Welcome to the Arts High School Site for Mr. Jayson Martinez

Here you will find all the information related to our Guitar Department, including our Audition Process, Upcoming Performances, Classroom Resources, and FAQs. You will also find information regarding our AP Music Theory course and links affiliated with NAfME / NJMEA Honors Guitar Ensemble.

Email: jmartinez@nps.k12.nj.us

More Info: jaysonmartinez.org

AHS Phone: 973.733.7391

Newark BoE: 973.733.7333

Teacher Bio


Jayson Martínez is recognized as the first guitar major in the history of the prestigious Arts High School in Newark, NJ, the nation’s first high school of the Visual and Performing Arts. This experience led him to attend New Jersey City University, where he studied under the tutelage of Dr. Ana María Rosado, and earned degrees in Music Education (B.A.), Music Performance (M.Mus.), and Educational Supervision and Administration (M.EdLd.).

As Director of Guitar Studies at his Alma Mater, Mr. Martínez has garnered several awards, including the 2018 Teacher of the Year Award and a nominee for the GRAMMY Music Educator’s Award.

Currently, Mr. Martínez serves as the New Jersey Music Educators Association (NJMEA) Chairman for Guitar Education, Director of the NJMEA Honors Guitar Ensemble, and National Association for Music Education (NAfME) Eastern Division Representative for the Council of Guitar Education.

An established classical guitarist, Mr. Martínez served as the concertmaster for the renowned New York City Classical Guitar Orchestra for over a decade. In 2021, he founded the New Jersey Guitar Orchestra, where he also serves as conductor.

Staying true to his roots, he is also the proprietor of Tremolo Music Studio LLC in Clifton, NJ, where he provides music education to aspiring musicians of all ages.