Just as an example, notemusical sketch from 2009 where comedy group Axis of Awesome amaze their audience by playing 36 modern pop songs over the same four-chord structure, in one long sequence.
Hearing exactly how each note is meant to sound makes it easier for students to master musical basics during the beginning stages of their educations, providing instant feedback for those that depend on self-teaching.
"Joe has a great sense of what is most meaningful in the history and tradition of our music, and a real solid musical vision of where to take it, " says Mr. Person in a note in Mr. Alterman's archives.