Joey Michalina Mariano

Multidisciplinary Artist, composer performer educator with 26 years' experience in guitar teaching, electronic music, and creative coding. National touring musician making video game-style music. Looking for students!

My teaching is customized to fit each student's unique needs. We start at a level (easy, normal, or hard) that best suits the student, based on feedback from both the student and their support network. I strive to find a balance, ensuring the student feels challenged without becoming overwhelmed. Compassionate learning is essential, and teamwork is paramount. We start small but think big. Tracking progress is key, and I often gamify the learning process to make it engaging and fun.

An ideal lesson focuses half on fundamentals and half on creativity. Depending on the student’s mood or goals, we may shift the emphasis one way or another. I encourage students to explore their creativity and feel free to deviate from the plan with new ideas.

As a trans woman, I have a deep understanding of both diversity and adversity. I’m a gentle, patient teacher who will never lose my cool.
I believe music is not only important for culture and learning, but also for improving mental health and building self-confidence. I never lose sight of this in my lessons.

I teach students of all levels, from beginners to advanced musicians. While I’m a high-level player, I enjoy teaching the basics and guiding new students of any age. I’ve worked with individuals of all abilities and can adapt my teaching to meet the needs of anyone.