About
Joe Musella serves as Assistant Professor in the Guitar Department at Berklee College of Music, where he developed the popular Jimmy Page/Led Zeppelin course and is creating an Eric Clapton-focused curriculum. An active performer in the Boston music scene, he leads the internationally touring Joe Musella Group rock quartet.
Education:
- Berklee College of Music (alumnus)
- Private instruction with Charlie Banacos and Mick Goodrick
Musella specializes in contemporary guitar performance with emphasis on rock techniques, pedagogical innovation, and creative composition. His teaching philosophy centers on building strong foundational skills while encouraging students to apply theoretical concepts like modes and pentatonic scales through writing assignments, fostering both technical mastery and artistic expression. He draws from decades of professional performance experience to contextualize academic concepts.
Musella actively mentors undergraduate guitar students, emphasizing the connection between technical proficiency and creative output. His satisfaction derives from witnessing students overcome conceptual hurdles and develop personal musical voices through practical application.
As leader of the Joe Musella Group, he has performed internationally and collaborated with notable musicians including Joe Vitale (Crosby, Stills and Nash drummer) and bassist David Santos. His performance career spans theater productions, the Hell Hounds band (touring throughout New England), and groups including Freestyle and the Ginamark Band, demonstrating versatile stylistic command across rock and contemporary genres.
