State-Of-The-Art Teaching Studio:
located at 25 Continental Lane, Titusville, NJ, 08560

Joe owns a state-of-the-art "soundproof" studio which is equipped with two drumsets, a piano, DVD cameras, amplifiers, and a PA system to provide maximum enhanced learning. The studio is also attached to a comfortable and pleasant "waiting room".

Teaching Clinics

Joe at a teaching clinic at the Brookdale Guitar Show with the Jersey Shore's legendary Blues & Rockabilly guitarist Sonny Kenn, and bassist Chris Plunkett (Hank Williams, Jr., Waylon Jennings) discussing "The Blues" PART I

Joe at a teaching clinic at the Brookdale Guitar Show with the Jersey Shore's legendary Blues & Rockabilly guitarist Sonny Kenn, and bassist Chris Plunkett (Hank Williams, Jr., Waylon Jennings) discussing "The Blues" PART II

Drumming Teaching Style

Joe teaches drums privately to both child and adult students. Joe’s teaching approach is more “technique and feel” based rather than theory based. While basic music theory, such as counting, note-value and rudimental drumming are covered, the student is not “drowned in a sea of books". Instead, Joe centers his teaching around helping students to be able to “play” music, not just “read” music. Joe states, “most of my student's ultimate goal is to be able to play in a "live band" situation. Whether this goal is playing in school jazz-rock band, marching band, local rock bands, and/or professionally...I want to help them do that.” Joe also helps many students prepare for auditions for high school and middle school jazz-rock bands, IAJE All-State and All-Region Jazz-Rock Band, music college and professional auditions.

Joe says “Just like we learn to speak before we learn to read, I believe you've got to be able to play a little bit of music, before you can start reading music and learning theory. For a drummer, good hand and foot technique and proper stick control are extremely important... no different than holding a baseball bat the proper way is important...if you wanna get a hit (he says with a laugh). Playing music and reading music are two totally different things, just like reading a book and speaking are two totally different things. Some people are good readers, but not good conversationalists...they don’t necessarily speak or communicate well. Music is all about emotion and emotional communication...you're sending out a message. Whether that message is happy, sad, angry, or just telling a story, when you play music, you’re sending out a huge emotional message."

To some, his teaching style is somewhat unorthodox, but Joe believes that many music teachers and parents focus too much on theory and reading music...not really playing music. Joe says, “I’ve got students who have had other teachers, who taught them to read, but not to play. So, when the student tries to play in a band he really can’t because he’s got no real playing or musical skills, and he can only play with the book in front of him. This results in a frustrated student who gets turned off to drumming and music as a whole. In my opinion, if a student doesn’t develop a feel for the music first, followed by a proper playing technique, then forcing music theory down a student's throat is pointless.”

Joe focuses heavily on the “chops” such as stick control, hand and foot development, and flawless execution of the rudiments. Joe says " I want my students to sound good...its just that simple. Poor technique will not only make you sound bad, but it'll make you'll look bad too. When you're playing music in a live situation...you're in show business, and you DO NOT want to look bad on stage". Joe has developed many different rudimentary and rhythmic exercises to help accomplish this goal. When turning his student’s attention to the drumset, he emphasizes solid time-keeping while performing various rhythms (grooves or beats), all the while encouraging the student to “feel” the emotion, dynamics, and overall spirit of the rhythm or song. He frequently accompanies his students on the piano while they are drumming, encouraging the student to “find” and “feel” the groove. He sometimes has the student to play along with certain songs or music which is pumped through the studio's house PA System. Joe also uses DVD cameras to record the student’s lessons. This allows the student to not only hear himself and Joe, but to see and witness exactly what is being played and what techniques are being used. This is essential for student self-analyzation and evaluation.

Vocal Teaching Style
Joe's work as a vocal coach focuses students on listening (ear training), pitch control, dynamics, inflection and stage presence, with an overall effort to capture the emotion of the song. He generally plays piano along with the student and focuses much attention on harmony singing. Joe believes that this increases not only singing ability, but the student's "listening" ability as well. When the student is able to sing harmony well with the piano, he then moves to “a cappela” style (without music)...the most pure form of singing. He will then sing with the student, all the while emphasizing tone, pitch control, and emotion. Joe also uses DVD cameras to assist in vocal coaching. This allows the student to not only hear himself and Joe, but to see and witness exactly what is being sung and what techniques are being used. This is essential for student self-analyzation and evaluation. Joe generally guides and prepares his vocal students for solo singing or “fronting” with bands.

Joe will also focus on scales, note identification, pitch matching, pronunciation technique, phrasing, and understanding some basic piano. He states, “a good singer should at least know what key they can sing a song in. If you go to "sit-in" with a band at a club and you call a song, and you don’t know what key you sing it in, the results can be extremely embarrassing.” Joe’s basic theory is “if you can’t listen, then you can’t sing...the most important part of a singer’s body or any musician for that matter, are his ears".