Joe

Instruments: Advanced Piano, Beginning Guitar

Bio: Joseph Francis developed an interest in music early in life and began formal piano lessons at 7. As a teen, he learned to play both guitar and baritone horn, often performing in school ensembles and rock bands. The value of fluency in multiple styles became clear, and Joseph split his studies at McGill University (Montreal) between jazz and classical piano. After earning a Bachelor of Music, Joseph moved back to the U.S.A. and performed in and around New York City for several years. After receiving an opportunity to move to the San Francisco Bay Area, Joseph became a regular in the Northern California music scene. For a decade, he shared the stage with top musicians including members of Santana, Tower of Power, Huey Lewis, Steve Miller, and Mariah Carey. He performed at a range of venues, from Napa wineries to Caesar’s Palace. When not performing, he taught piano and arranged/wrote music for educational programs. Joseph is also co-author of a children’s book series about emotional intelligence and currently records and mixes audio for short films, concerts, and toys. Joseph brings a real-world musical perspective with him to the classroom.