New York native Jaxie Binder began to study violin at the age of 9, an instrument she continued to play through her early twenties. She first seriously took up the guitar at the age of 21, when a friend gave her a vintage Fender electric guitar. Jaxie studied jazz guitar for many years with Mark Barasch, and briefly with Leni Stern. In 1990 she attended her first Guitar Craft course. Thereafter, she joined the New York Guitar Project, and worked and performed with them for seven years. In 1994 she formed the Wilsons with Bob Williams. Together, they spent time playing and performing in Europe with the Wilson 5 and other fellow Crafties. Since 1998, she has been studying voice in Seattle with Thomasa Eckert. In 1997, she moved with Bob and their family to Seattle to join the Seattle Guitar Circle