Josh Collins

My professional background includes full-time touring, recording, and performing as a guitarist with Próxima Parada(2015-current), contributing to music that has reached over 150 million streams. Our song, "Musta Been A Ghost"(2019) spent 3 weeks on the Viral 50 - Global playslist, with several days at #1. I have performed at major venues and festivals across the country, including Summerfest(2024), High Sierra Music Festival(2023), Electric Forest(2024), Summer Camp Music Festival(2023), FloydFest(2024), Willie Nelson’s Luck Reunion(2024), the 9:30 Club in Washington, D.C.(2023), Mesa Amphitheatre in Arizona(2018), First Avenue in Minneapolis(2021), Brooklyn Bowl in New York(2023), and The Fillmore in California(2023). I have also been featured in popular online video series including Jam in The Van(2024), OurVinyl(2024), Sugarshack Sessions(2024) and the Back Porch Sessions by Garden & Gun Magazine(2024).

I also have extensive pit orchestra and musical theater experience, including productions of In the Heights(2016), Cinderella(2015), and Always… Patsy Cline(2021) with PCPA, Rent(2014) with Cuesta College, Show Boat(2014) with OperaSLO, and around 20 additional productions. In addition to my performance work, I have arranged and orchestrated music for symphonic performance projects inlcuding the upcoming "Próxima Parada with The SLO Symphony" in May 2026 and was honored with Best Combo(2014) recognition from DownBeat Magazine through the Cuesta College.

My teaching background includes work with students through San Luis Obispo High School, Laguna Middle School, Cuesta College, Post Falls Music Academy, Music Motive, and private lessons. I teach guitar, music theory, ear training, fretboard knowledge, rhythm, reading, improvisation, songwriting, and practical musicianship, with lessons tailored to each student’s goals. My approach combines real-world professional experience with clear, structured instruction so students can grow as confident, creative, and independent musicians.

My teaching style is personalized, organized, and shaped by over 20 years of refining and testing what truly helps students learn. I aim to create lessons that are not only effective in the moment, but that build lasting musical understanding and confidence over time. Rather than relying on one-size-fits-all instruction, I tailor each lesson to the student’s goals, pace, and interests while maintaining a strong foundation in technique, musicianship, and understanding.

I place a big emphasis on making learning clear and manageable. Students are guided step by step, with practical strategies for improvement and a strong sense of direction from week to week. I want each student to leave a lesson knowing exactly what they’re working on, how to practice it, and how it fits into their broader musical growth.

To make that possible, I provide custom Soundslice libraries as well as a central learning dashboard where students can access their lesson notes, PDFs, links, assignments, and practice resources all in one place. This creates a structured and supportive learning environment that helps students stay engaged, organized, and progressing between lessons.