Joe Boulos is an educator, ethnomusicologist, percussionist, and composer whose work bridges the musical traditions of West Africa, the Arab World, and the Americas. Shaped by his Lebanese heritage and grounded in both scholarship and performance, his artistic and pedagogical practice centers on rhythm as a cultural, social, and expressive force. He holds a Bachelor of Music in Performance with a concentration in Drumset and World Music from the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, as well as two master’s degrees—an M.M. in Jazz Pedagogy and an M.A. in Musicology—from West Virginia University.

Joe’s musical development has been profoundly influenced by immersive field research in Ghana, where he studied the drumming and dance traditions of the Ga, Ewe, and Dagara peoples. This experience deepened his understanding of African rhythmic systems as living, communal practices and strengthened his sense of time, phrasing, and ensemble interaction. The embodied knowledge gained through this work continues to inform both his performance practice and his approach to teaching groove, form, and collective music-making.

At West Virginia University, Joe served as World Music Graduate Assistant and as adjunct faculty in the World Music Department. His teaching philosophy emphasizes the interconnection of rhythm, culture, and history, encouraging students to engage music as a means of understanding diverse worldviews. Drawing from jazz pedagogy, rhythmic traditions of the Arab World, and West African percussion, he prioritizes embodied learning, active listening, and stylistic fluency. His teaching creates inclusive environments that support students from a wide range of musical and cultural backgrounds.

Now based in New England, Joe maintains an active private teaching studio and works with students of all ages and experience levels. His instruction spans drumset, hand percussion, and world music traditions, with a focus on rhythmic independence, musical curiosity, and expressive clarity. Whether in academic, community, or one-on-one settings, his teaching seeks to foster both technical development and deeper cultural understanding.

Alongside his work as an educator, Joe is an active performer and collaborator. He regularly performs with jazz ensembles, Arab music groups, and West African drum and dance collectives throughout New England and beyond. Known for his cultural fluency and stylistic versatility, he moves seamlessly between drumset and hand percussion, contributing a grounded, responsive presence to a wide range of musical contexts. His performances emphasize listening, interaction, and rhythmic dialogue, allowing rhythm to function as both foundation and conversation.

As a composer and recording artist, Joe has released two full-length albums—Standard Times and Damnation of a Flower—as well as several EPs and singles. His music explores the intersections of jazz, improvisation, and global rhythmic traditions, balancing structure with spontaneity. His recorded work reflects a continued interest in cross-cultural collaboration and the expressive possibilities of rhythm across traditions.

In 2026, Joe will release Rhythms of the Levant: A Derbake Primer, a method book rooted in Levantine rhythmic traditions and informed by both pedagogy and performance. Designed for beginning players, the book offers a comprehensive introduction to derbake technique, repertoire, and cultural context.

Through performance, teaching, scholarship, and composition, Joe Boulos continues to build meaningful bridges between musical worlds. His work invites students and audiences alike to engage rhythm not only as sound, but as a shared human practice shaped by culture, history, and community.