Joe Waters

Joe's Musical Background

Glen Allen, VA. A suburb outside of Richmond, VA. Joseph Waters is married and has four children and seven grand kids.

When I was 12, I launched my music career with some free lessons on an accordion. By my senior year in high school, I managed to spend a number of Saturday nights providing dance music in a local bar in one of the Chicago suburbs. But a musical career seemed risky, so I went off to the University of Illinois, then on to graduate school at Cornell University, and then spent four years as an Asst Professor in Economics at Middlebury College, Vermont. In 1974, we moved to Washington DC where I worked as a federal employee until my retirement in 2004. I spent a few years working for General Dynamics before really retiring in 2008 and moving down to the Richmond, VA area.

In the late 70s, my interest in music was rekindled when I discovered the Lowrey Holiday organ. I didn't care for organs much, but the Lowrey could pretend to be all kinds of other instruments, complete with a rhythm accompaniment. That's what I really liked and so I spent several years learning how to play the organ, but eventually job requirements (and computers) took over and the organ sat idle. In my spare time, I became very involved with Atari computers and for 10 years published a magazine (called Current Notes) for fans of this terrific home computer.

In 2000, I happened to stumble upon a "digital piano" and once more, I was hooked. I couldn't wait to get one of those things. I discovered, however, that a keyboard would do everything the digital piano did, but was considerably cheaper. I bought the Yamaha PSR 540 for Christmas 2000 and then spent most of the next year learning to play it and find out what features I wanted in a keyboard. I upgraded to the PSR2000 the following November and then to the PSR-2100 as soon as it was released. Similarly, I moved to the PSR3000 when it was available and then the Tyros2, PSR-S900, Tyros3, Tyros4, and now, Tyros5. Part of the reason for the regular upgrades is my work in developing and supporting PSR Tutorial website, which now takes up almost all of my "spare" time and a major reason there are not more songs below!

I play primarily for my own enjoyment by sight-reading from Fake Books. Since I don't normally perform for anyone, I don't work on memorizing songs; I simply flip through my books playing whatever seems interesting. I'm only an amateur player, but when I started the PSR Performer section, I was encouraged to provide some Songs, so here they are. I hope you enjoy them.

Two Decades of Excellence: Joe Waters' PSR Tutorial

Joe Waters is the visionary founder of PSR Tutorial, the premier online destination for Yamaha keyboard musicians seeking to elevate their craft. Since its launch in 2002, PSR Tutorial has served as an indispensable resource, offering comprehensive tutorials, professionally crafted yamaha keyboard keyboard styles, customizable MIDI Files, and in-depth discussions to help players of all levels, from beginners to seasoned performers, master their Yamaha PSR, Tyros, and Genos keyboards.

For over two decades, Joe nurtured PSR Tutorial into a thriving international community of Yamaha keyboard players. The platform provides step-by-step lessons, exclusive content for Yamaha Keyboards, and hosts a collaborative Forum where users exchange techniques, troubleshoot challenges, and share creative inspirations and content. His dedication made PSR Tutorial synonymous with quality education and innovation in the world of Yamaha arranger keyboards.

In September 2024, Joe Waters transferred ownership of PSR Tutorial to PsrStyles.com, marking an exciting new chapter for this beloved platform. Now fully retired from day-to-day operations, Joe's legacy continues as PSR Tutorial remains committed to expanding its tutorial library, updating resources for current keyboard models, and preserving the supportive community spirit that defined his leadership. [Read more...]

We extend our deepest gratitude to Joe Waters for his two decades of service and dedication to the music community. Yamaha keyboard enthusiasts worldwide continue to benefit from and contribute to PSR Tutorial's ever-growing collection of tools, lessons, resources, and community expertise – all designed to help musicians create, perform, and excel.