Ralph Iossa

Ralph received an Associate in Arts degree in music from County College of Morris, Randolph, NJ and graduated with Bachelor of Music and Master of Arts degrees in Piano Performance from New York University. At N.Y.U. he performed in numerous concerts, recitals and performances and was featured in a duo piano team. He has performed at Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall on numerous occasions and was presented with the “Musician of the Year” award there. He has served as rehearsal pianist, accompanist and orchestra pianist for the Madison Summer Theatre, Madison, NJ, and has performed numerous solo piano recitals as well as in master classes of Jascha Zayde and Dr. John Gorman with whom he currently studies piano.

For three years he taught K-8 general music classes at St. Patrick’s School in Chatham, NJ where he produced, directed, and conducted Christmas plays and Spring concerts. He was also a faculty member of the Suburban Community Music Center in Madison where he taught piano for three years. Ralph teaches piano independently and maintains a student body ranging from 5 year old beginners to advanced High Schoolers to adult novices, and each Spring his students perform in their annual student piano recital. Currently, Mr. Iossa is venturing with his new business Woodstock Piano Lessons.

In the Fall of 2005 an article of his titled “Creative Strategies for Teaching Piano Literature” was published in the October issue of ‘Clavier’ magazine. The four page spread describes his teaching philosophies as well as give helpful hints and tips for common problems faced by piano teachers.

Ralph also played synthesizer and electronic keyboards for the “Electric Alligator Ensemble”, a unique multi-electronic keyboard ensemble performing original works of noted Contemporary composer/arranger Michael Palmieri. In addition to numerous studio and concert recordings, live performances have included colleges, schools, malls, libraries, churches, planetariums, and First Night festivals. Ralph has completed extensive Doctoral work in pursuit of a Doctor of Education in College Teaching of Music degree at Columbia University, an advanced degree requiring high levels of performance skills with an emphasis on teaching and research at the college level.

Ralph is a member of the National Music Teachers Association and the Cherokee Music Teachers Association.

Piano lessons provide a fulfilling and enriching source of personal achievement for youngsters. For the student musician, experiencing music allows them to explore the creative process through their lessons and provides personal fulfillment, enjoyment and self-confidence. Piano lessons have become such an important part of Mr. Iossa’s students’ lives. The display of virtuosity is not at all the measure of accomplishment for the student musician. Mr. Iossa’s students develop an emotional outlet and cultivate an artistic and creative expression of themselves, experience culture and beauty, and build character. They become more confident, more expressive, more sensitive, more in tune, and they have fun!

When the students learn and listen to the music they study, they don’t just learn the notes on the page – that’s not the goal. They experience beauty, and they feel things through the music they’ve never felt before. The goal of making music is to satisfy the basic needs for self-expression, appreciation of culture, art and beauty, and an outlet for emotional release. A musical background through piano lessons enriches each person and can remain a lifelong source of personal enjoyment and fulfillment.