Meet the drum Staff

The founder of the RMC Studios, EJ is professionally trained in drums, guitar, bass guitar, vocals and piano. EJ is a graduate of Ramapo College where he majored in Liberal Arts as a cum laude graduate. He has had the privilege of studying under many talented musicians including JoJo Mayer, Joe Morello, Bernard Purdie and Steve Smith and guitar under Tim Quick, Dave Martone and Joe Stump.

EJ has over 20 years of performing experience. He has been composing, recording, and producing original rock & pop songs for the last 15 years. 

Stu Ottenstein has been a musician since early childhood. Music runs deep in his blood. His father was a professional musician who played in a very well-known New Jersey wedding band for over 30 years. 

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From elementary school, all the way up through college, Stu studied both piano and drums. At the age of fifteen, he started performing on drums regularly with his father’s wedding band gaining a tremendous amount of experience playing all styles of music ranging from Big Band to Motown and everything in between. 

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He has been featured in Modern Drummer magazine in a section called “On The Move” and his drumming skills have been utilized on recordings for independent films and television.

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For nearly a decade, Stu was the Drum Department Manager at Sam Ash Music in Springfield, NJ. His knowledge of drumming, drumming gear, and what it takes to be a successful musician is extensive from all of his years in the business both as a player and as a salesman.

Stu continues to perform regularly with some of the top bands in NJ, playing all types of venues and events. Some of the bands that Stu plays with are Brian Kirk and the Jirks, Moroccan Sheepherders,The Jonzes, the Joe Baracata Band, High In The Mid 80’s, Carnival Dogs, The Main Event Big Band, Guilty Pleasure, From Jersey With Love.

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Stu’s passion, technique, positive energy, and love for what he does shine through every single time he sits down behind his drums. He loves sharing his knowledge, skill, and passion with all who want to learn how to play.

Tom Frustieri is a professional drummer from New Jersey. He has performed around the globe, backing international artists and national tribute acts. His many trips include visiting United States military bases across Asia and the Middle East, performing for US Troops and international armed forces, and performing in arenas, clubs, and festival events.

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Tom is a graduate of William Paterson University in Wayne, NJ earning a Bachelor of Music degree in Jazz Studies and Performance. Tom has performed with members of The Who, Kiss, Deep Purple, Alice in Chains, Night Ranger, and Rainbow to name a few. Tom currently performs with two national touring tribute acts; Slippery When Wet-NJ
Ultimate Bon Jovi Tribute band and Last Child Aerosmith Experience. 

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As a teacher Tom will work with the student to customize a plan to help them achieve their individual goals on the instrument, whether they are a serious drummer or someone just looking to jam on their favorite songs. He begins by teaching basic beats and fill rhythms and as the student begins to apply them in time and to songs, their comfort, groove, and confidence grows. 

Nick was heavily influenced by his grandparent’s love of jazz and classical music growing up. He started playing the drums at age 9 and continued to learn percussion through school music programs for the remainder of his education. He often gigged with jazz ensembles and combos throughout college. Nick enlisted in the U.S. Army as a Military Bandsman at age 18 and continues to serve in the military today. This opportunity has allowed him to play at functions for numerous government officials including presidents, governors, secretaries, and senators as well as foreign heads of state and dignitaries.

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Nick’s instructional background has seen students ranging in experience from children who are just beginning to play drums, to collegiate percussionists, to the many musicians he mentored during his Army career. Former students have also employed Nick to help them pass admissions auditions for academic programs. Beyond teaching percussion, he also boasts a robust background in tutoring STEM students from middle school to college.

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Nick is originally from Wall Township, NJ. He studied electrochemical engineering at Purdue University and the New Jersey Institute of Technology. The majority of his career has been spent in sustainable electric energy systems R&D. Currently, Nick is also the CTO at a technology start-up focused on mitigating the transmission of aerosolized pathogens.

John has been playing piano since the age of 6 and playing drums, bass, and guitar since the age of 10. John has been teaching and instructing students on these instruments for the past 3 years. John draws his influences from many genres and artists, including Led Zeppelin, The Police, as well as D’Angelo and James Jamerson. In his free time, John writes music in various genres including; R&B, Bossa Nova, Jazz, Hip Hop, and Rock. 
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John has studied under many teachers over the years for each instrument. Most recently, John studied under Carlos Vazques of Mason Gross College of the Arts at Rutgers University, where he focused on Conga Performance. 
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This past year, John earned his degree in Education from Middlesex County College, and he will be going on to study English and Music Education at Kean University.
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John has found a passion for teaching students of any age, from beginner to advanced skill levels. His approach to teaching is student-centered: he focuses on the students' interests and needs. From there, he helps his students build the skills necessary to be able to play the genres and songs that interest them most. 

George Maher is completed his Bachelor's degree in jazz trumpet performance at Mason Gross School of the Arts, at Rutgers University. At school, George performed with RU's Jazz Ensemble under the direction of trombonist, Professor Conrad Herwig.

This group has had the privilege of performing at The Blue Note jazz club in New York City, and has performed with guest artists such as, Orrin Evans, Michael Phillip Mossman, Tanya Darby, and Joe Magnarelli. 

George originally hails from Connecticut where for three years of high school where he attended the Greater Hartford Academy of the Arts, in Hartford, CT.

At the Academy, George performed in a small ensemble under the director of Jimmy Greene, and Kris Allen. He also performed in the award winning Academy Big Band, lead by Douglas Maher. 

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George is an active musician who currently tours and performs with numerous groups. 

Jesse brings 15 years of teaching experience. He studied piano and composition at Rutgers University on a scholarship. Jesse's musical training coupled with on-stage experience (Limelight, Knitting Factory, CBGBs) has helped him guide and inspire many musicians. 

He focuses on building a strong technical grounding on the instrument. His lessons are tailored around the student's goals and musical taste. 

In addition to teaching Guitar, Piano, Drums, Bass, Ukulele, & Voice, Jesse also teaches songwriting, music theory, and arranging. He has experience teaching all age ranges and levels. He has taught total beginners to advanced students. 

Kevin McDaniel is a multi-instrumentalist and dedicated music educator who brings over two decades of experience to RMC Studios. He began playing drums at age six, picked up guitar by ten, and later added bass to his list of growing instruments. Originally from Connecticut, Kevin moved to New Jersey at 18 to join a touring band. He studied film at Fairleigh Dickinson University, taking advantage of every music class offered, including formal guitar and drum lessons. His in-home studio in Montclair has become a creative hub, where he records and mixes music for local bands.

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Kevin’s approach to teaching reflects his deep appreciation for the creative side of music, which he believes is crucial for sustaining students' interest over time. Having taught private drum and guitar lessons, he found that RMC’s values closely align with his passion for fostering musical creativity.