School of Music and Mayhem

My son began playing the guitar his senior year in PSEO. He wanted to continue after the fall semester, so we went online and found Joe at the School of Music and Mayhem. My son enjoys going to lessons every week and engaging with Joe about music and the guitar. He says he’s a patient teacher and great at providing a lot of variety so that practice doesn’t get boring.

So glad we found such a great teacher! Joe is a wealth of musical knowledge and we love his approach to teaching. My son looks forward to his lessons every week. I love that he really encourages songwriting and finding your own creative voice.
Lesson space is super cool!

Our son had a wonderful experience with Joe. We not only saw tremendous growth in his skills on the drums, but the lessons increased his confidence, deepened his appreciation for music, and brought out his creativity. The whole family got involved and “jammed” together! Highly recommended!

Joe has been teaching and jamming with my son for almost a year now. He has a passion for music and does an awesome job of passing on his expertise with a cool and positive method! My son had admitted it is a nice “Release” (Pearl Jam plug) when not going 100 mph between hockey rinks and ball fields. It is literally music to my ears to hear my son practice some of the music we both love rather than sitting in front of a screen or gaming. Joe has been flexible and his tuition is money well spent. If you, your kid, or anyone you know is considering picking up a rock and roll lifestyle (or a super fun hobby) I would say grab on and enjoy the ride.

Thank you and good night! 🤘

Joe facilitates and positively participates in jam sessions for the musicians. This is not a lesson based, record your practice time, rigid school. This is music and it is mayhem. The communication received by musicians and chauffeurs (parents) is so encouraging and helpful. And the vibe is amazing and loose, yet consistent and clear. You can tell Joe deeply loves music and really enjoys helping others find their sound and learn new skills. My daughter is a beginner drummer and really looks forward to her jam sessions each week. We love our experience here and will continue to spread the good word on this cool school.

My son has been jamming with Joe for 15 years- he began after he took up the drums in Jr high school and he is now 31! The lessons of dedication to craft(practice!), accountability and even insistence of timeliness helped shape our son into the person he is today- as much as any teacher in jr high school, high school or college! Our thanks to the Maestro Schertz for instilling the love of music in Andrew- something he holds dear to this day. ( To go back and jam with Joe all these years later is a BONUS!)

Joe is an incredibly talented musician and teacher. He is an unconventional instructor and able to literally tune in to each student individually.

My son LOVES his lessons and is always eager for them. He has had weekly lessons for about 8 months. He switches between drums and guitar as desired. He always goes straight to practicing as soon as he gets home too as he's inspired by his lessons and wants to keep going.

The space the lessons are taught in is also fantastic as it has an authentic rock vibe!

Joe is a fantastic guitar teacher!! From day one he had my son playing familiar songs which keeps him excited about learning & practicing. Joe's approach to teaching is fun, engaging, laid back, & compassionate. He's good at understanding & connecting with his students. My son has also loved his jam sessions with other students. I highly recommend Joe!

My 7 year old had been begging to take drum lessons for about 2 years by the time I found Music and Mayhem. Interest and commitment to after school activities is fleeting for my daughter, so when she asked for something specific I sought it out. She has loved it and I attribute that to Joe's commitment to make music fun. She doesn't want to miss a week, and we see improvement every week. I would recommend this to anyone who wants their kids to develop a love for music.

I’ve been taking lessons for a few years now and each week is a new adventure. We work on new songs at or just above my musical level each week and I always have a new song or technique to work on for the week. Joe is an incredible musician who can also relate to his students and teach in a way that keeps people engaged. If you want to learn how to play music by working out of a music lesson book and wait a year before you can actually play a song then this is not for you. But if you want to feel like a rock star the very first day and play actual songs you’ve heard on the radio and jam with a real rockstar then this is the place to go!!!

I have two daughters attending the School of Music and Mayhem and I can't recommend it enough. Joe has a passion and love for music that he passes on to his students, always keeping it fun and easy going, my daughters never complain about going to lessons. If you want to rock go to the School of Music and Mayhem.

Our daughter has been jamming with Joe for the last couple years. She has become more confident in both her technical ability and her song writing and improvisational guitar skills. The sessions in the “Cave” at Music and Mayhem have been so much fun that we decided to sign up her brother as well for lessons. He was initially undecided and has gone from keyboards to bass to finally settling on drums. I have been so impressed each week with how much they learn and how much joy they find in playing music. Joe provides such a fun and creative environment to learn and explore music with a casual yet effective approach to teaching. Music lessons and creative music exploration with Joe have helped to give my kids a passion for music that will last a lifetime!

The School of Music and Mayhem is EXCELLENT! Instructor Joe is an extraordinary teacher. The first drum class with my 14 year old involved jumping right into playing and jamming with Joe on guitar while my teenager played drum beats. The class is totally hands on and fun! Joe is a pro and his love for music is contagious, and inspiring to both my teen and me. I highly recommend the School of Music and Mayhem!

Joe is the best music teacher I've seen.

He makes sure to always remember the fun, and steers lessons based on student interest. Most weeks were guitar lessons. Some weeks they became songwriting lessons. Other weeks, voice or ukulele. Sometimes he would throw a jam session, inviting several students to get together.

No matter the topic, Joe's lessons are special. He can explain, teach, and connect so well to the students. My daughter felt confident enough to perform at a talent show after just four months of lessons.

Joe was also very helpful in terms of picking out a starter guitar for my kiddo. I had no idea what to get, and he talked me through to some good options.

Joe is a fantastic instructor keeping lessons fun & engaging. He gets his students playing their first song at lesson 1 & builds from there. But he is also a great influence for children caring about their lives & self-esteem. The combination of great instruction & positive influence made this a great experience for our child.

I owe a great deal of my musical growth as a guitarist and composer to Joe. He is a gifted musician and a kind soul. He brings so much fun and energy in his teaching. He not only taught me the foundations of guitar and songwriting, but he also helped me write some of my first songs and was incredibly encouraging for me to pursue my songwriting journey. For those who just picked up a guitar, drums, or bass, Joe is your guy!

My son has been taking lessons from Joe at the School of Music and Mayhem for close to 10 years. He started out with Guitar Lessons then after some time started taking Drum Lessons too. It has been an awesome experience for him. It has now grown into song writing and recording sessions. He has participated in many "jam" sessions with other musicians over the years as well. It is located near Woodbury so it is convenient for him to get to for his weekly lessons. Joe couldn't be more supportive of my son with his music and other aspects of his life. He has been a great role model and a huge mentor in my son's life. We love Joe and the School of Music and Mayhem!

Joe creates a positive atmosphere of learning and growing, constantly encouraging the students to enhance their skills. He's also very flexible with schedules, working with us to meet our ever-changing needs! My son and daughter find the music lessons and jam sessions to be the highlight of their week!

My son has taken guitar lessons at multiple locations and Music and Mayhem is by far the best music instruction my son has ever received! His musical progression since starting there is just remarkable and he looks forward to his sessions every week. If you are looking got top notch, professional, and all encompassing musical training Music and Mayhem is the place for you.

Our entire family has loved our experience with School of Music and Mayhem! Our young son has not as of yet picked an instrument to focus on, but Joe has been wonderful about fostering his love of music and encouraging him to play all of the instruments Joe has in his arsenal. Our older son in now playing the drums too! We highly recommend Joe and the School of Music and Mayhem!