Hi everyone, this next work in the series  for guitar and various instruments features a dialogue between Violin & Guitar.  I hope you enjoy these compositions, all my best wishes -Joe

Hi everyone, this next work is a soundscape of a beautiful park in New Jersey. A depiction in sound of following a path around the lake, in the center of the park.  Hope you enjoy - Take care Joe

Hi everyone, this next work in the series  for guitar and various instruments features a dialogue between Flute. & Guitar.  I hope you enjoy these dialogues, all my best wishes -Joe

Hi everyone, this next work in the series  for guitar and various instruments features a dialogue between 2 Guitars.  In this composition I feature what I believe is the most important compositional technique in all genres of music -  "Repetition and repetition with variation". In addition the use of petal tones and drones , notes sustained or repeated under the middle or above the music. The third technique highlighted is the Ostinato - A phrase motive riff repeated over and over creating an...

Hi everyone, this next work in the series  for guitar and various instruments features a dialogue between flute and classical guitar.  Hope you enjoy, all my best wishes Joe.

Hi everyone, for the next series of episodes I would like feature some of my works for guitar, along with various instruments and  ensembles . All my best wishes Joe

Sister Rosetta Tharpe - In this episode and the series that follow, Joe highlights the lives and music of women composers through the centuries, whose compositions were discouraged, suppressed and even forbidden. Known as "the Godmother of Rock and Roll", the following are links to Sister Rosetta's Music : https://youtube.com/watch?v=Y9a49oFalZE&feature=shares, https://youtube.com/watch?v=gELe5Rj_tXU&feature=shares 

Clara Schumann - In this episode and the series that follow, Joe highlights the lives and music of women composers through the centuries, whose compositions were discouraged, suppressed and even forbidden. The following are links to some of Clara's  composition:  https://youtube.com/watch?v=xhDFHqOLgeQ&feature=shares.   https://youtube.com/watch?v=O4k7ioNBp7o&feature=shares

Fanny Mendelssohn - In this episode and the series that follow, Joe highlights the lives and music of women composers through the centuries, whose compositions were discouraged, suppressed and even forbidden. The following are links to some of her compositions. https://youtu.be/ti1eZ2B63Ro ,  https://youtu.be/MxlMuaO5hng

Hildegard of Bingen - In this episode and the series that follow, Joe highlights the lives and music of women composers through the centuries, whose compositions were discouraged, suppressed and even forbidden, starting with "Ordo Virtutum" by Hildegard von Bingen.  You can hear the piece here: https://youtu.be/zUMlhtoGTzY

Songwriter Interview: In this episode, Joe interviews singer, songwriter, keyboardist, arranger and producer McKenna Rowe, discussing her life and career as a professional composer and songwriter.  Based in L.A., she has led bands and created music for TV, film and ads under the "Psykick Girl" moniker. Her new band is Nature Loves Courage,  an "electronic art-rock" project where live instruments (Rowe on vocals and keys is joined by bassist Jacob Bergman and drummer Garret Smith) meet...

Songwriter Interview: In this episode, Joe interviews singer, songwriter, arranger and producer El Caplan to discuss his upcoming EP release and the life of a professional songwriter.  While working at Dr. Dre's Aftermath studios, El Caplan created and contributed the all-important guitar part to "Not The Same" by Kyle which you can hear here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v6d4JVCnOy8 El offers deep insights into a life in music, including the software he uses, his process creating...

Songwriting: In this episode Joe continues the  combined  studies of ear training and composition, turning one's mind into the instrument of creativity. The fifth chord in the major key is added along with ear training exercises and the creation of the verse section of a song.

Songwriting: In this episode Joe continues the  combined  studies of ear training and composition, turning one's mind into an instrument of creativity. The fourth chord in the major key is added along with ear training exercises and the creation of the chorus section of a song.

Songwriting: In this episode Joe continues the  combined  studies of ear training and composition, turning one's mind into an  instrument of creativity. The 3rd chord in the major key based  is introduced along with ear training exercises and the creation of melodies based on the major scale.

Songwriting: In this episode Joe continues the  combined  studies of ear training and composition, turning one's mind into the instrument of creativity. 

Songwriting: In this episode Joe combines the studies of ear training and composition, turning one's mind into the instrument of creativity. The resulting music will be truly your own - evolving from within.

Hi Everyone, as I am working on the next episode, for now I have included one of my compositions which I hope you  will  enjoy -  This is one of the 21 Dialogues for guitar and various instruments . All my best wishes Joe

Songwriting:  In this episode Joe analyzes the song "It'll Be Okay" by Shawn Mendes, Eddie Benjamin, Scott Harris and Michael Sabath.  Through detailed  analysis, we see  techniques that will elevate any composition, in any genre of music, to a higher level. For example: forecasting future events, dovetailing sections, hooks at every level -  melody, harmony and rhythm, along with fusing the old with the new etc..  This song is a textbook lesson for any songwriter or composer in any style or...

Songwriting:  In this episode Joe analyzes the song "Beat It" by Michael Jackson . This song was chosen in order to highlight the importance of rhythmic layering in the arranging and recording of any musical composition no matter what style or genre. This is especially important as in today's environment we know of countless examples of artists successfully recording and publishing their music, becoming famous  on their own without record companies or unwanted influences.

Songwriting:  In this episode Joe analyzes the song "Don't Stop Believin" by Jonathan Cain, Neal Schon and Steve Perry of Journey.  It is one of only two songs to reach one billion streams on Spotify - the other being "Bohemian Rhapsody". 

Songwriting:  In this episode Joe analyzes the song "Shivers" by Ed Sheeran, Johnny McDaid, Steve Mac and Kai Lavelle.   Through detailed  analysis, we see  techniques that will elevate any composition, in any genre of music, to a higher level. For example: forecasting future events, dovetailing sections, hooks at every level -  melody, harmony and rhythm along with fusing the old with the new etc..  This song is a textbook lesson for any songwriter or composer in any style or genre of music.

Songwriting: In this episode Joe introduces the concept of creating your own keys based on synthetic and exotic scales, opening a vast reservoir of material  to create music uniquely your own . These original keys will lead to chord progressions, melodies and musical compositions unlike anyone else.

Songwriting: In this episode Joe continues this ongoing study, creating an unlimited amount of melodies through  various musical techniques . This episode deals with improvising melodies for songs or solos  through the use of  " A Suspension"  combined with chord tones, passing tones, non-chord tones, auxiliary tones and the appoggiatura against the chord progression C, G, Am and F.