My Background
I started playing guitar at age 13 and immediately fell in love with the instrument. I had a phenomenal teacher at the beginning who taught me to read music and play music I liked, hard rock at the time. Unfortunately he left to continue his own studies and my new teacher discouraged me from continuing to read. Looking back it was because he couldn't read (a common problem in guitarist/teachers). Being a kid and not knowing better I continued to play songs and got into blues and improvisation. During my senior year I joined my high school jazz band and realized the deficiency I had from not being able to read. I found a new teacher and started to improve my reading skills. I had decided major in music for college and at age 20 started teaching at a local music store. From the beginning I had all my students learn to read as part of their weekly lessons and work with them on music they liked, as my first teacher had done. I continued to teach through college and by the time I graduated all my income was from music either performing or teaching. I worked at different music stores over the years until 2002 when I opened my own music store, High Note Music. I sold the store 4 years later because I wanted to focus on teaching and not running a business. I started teaching general music at Parke House Academy in 2007 and enjoyed to challenge of getting young children to learn the basics of music, I also continued to teach guitar lessons as well. In 2010 I started at Winter Park High teaching guitar. I built the program from only a 1 year class to a 4 year program. I had taken a hiatus from private lessons a few years after starting at Winter Park High, but I'm ready to start again. I have so much knowledge and experience that I want to share with those who really want to learn the instrument and music.
From My Students
I studied with Joe as my primary guitar teacher for 5 years starting in middle school. As a teacher, Joe always knew how to challenge, encourage, and motivate me. He genuinely listens to you and your goals, leveraging his experience as a performer and educator to customize the lessons to your needs. Joe knows the skills required to succeed as a guitar player in any context. He guided and helped me get into the prestigious University of North Texas school of music, where I achieved a Bachelors and Masters degree in Jazz Guitar, winning the guitar chair in the world renowned One O'Clock Lab Band my senior year. Now as a full time musician, I have the privilege of playing with the Dallas Symphony Orchestra, recording guitar on albums and commercials, and have gotten to tour the world with various artists playing music. I wouldn't be the player I am today without his guidance. Study with Joe! You'll laugh, grow, and dive deeper into the world of music. Not every great guitar player is a great teacher - lucky for you, Joe is both! - Ethan Stalbaum 2005-2010
I was a student of Joe Sandusky For 4 years during my high school career. In that time, i looked up to Mr Sandusky as a role model and also a leader. The countless hours he has put into teaching other like minded students whole heartedly shows his devotion to being a teacher and showing other people how to read and write music which also gives insight on future roles in a possible music career. My experience with Mr Sandusky was nothing but a journey. I was super excited to start a guitar course going into high school because i had been playing for some time and it was the one outlet that made me feel myself in school. Spending countless hours in the guitar room, noodling and talking music with Joe, we build a bond for the rest of my high school life. In my senior year, i was having a rough patch because there was a lot going on in my life, with learning to become a real human being but also balancing music , a job and school. He showed me that if i care enough of something and I’m passionate about what i do , then i should go for it. I got the opportunity to join a local band called “Not Enough Space” in February of my senior year. All of us in the band poured our entire beings and feelings into every second of that band to make sure that we were enjoying the music being created and it was bringing our emotions to life. Slowly but surely Not Enough Space took off and this past April we hit a 3 month long Full American tour. Since then , We’ve signed to a record label and have had minimal time to ourselves (which he warned me about) but there’s nothing else in this world that i’d rather be doing. In my decade of playing music and living in a life where i am able to enjoy the freedoms that come with it, i’d like to make a point to attribute a lot of it to Joe. He was always there whether i liked it or not because i saw him on a such a consistent basis with school but also because of the motivation and driving passion he has for his music and for others to learn. Joe Sandusky is a teacher, He is also a great role model and occasionally life coach. Overall, my time with Joe sandusky has not gone overlooked for a second and there’s still a part of me that would love to do it all again. - Jacob Sawyer 2019-2023
I can confidently say I wouldn’t be where I am now without the years I spent learning from Joe. His no-nonsense approach to teaching was pivotal to my development as musician. I came to Joe as a “skyscraper with no foundation” as I believe he described me, and Joe spent the coming years helping me fill out so many areas that needed work. He opened my eyes to jazz theory, improvisation, scales, chords, rhythm and so much more - he molded me into a way more well rounded musician. Since working with Joe I’ve done multiple national and international headline tours; I’ve been fortunate enough to play in so many incredible places: Red Rocks, The Gorge, SoFi Stadium, China, Thailand, South Korea, Canada, Mexico etc. My songs sit around 100 million plays on Spotify/Apple Music/YouTube; clearly something went right along the way and Joe was a big part of that! I give Joe my full endorse as a fantastic teacher and a crucial part of my story. Thanks Joe! - Sam Dobkin 2004-2007
I had the privilege of taking guitar in high school Mr. Sandusky was my teacher. At the time I did not have any grasp of playing guitar but by the end of the year with such great guidance and instruction, I was able to read music play guitar in class and with my band. This is all do to the inspiration and skill that Mr. Sandusky brought to each and every class he taught. I took guitar every year in high school, my band played at almost every concert as a side show between classes and we were even asked to play a set during lunchtime.. We started doing this to promote our concerts throughout the year. Sadly towards the end of my senior year i suffered a terrible accident in which I was left with a less than 1 percent chance of survival, with the help of the surgeon that saved my life I am still here and the first thing that I picked up when I returned home from the hospital was my guitar because i needed to relearn how to play due to my injury. Picking up my guitar everyday for hours a day I was able to fall in love with guitar once again, but this time I wanted to teach and spread the knowledge of music and guitar so I am now studying to become a guitar teacher I hope to be just as good a teacher as Mr.Sandusky was for me and all of my classmates. -Ricky Padilla 2012-2016
Joe is a great musician and mentor. I’ve studied under Joe for four years, but many of his lessons were life long. Before I discuss Joe’s skills, I would like to mention his character first. Joe is a standup guy. He’s always been kind to everyone and brings joy and laughter to those around him. He believes in doing the right thing and treating everyone in fairness. Alongside this character profile, Joe is also one of the best teachers I’ve ever had. His class was something I always looked forward to. Joe also knows his ****! He has been a performer for many years and listening to him play was a privilege. He has the formal knowledge of notes, chords and how to read sheet music, as well as music theory to elevate the physical learning. All to say, I’ve never learned anything faster than by learning how to play guitar from Joe. He is dedicated to his students development so that they can play very well and know their stuff. If there is anyone to learn guitar from, it’s Joe! -Dennis Terzic 2015-2019