Joseph M. Pisano, Ph.D., is an industry innovator, educator, clinician and lecturer, trumpeter and conductor, and the creator of many music and education websites. He is currently the Vice President of Innovation and Engagement at Keystone Ridge Designs, Inc.
After twenty-three years as a professor and administrator in higher education, he made the move into industry in 2018. As one of the youngest full professors in Grove City's history, he served in many capacities during his tenure including Professor of music, Director of Music and Fine Arts Technology, Technical Director of the Pew Fine Arts Center, Associate/Assistant Chair of Music and Fine Arts, Director of Jazz Studies.
He finished his tenure at the college as the Director of Bands, where he directed the college's Symphonic Concert Band, Wind Ensemble, Marching Band, Pep Band, and various smaller ensembles. He continues to guest direct bands, consult with music programs, and adjudicate ensembles and programs today.
He has been named a TI:ME Teacher of the Year, received the JEN Jazz Educator Award, the PA Citation of Excellence, and named a "member for life" of the PA Intercollegiate Bandmasters Association. He is a past Vice President of the Technology Institute for Music Educators, an associate member of the American Bandmasters Association, a past President of the PA Intercollegiate Bandmasters Association, and a member of various education and music honoraries.
He has written for numerous publications including DCI Magazine, Teaching Music Magazine, SBO, and was the Educational Editor for In-Tune Monthly Magazine for eight years; he has contributed hundreds of articles to various publications. He is an active conductor, trumpeter, clinician, and educator. Find out more at his website: JPisano.com.
Brian,
Thanks for taking the time to comment. It is amazing to see how we’ve turned an aural art into a visual one… I encourage my students from day one to start using their “ear” and only use the visual aids until the’ve become good at using their ears. It makes them better musicians in the larger picture. They thank me for it later… :)
J. Pisano
Interesting points about students using visual tuners. I’m mainly a guitar player, and I rely heavily on my korg dt-10 tuner. I can still tune by ear, but I’m going to start forcing myself to hear the A 440 from now on, rather than lining up my tuning machines according to green dots vs. red ones.
It makes sense to use the digital tuner for live performances, and re-stringing an instrument…just for a reference point; but I agree that people are losing their “ear” for the notes they are playing. Most guitar players I see here at in the dorms just play stuff they hear on the radio, and try to mimic what their favorite guitarists are doing visually rather than tonally.