Josy Rosales

“You need music, I don’t know why. It’s probably one of those Joe Campbell questions, why we need ritual. We need magic, and bliss, and power, myth, and celebration and religion in our lives, and music is a good way to encapsulate a lot of it.”

– Jerry Garcia

About Josy

Josy grew up in Venezuela and started his musical journey when he was 8 years old. His older brother introduced him to Iron Maiden, and he felt an instant connection to the sound of the guitar. Josy began taking guitar lessons with a local musician named Leopoldo Borrego, who was his teacher for 10 years and made a huge impact on him as a kid.

Josy played in a rock band growing up with two of his brothers. Playing in a band was very rewarding and helped him grow significantly as a musician.

Josy graduated from Berklee College of Music in Boston, MA, with a degree in songwriting. Josy then moved to the Midwest, where he performed with groups across a variety of styles, including rock, country, bluegrass, and reggae. For years, he recorded and toured with Earthmother, a jam band that enjoyed success in the Midwest area. Over the years, Josy has learned to play a variety of stringed instruments, including banjo, mandolin, and ukulele. He has been teaching private lessons since 2018, and helping people grow and accomplish their musical goals has become a big passion of his.

Josy’s Instructional Approach

Music is a journey of self-discovery, so I always guide my students in a way that makes their creativity shine. I also believe that the journey should be fun and exciting, although not without a fair amount of challenge. I’ve taught students of all ages and levels, and one thing I’ve learned is that anyone can play music, all it takes is the desire to do so and to get a little bit better every day. My lessons are always tailored to the needs of the student, and everybody learns in a different way. I always find the approach that works best for my students and then we can have a clear path to follow to accomplish their musical goals.

Take A Lesson With Josy

Practice Tips

It is rewarding to work at something every day and to see progress! I encourage my students to record themselves playing and to listen back as objectively as possible. This is a great way to measure progress! Lately, I have been focusing on learning all the parts of a song, not just the guitar parts but EVERY instrument. This helps me understand all the moving pieces in music and what specifically the guitar’s role is in making the song work. Theory and ear training are a major aspect of my lessons!

Favorite Tunes

Blues: Mississippi Fred MacDowell, Derek Trucks, B.B. King, Stevie Ray Vaughan

Jazz: John Coltrane, Bill Frisell, John Scofield, Sonny Rollins

Rock: Pink Floyd, Eric Clapton, Animals as Leaders

Folk/Country: The Carter Family, The Louvin Brothers, Norman Blake, Tony Rice

B/Soul: Marvin Gaye, Aretha Franklin, James Cleveland