Discipline Meets Creativity: Joshua Achiron on Practice, Performance, and What’s Next
Joshua Achiron is a guitarist, arranger, composer, and educator based in Chicago. He holds degrees in both classical and jazz guitar from the Eastman School of Music, where he was also recognized with a Performance Certificate for his classical solo work. He later attended the Berklee Global Jazz Institute on a full scholarship, studying with Grammy-winning artists Danilo Pérez, Joe Lovano, and John Patitucci.
Achiron has performed at many of Chicago’s most respected jazz venues, including The Jazz Showcase, Andy’s Jazz Club, Winter’s Jazz Club, and the Green Mill. His performances have also taken him to stages in New York, Aspen, and Washington, D.C.
He has collaborated and recorded with notable musicians such as Sharay Reed, Teddy Campbell, the Soul Message band, Ben Paterson, Clark Sommers, Geof Bradfield, Marques Carroll, and Victor Garcia.
In 2024, he was named a Luminarts Fellow in Jazz Improvisation, honoring his artistry and contributions to the jazz community. Joshua recently broadened his role as an educator by joining the faculty at Harper College, where he teaches both classical and jazz guitar.
🎸 Q & A
What does your current guitar practice routine look like?
-I do all my fundamentals in the beginning, along with ear training
-Then I work on a transcription
-Then I work on songs I need to know for gigs
What's the best piece of advice you have for other guitar players?
Work on fundamentals every day; meaning play through all your drop-two voicings, and practice your scales in multiple ways, such as :
- Using three notes per string
- Using four notes per string,
- Diatonically practice your scales with diads, triads, and seventh chords
Do that in position and out of position. This will help with the intermediate slump.
What’s one technique, habit, or concept that helped you level up as a player?
The biggest thing that changed my plane was economy picking, and learning how to use that in a jazz context. Specifically, playing my scales with three notes per string and following the picking pattern ascending down down up, and descending up up down.
What gear (guitar/amp/pedals) are you using lately—and why?
I play with a DV Mark amp. It’s really light and it’s super easy to get a sound in a room quickly.
What are the most effective ways you've found to market yourself or your band?
This question I’m still figuring out, but I’ve noticed when you put a lot of effort in your content, what you put in is what you’ll get out. So if you record with the intent of posting it, it will do well, and if you record for the sake of recording, it will not do well. What you put in is what you’ll get out.
Are there any books, albums, or videos you recommend to other guitarists?
In terms of books, I recommend Effective Practice. For videos, anything Cecil Alexander has done.
For albums, there are so many it’s so hard to pick one or even 10, but I would have to say that Julian Lage live at the Blue Whale (Live In Los Angeles) is the most influential album for me.
How do you approach creativity—writing, improvising, or building a solo?
It depends on what the band is giving me.
Even for my writing.
I’ll record the rehearsal and adjust the piece to fit the band.
Try to not think of it as you, but all of you creating a composition based on the changes being presented.
What’s one lesson you wish you'd learned earlier as a guitarist?
Don’t burn bridges. You never know when you need to cross them.
What’s been your biggest challenge as a guitarist and musician?
Trying to stay healthy and not get tendinitis. I have a very hectic performance schedule. And I love to practice, which has caused me some pain, so my biggest challenge is staying relaxed when I play and practice.
What’s next for you musically—any projects or goals you're working on?
I just recorded my album with Calligram records. Dana Hall on the drums, Clark Sommers on the bass, Geof Bradfield on the Tenor Saxophone, and all my original compositions. I’m very excited to present it to the world!
⚡ Lightning Round
One album every guitarist should listen to?
Lage Lund - Small Club, Big City
Desert island guitar and amp?
My archtop guitar made by Bernie Lehman
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