Rojo: News


A Note from Robbie — June 21, 2011 Welcome to the ROJO Website. Next month will the 6th year ROJO Sound Studio/Robbie Mac's Drum Studio has been open for business. In those 6 years, I have taught drum lessons to some really amazing students. I've recorded some great bands and musicians with the help of Jeremy Eger, which has put me in a position to have played with some of the best musicians NJ has to offer. I want to say thanks to all of you. You know who you are!! It has been a great experience, and hope it keeps going! 2 weeks ago, The Union County Fire Chief came into Robbie Mac's Drum Studio to hire me to direct The Union County Police and Firemen Drumline for their Bagpipe Band. The drum director I have replaced is the Legendary Andy White. Anyone who is a true Beatle fan would know Andy White was the drummer on the very first Beatle record, Love Me Do. I have huge shoes to fill. That's it for now. Thank you for visiting the ROJO sound website. Hope you enjoyed it. If you are interested in recording or drum lessons, please call or email. With Warmest regards, Robbie

Robbie Mac Drum Studio now offers guitar lessons. Ty Pituk now teaches: • Private instruction and study on Guitar • Studies include Formal Ear Training • Advanced Music Theory • Harmony & Composition Hello Folks! Here is another year of CJMEA region band student results. Josh Kluger an 8th grader from William Annin Middle School in Basking Ridge. This was Joshes first year to audition for region band and won 1st chair Orchestra #3 in the region on Traps. Great Job Josh!. Robert McNamara a 10th Grader at J.P. Stevens High School in Edison. Robbie, who is no stranger to the CJMEA Region band. Has been in The CJMEA Region Band since 7th Grade. This year 2011, Robbie Made 5th Chair overall/second Chair wind Ensemble Regional band. Robbie was invited to audition for The New Jersey All-State band. Robbie made 9th Overall/5th Chair Symphonic All-State band. And If you were wondering, Yes, That is Tommy Igoe with Robbie. Tommy is the Drummer for The Lion King, Birdland Big Band, Wrote The Grove Essential Drum Books. Patrick Clarke is a 8th Grader at William Annin Middle School in Basking Ridge. This year was Patricks second year auditioning for Region Band. Last year, Patrick won 5th chair overall for Marimba playing for The 2010 percussion Ensemble. This year Patrick won second overall for Marimba playing for The 2011 Percussion Ensemble.

June 5th 2010 had to be one of the best days of my life. I held my first ever Drum Recital and Drum Clinic for my students and for the community. This was something that I wanted to do for a long time. My teacher and mentor Dom Famularo planted a seed in my head to do this for Robbie Mac's Drum Studio and for ROJO Sound Studio and most of all to acknowledge my students and their families for making my teaching studio so successful.

To start the day the J.P. Stevens Drum Line started the show. They marched in and commenced the show with precision and presence. The students performed their music with skill and accuracy. Several students of mine also preformed drum solos from Rock to Jazz. Greg Giannascoli, our first guest artist made his way to the stage. He performed some beautiful music on his custom made 5 octave Yamaha Marimba. Jeff Queen demonstrated some of his teaching techniques and his mastery on the marching snare drums. Bobby Sanabria closed the show with the history of the Clave. Bobbie’s passion for the Afro-Cuban rhythms made for a well informed clinic. I was deeply honored that all 3 artist came out to make this day as special for me as the people that were there to witness this.

I also have to thank all of our sponsors. Kratt Pitch Pipe Company for the food and drink. All the Major Drum and Cymbal companies for all the great give aways. Sabian Cymbals in particular gave away 2 16" crash cymbals. LP Percussion donated fantastic LP products. Zildjian donated sticks, hats and shirts. Remo Drum Heads donated drum heads and the famous Puddy Pads.

I want to thank all who attended this great day! Robbie McNamara


"I had a blast doing both a master class and clinic for Robbie Mac's drum studio! It was a privilege to teach some lessons to Robbie's students and all I can say is that he has them all pointed in the right direction for sure! It was also a pleasure to watch as these and many more students played in their first annual recital day, and again, Robbie is doing the right thing getting his students out there, playing in front of people. That's what is is all about! Thanks to Robbie and his staff for putting on a great day not only for his studio, but for the community as well, Cheers!" Jeff Queen
	"I was honored to be part of Rob McNamara's first drum event. It was well put together with a nice variety of artists that displayed a variety of styles. The best part of it was that the audience was inter-generational, and not everyone was a drum-head! Thus Rob is helping to foster a greater understanding for what we do in the general public in a big, big way. I foresee it being an annual event that will continue to grow. Thanks Rob for asking me to be a part of it's historic birth." Bobby Sanabria
"I had the pleasure of being a part of the Day of Percussion hosted by Robbie Mac's Drum Studio this past Saturday. It was a wonderful and professionally run event from top to bottom. I also got to hear some of Robbie's students and they sounded great on not just drum set but also on percussion and mallets; real quality." Greg Giannascoli

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