Joe is an amazing teacher no matter where you want to go with the guitar. He tailors his lessons to each student's goals and needs very well -- he can help you do anything, from strumming 4-chord camping songs to advanced jazz improvisation. I was looking to get more serious about my playing, and in just a few weeks I've seen an amazing improvement. He has a professional attitude, but is able to keep things fun and always has the joy of making music in mind. He takes notes on each student and is well-prepared for each lesson. Fantastic! read more

I highly recommend Deft Digits and Joe Walker! My 10 year old son has taken ukulele lessons from Joe for 15 months, and during that time: * Joe is very well organized; both in lesson structure and communication * Joe caters lessons to the individual, keeping their interest with content they enjoy while still teaching basics like chords * During lessons, Joe has shown to be patient and kind, while still being firm in terms of staying on point Joe's online scheduling is easy to use and always up to date, and his lessons consistently start and end on time. During lessons, Joe is composed and professional. The lessons are structured in a way that is predictable for students and flexible so that if a student comes to the lesson with a new interest, they work on that. My son began his lessons with Joe with the goal of learning how to play a Star Wars theme on the ukulele, and not only has he mastered several of those, he has also learned to play his favorites from Fall Out Boy and Weezer. In addition, my son has learned chords, how to manage his time practicing, and how to read music. Joe has made learning the ukulele fun for my son, and my son is proud of his accomplishments. read more

Joe is fantastic! He's an incredible musician, an excellent teacher, and a top notch human. My son and I have been taking lessons from Joe for nearly four years and our only regret is that we did not start sooner. Joe is equally effective with a young, nimble, and proficient student (not me) as he is with a middle aged, tone deaf beginner (me). Every lesson is well planned, organized and specifically tailored to the abilities and interests of the particular student. If you are interested in guitar and there is an opening in Joe's schedule, I highly recommend that you take it. read more

Joe did a great job getting to know me and made me feel very comfortable during the lesson. I would highly recommend him for anyone who wants to improve their skills at any level. Great job Joe! Don read more

I was a bit anxious as I'd never taken guitar before, and I was juggling other extra curricular activities (demanding and extreme voice lessons, master's school, a swamped workload).. but despite all that, Joe was such a great teacher - and they were SKYPE lessons at that! Not only does he answer every question with great thought and consideration, but he cares to customize your guitar education in more ways than one. He knew I wasn't trying to become a master guitarist, but more to learn enough to accompany myself while I sing. Knowing the kind of music I liked, he'd give out custom guitar exercises that were tailored towards my personal guitar goals as well as listen to the newest songs I was liking and would draft up chords for the song by the next lesson.. One of the details I always appreciated as a student of Joe's is that he took notes of each lesson documenting our progress and noting what my homework was, that way on the next lesson we picked up right where we left off. This sounds small, but coming from other 1:1 instructors who hardly knew names MUCH LESS your progress - this was incredibly appreciated. I felt well taken care of as his student and felt like he genuinely cared about my goals and my progress. In short, Joe is a phenomenal teacher - he's the best choice you'll ever make when it comes to your music education :) read more

Joe is an excellent teacher. I came to him as a beginner and I immediately connected with his way of teaching and made quick improvement. He is very organized, calm and patient and makes his lesson fun. At the end of each lesson, I feel enthusiastic and I want to practice. He always encourages you and listens to what you would like to play and helps you to be a better musician. He puts a lot of effort to help his students and he also organized very cool Jam sessions, twice a year in a cafe downtown. I highly recommend Joe. You will accomplish more than what you could ever imagine ! read more

Great guy. Really understand music and technology. I really liked the way he brought technology into our lessons--breaking down songs, ear training. Joe helped me with some things I was working on, but also opened my mind up to other subjects - more theory and the Blues. This has really helped me become a better player. read more

I'm 50 and I've been playing since high school, but without formal training. Joe has connected a lot of the dots that have been floating around in my head. Joe is knowledgable and patient, and he works with students to play what they want. He doesn't impose repertoire. I've worked with him on classic rock and surf rock; he's expert in jazz as well. He works with students of all ages, and I'm always impressed with the younger students at recitals. He has developed helpful online tools as well as curriculum to help teach music reading. He also works from workbooks if the students are inclined -- I've found that helpful. His Northeast Seattle location is convenient, and his scheduling / rescheduling policy is reasonable and fair. read more

My two kids, age 7 and 10, take lessons from Joe (my 7 year old started when she was 5 1/2). Joe has the perfect balance of patience and encouragement. The kids learn the songs they like, and are also taught to read music and understand musical theory. Taking lessons from Joe has been an invaluable experience for my kids and they look forward to seeing him and demonstrating what they have practiced over the week. We plan to learn from Joe in the years to come and to enjoy a lifetime of guitar playing! read more