what they're capable of achieving with the guitar.
Teaching Style
My teaching style is patient, encouraging, and tailored to each individual student. I believe that learning an instrument should be an enjoyable and rewarding experience, and that students make the most progress when they're excited about what they're learning.
Rather than following a rigid, one-size-fits-all curriculum, I take the time to understand each student's musical interests, goals, strengths, and areas for improvement. I enjoy incorporating songs and artists that students genuinely love into their lessons, helping them develop essential skills while playing music that inspires them.
I strive to create a comfortable, supportive learning environment where students feel free to ask questions, make mistakes, and develop at their own pace. At the same time, I believe in providing structure, constructive feedback, and achievable goals so that students can recognize their progress and continue building confidence.
Whether someone is picking up a guitar for the very first time, returning to the instrument after years away, or looking to take their existing skills to the next level, my goal is to help them become more confident, capable, and independent musicians.
Curriculum
My teaching methods combine practical, hands-on instruction with essential music fundamentals, helping students develop the skills they need to become confident, well-rounded guitarists.
For beginners, I typically focus on building a strong foundation through proper playing technique, basic chords, rhythm and strumming patterns, chord transitions, and learning to play recognizable songs. As students progress, I introduce more advanced concepts such as scales, music theory, improvisation, fingerstyle techniques, and developing musical expression.
I believe it's important for students to understand not just how to play something, but why it works musically. I enjoy incorporating practical music theory into lessons in ways that are approachable and directly applicable to the songs and techniques we're studying.
Depending on each student's interests and goals, lessons may also explore songwriting, ear training, lead guitar, improvisation, and developing their own unique playing style.
Rather than requiring every student to follow the same textbook, I prefer using a combination of instructional materials, including chord diagrams, guitar tablature, sheet music when appropriate, song arrangements, and customized exercises. I select materials based on each student's experience level, learning style, and musical interests.
My goal is to give students the tools to continue learning and improving independently, while providing the guidance, structure, and feedback needed to make consistent progress.
Credentials & Affiliations
Musicians Institute — Hollywood, California
Studied music and guitar performance at Musicians Institute, receiving instruction in contemporary guitar techniques, music theory, and performance.
San Diego Music Academy — San Diego, California
Former guitar instructor, providing individualized instruction to students of varying ages, musical interests, and skill levels.
Live Performance Experience
My live performance experience includes solo acoustic cover gigs, band performances, and accompanying other artists throughout Southern California. I have performed at venues including The Merrow in Hillcrest and Winstons Beach Club in Ocean Beach, San Diego, and played guitar for singer-songwriter Kara Connolly at The Hotel Café in Hollywood in 2018. My performance history includes repeat bookings and paid two- to three-hour solo acoustic sets, with engagements at The Tipsy Crow in downtown San Diego and 710 Beach Club in Pacific Beach. I have also been hired to perform at weddings and private backyard parties from San Diego to Los Angeles.