Have you ever taken music lessons but stopped because you were bored with the songs, didn't like your teacher, or never felt like you got the opportunity to put your skills to the test on a real stage?

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Too often we hear stories of students who become discouraged with their music lessons and stop before they've even scratched the surface of their potential. They don't like the music they're playing, don't feel like they're getting any better, don't feel the sense of community at their school, and eventually decide to stop lessons altogether, letting their passion and skills fade into the background. Many students don't return to music lessons after experiences like this and regret it into adulthood: 

 

"I wish I had stuck with music lessons...I would love to be able to play with my children...I just want to accompany myself on songs I like to play."

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Our owner and founder, EJ Gaub, first began identifying and correcting this trend in music education while working a full-time corporate job and teaching and playing music in the basement of his home in Rahway, NJ. Neighbors heard the music and asked if their children could come and take lessons with EJ, and from there, the school grew to the point where EJ could no longer house all of the students and teachers in his basement. Shortly after in 2005, RMC moved to its current home in Garwood, NJ where we were able to extend our philosophy, music lessons, and programming to more students and expand our community of teachers. 

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At RMC, we are dedicated to bringing music to each learner's individual skill and interest level to create a lifelong love and appreciation for music, whether a student wants to train for a career in music or whether they just want to know how to play their favorite songs. This approach not only keeps students in lessons longer but also prepares students to teach themselves so that music and learning become a never-ending part of their lives. 

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We also feel that performing alone and with others is an integral part of our student's music education. It reinforces the progress they are working towards in their lessons, builds confidence, and performing on a stage is also a skill in itself. Lastly...it's just a ton of fun! So throughout the school year, we provide multiple opportunities for students to take their skills directly to the stage to play solo, with other student musicians, or our RMC Teacher Band. Each of our school performances centers around creating real-world, meaningful concert experiences for students so they have the full experience of performing in today's music industry. 
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We also offer multiple group programs that headline these events. Our Rockshop program is our flagship program which puts students in their own bands! We pair students together based on their age, musical interests, and instruments to form real bands and real friendships. The bands work together to not only learn songs they love, but to learn how to function as a band, how to listen and practice together, take care of their musical equipment, and how to perform on stage as a band. Our bands play full concert events all on their own, called Rockstock, at major venues throughout New York and New Jersey. Most recently, all 14 of RMC's Rockshops played the House of Independents and the Stone Pony in Asbury Park. Some of our bands continue playing and writing original music together even after they have graduated high school and moved on from RMC. 

 

For students interested in Jazz and Jazz theory, we have the RMC Jazz ensemble, where students can improve their playing, improvisation, and play with other students who appreciate Jazz as much as they do. 

 

We also believe that Drumline doesn't only belong on the football field, so we do it year-round with the RMC Drumline, where students learn and build on the skills needed for drumming with their high school marching band and also for performing group percussion pieces. 

 

For singers, we have the RMC A Cappella Choir, where students who love to sing and harmonize get to arrange and perform popular songs and learn to improve and control their riffing and belting abilities in a safe environment.
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From our lessons and programs, we've seen students and Rockshop bands go off to pursue music careers all the way to college and into the music industry, but we've seen those that choose to continue to only play for themselves and their families. What both groups of students have in common is that their positive experience gave them a connection and understanding of music that they can take with them, expand on, and share throughout their lives. 
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It's never too late or too early to begin your music journey.
Contact us and we'll work with you to find the best teacher for you or your child!