Piero’s Music:
Great Teachers, Outstanding Service and Decades of Music History

Mike Fumento wears three musical hats: a music teacher with the Bayonne Board of Education; the co-owner and general manager of Piero’s Music; and a former and still occasional professional drummer. Mike has always been musical, and decided to pursue higher education in music, at least partly inspired by his older brother Tony. Mike went on to earn a Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Miami in jazz performance and then went on the road as a professional musician. He played with blues musician Popa Chubby, indie rockers Darby Jones, and did studio work. Eventually, he decided he wanted to teach, earned his teaching certificate at New Jersey City University, and has been teaching in the Bayonne Public Schools since. Piero’s Music was such an important part of the life of Mike, Tony and so many in the local music scene that when the previous owner was ready to retire and considered closing the store, they decided to buy it and keep the tradition alive.

Bassist Tony always loved music, but his career took him in a different direction. He is the owner and operator of Advance Electric, a local Bayonne electrical contracting firm. 

When the previous owner of Piero’s Music was ready to retire, he actually closed the business for a time. Tony and Mike saw an opportunity to revive a music store that had served them in their younger years. They bought the store and reopened it in 2018, refurbished it, and continued to focus on music lessons and instrument sales that best serve the local community.

The brothers’ vision for the store included, first and foremost, updating the store’s appearance inside. They “right sized” the brands and lines of instruments carried to best serve the community. Now that the business is pointed in the right direction, they want the store to begin to serve as a central point for local musicians to hang out and discuss what’s happening in the music scene in Bayonne, Hudson County and beyond.

Recognizing the changing population, Piero’s Music has begun stocking instruments that are familiar to players who’ve emigrated to the United States from the islands or Latin America. Percussion like the cajon, conga or steel drum are new additions. Plus, having staff who can teach bilingual students is something that the owners are very sensitive to and try to accommodate.

Piero’s Music has been reimagined as something that will begin to grow beyond its walls. Since its grand opening, the student base has begun to grow as more and more students are taking lessons. The brothers hope to work more closely with local school systems to service the orchestras and marching bands that are a key extracurricular activity for so many students. Also, there is a recognition of how important it is to provide a nice, safe, non-judgmental space for students who are being homeschooled, and whose parents want to see them having activities outside of textbooks.

Some things about music are evolving, but the core of music – the education, the instruments and the knowledge – are the essential, durable components that Piero’s Music, under the leadership of the Fumentos, is excited to bring to a new generation of learners in Bayonne, Jersey City, Hoboken, Union City, Weehawken and Staten Island.