About

Education

Ralph received an Associate in Arts degree in music from County College of Morris, Randolph, NJ and graduated with Bachelor of Music and Master of Arts degrees in Piano Performance from New York University. At N.Y.U. he performed in numerous concerts, recitals and performances and was featured in a duo piano team. He has performed at Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall on numerous occasions and was presented with the “Musician of the Year” award there. He has served as rehearsal pianist, accompanist and orchestra pianist for the Madison Summer Theatre, Madison, NJ, and has performed numerous solo piano recitals as well as in master classes of Jascha Zayde and Dr. John Gorman with whom he currently studies piano.

Career

For three years he taught K-8 general music classes at St. Patrick’s School in Chatham, NJ where he produced, directed, and conducted Christmas plays and Spring concerts. He was also a faculty member of the Suburban Community Music Center in Madison where he taught piano for three years. Ralph teaches piano independently and maintains a student body ranging from 5 year old beginners to advanced High Schoolers to adult novices, and each Spring his students perform in their annual student piano recital. Currently, Mr. Iossa is venturing with his new business Woodstock Piano Lessons.

Achievements

In the Fall of 2005 an article of his titled “Creative Strategies for Teaching Piano Literature” was published in the October issue of ‘Clavier’ magazine. The four page spread describes his teaching philosophies as well as give helpful hints and tips for common problems faced by piano teachers.

Ralph also played synthesizer and electronic keyboards for the “Electric Alligator Ensemble”, a unique multi-electronic keyboard ensemble performing original works of noted Contemporary composer/arranger Michael Palmieri. In addition to numerous studio and concert recordings, live performances have included colleges, schools, malls, libraries, churches, planetariums, and First Night festivals. Ralph has completed extensive Doctoral work in pursuit of a Doctor of Education in College Teaching of Music degree at Columbia University, an advanced degree requiring high levels of performance skills with an emphasis on teaching and research at the college level.

Ralph is a member of the Music Teachers National Association and the Cherokee County Music Teachers Association.