A mystical sound can be heard by the clock next to the music office – a sound that many students may recognize, but may not know is taught at Missouri Southern.

Joe Leiter has been instructing guitar students at Southern since 1986 but says that many may not see his course since it is listed under strings courses. Its string categorization is one thing that people may not think of when they think of the guitar.

“I think it’s the most misunderstood of all instruments because of its inherent characteristics,” Leiter said. “It’s probably more complex to understand, but once you understand there’s a method behind the madness, there’s a specific format, you understand how it works. It’s a challenge to get that across.”

It was the mystical sound of the guitar that interested Leiter when we was 14. He eventually found other forms of guitar playing than the one he started with.

“I started off playing in bands playing the late ’60s and ’70s music that you would hear on the radio; the Beatles, Santana, the Stones, the Doors, just whatever, but then I came to understand that classical guitar was a uniquely solo instrument that, with the right hand tech you can play the bass the melody and the harmony simultaneously.”

His love for classical guitar pushed Leiter to get a master’s degree in classical guitar performance and got him to the semi-finals of the 1983 International Guitar Competition. Though Leiter got his degree in classical guitar, he claims he loves all styles of playing and says they all feed into one another.

“Once you understand the idiosyncrasies behind the guitar and the elements involved in two completely different styles,” he said. “You realize there’s a meeting point; that they both complement each other.”

Musical influences that Leiter has had range from classical guitarist Andres Segovia to rock bands like the Beatles, to non-guitarists like Miles Davis and Chopin. Leiter is also influenced by some contemporary bands.

“XTC is still, I think, the most remarkable band out there, but a lot of the pop bands I haven’t been paying as much attention to as some of the more contemporary bands in the style of jazz; progressive jazz. Of course I respect a lot of the bands out there, fusion bands like Dream Theater, which was really the aftermath of the band Yes. The Chick Korea band is always state of the art progressive jazz performers.”

When teaching, Leiter emphasizes fundamentals. His approach is effective according to Robert Terry, junior guitar performance major.

“He’s very good at what he does and he’s an animal on classical guitar,” Terry said.

He began taking lessons from Leiter three years ago and says his technique has progressed a lot since. Though it’s been three years, Terry still never knows what to expect from Leiter.

“It’s a new adventure every time,” he said.

Leiter thinks guitar lessons are a good idea for many people.

“Anybody who has a yearning for song or developing an instrument. It’s a creative process, something you can bring you own independent character to. With a general understanding of basic chord structure you can in no time at all, I’d say within a period of two or three months depending on your practice regimen, be accompanying yourself with songs, contemporary or whatever.”

Students interested in taking Leiter’s class can take a half hour, single credit course, or an hour long, two credit course through the University. Anyone can take private lessons for $20 per half hour. Leiter can be contacted through the Southern music office.

Those interested in hearing Leiter can hear him play in a jazz ensemble Oct. 4 at Champs.