Meet The Teacher

 Joel Laviolette, Artistic Director

Click on the photo to see a video interview with Joel

Joel began his musical journey in 1984 when he first picked up his dad’s acoustic guitar and learned an A minor chord. 10 years later, in Taos, NM, Joel first heard the mbira. His life was immediately changed and he knew that this was the instrument he was destined to play.

In 1998, Joel realized he needed to go to the source of the mbira-Zimbabwe. While there, he met his primary teacher, Newton Gwara, and began a lifelong journey studying this style of music. He came back to the US briefly and then returned to Zimbabwe from 1999-2001. During that time, Joel traveled throughout Zimbabwe meeting musicians, playing ceremonies, and talking to musicians that were interested in recording. He came to record many groups and types of mbira. These included the ChiSanza, Munyonga, Nyunga-Nyunga, Njari, Dongonda (njari neMakonde), mbira orchestra, Matepe, Nyanga (panpipes), Mbira DzaVaNdau, as well as several of the players of the Mbira DzaVaDzimu. The fruits of those recordings can be seen and heard on Mhumhi Records, Joel’s non-profit record label. In 2006, Joel moved to Austin and formed the group Rattletree. Community interest in the music quickly grew and Joel began teaching weekly marimba classes at his house. The living room and dining room became classrooms as more and more students became interested in the music.

In January 2013, Joel started the Rattletree School of Marimba. After several years of moving studios, and facing constant displacement because of rising Austin costs, Joel is thrilled to have found a home at Casa De Luz.  He is so happy to see the community and love of this amazing music grow.

Joel has been recognized in national publications including Percussive Arts Magazine, on NPR, and has been invited to lecture and perform at many Universities across the world such as Gottingen University in Germany. He has taught workshops and performed across the US, Canada, Europe, and Africa. Joel has released four albums and an interactive instructional DVD, produced eleven albums of traditional music on the Mhumhi record label, and built dozens of marimbas for institutions as diverse as the Santa Fe Symphony to the Texas School for the Blind.

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