Online Classical Guitar Composition Electric Bass Electric Guitar Guitar Singer-Songwriter Ukulele Lessons with Massimo 

Massimo - Teacher #3840

Instruments:
- Classical Guitar
- Composition
- Electric Bass
- Electric Guitar
- Guitar
- Singer-Songwriter
- Ukulele

Services:
- Composition
- Counterpoint
- Dictation
- Ear Training
- Harmony
- Music Appreciation
- Music History
- Music Theory (Advanced)
- Music Theory (Beginner-Intermediate)
- RCM
- RCM - Advanced Harmony
- RCM - Advanced Rudiments
- RCM - Analysis
- RCM - Basic Harmony
- RCM - Basic Rudiments
- RCM - Counterpoint
- RCM - History
- RCM - Intermediate Harmony
- RCM - Intermediate Rudiments
- Solfege

Languages:
- English
- French
- Italian
- Spanish

Teaching Philosophy

First and foremost, I want to share my passion for music with my students, therefore my teaching philosophy is one of fostering creativity, enthusiasm, curiosity, and also empowering students to pursue their own diverse musical interests. I only came to music as a teenager, and soon discovered a new undiscovered passion for this wonderful subject, which led me to pursue advanced studies in music at university, and I hope that my students will develop a similar passion for this subject. Teaching music or any other creative discipline is demanding work. Beyond imparting our knowledge, instructing students on theoretical rules, technique, and exposing them to standard repertoire, it is our duty to help them bring out their own voice and fuel their creative passion, while ensuring we do not stifle their creativity. Seeing as I am classically trained, but started out playing electric guitar in rock group and big bands, before pursuing studies in composition, I believe that it is of utmost importance to encourage students to appreciate various styles of music, regardless of the area of specialisation they pursue in their studies. I want to ensure that I don’t impose my own stylistic preferences upon them, so that I don’t encourage a culture of artistic hierarchy which favours certain musical styles or methodologies. I ultimately want my students to be able to obtain the necessary skills and knowledge needed to excel in their are of study, but I also want them to be open-minded and accepting of all genres. I am adamant their musical education should be a positive and enriching experience, and that it is my role to assist them in their musical journey. Therefore, my primary goals as an instructor are to incite passion, and provide students with the necessary implements to complete their studies or pursue their goals.

Through my teaching, I strive to ensure that my students have a firm grasp of the technical aspects of music, such as scales, chords, and arpeggi, and I inform them that warming up is also a fundamental part of instrumental lessons and practice sessions, as having good technique will help their development and also ensure that they avoid injury. I believe that it is also important for me to be aware of their and their families goals in lessons, and to tailor my lessons to their needs and interests, whether they want to pursue RCM examinations, or learn how to improvise, or learn songs, among other things. I also believe that it is imperative to incorporate aspects of ear-training and music theory into lessons, to ensure that they develop into well-rounded musicians, as this will also assist them in their playing and composing. I will also reaffirm the importance of time and stress-management in order to ensure they are looking out for their own well-being.

I also firmly believe that as both an artist and educator it is my duty to be open-minded and empathetic, and to uphold values of inclusiveness. I am also dedicated to creating a safe and welcoming space for all students in my lessons, as I want them to feel empowered and heard, and to foster an atmosphere of respect through my teaching.

Musical Education

I completed my Bachelor of Music degree with honours in 2012, majoring in composition and minoring in Spanish, at the University of Toronto, during which I studied classical guitar under Canadian virtuoso Eli Kassner, who in turn studied under Spanish classical guitarist Andrés Segovia. I also studied composition under Professors Norbert Palej, Alexander Rapoport, Chan Ka Nin, and Gary Kulesha. During my undergraduate degree, I was a member of the University of Toronto guitar orchestra, and also performed in the pit band of the Hart House production of the musical "Chicago," which fuelled my passion for a wide range of different musical styles.

I later completed my Master of Music (2014) and my Doctor of Musical Arts Degrees (2019) at the University of Toronto, during which I studied under professors Gary Kulesha, Norbert Palej, and Christos Hatzis, while my analytical research on Italian twentieth century music was supervised by professors Alexander Rapoport and Steven Vande Moortele. During my graduate studies, I participated at the 2013 "Form Forum," which ignited my interest in music theory, and later presented my doctoral research on Giacomo Puccini's final opera "Turandot" (1926) at the Graduate Music Conference in 2020. Outside of music, my interest in romance languages and my research on music and AI also led me to complete a coding certificate (2020) and two French language certificates (2019 and 2021) through the University of Toronto's School of Continuing Studies.

I am originally from Italy, and prior to moving to Canada, I also completed high-school in the U.K., where I began my musical studies, also performing as a guitarist in rock bands, and in my high-school's big band, in Germany, Italy, and Spain. During this time, I also enjoyed singing and was exposed to the beauty of sacred vocal music as a member of the Brentwood Cathedral choir and the Essex Young Singers as a baritone. With the former choir, I have been fortunate enough to have performed in St. Peter's Basilica and the Pantheon during our tour of Rome, which was an emotional experience for me as an Italian.

Awards and Distinctions

• Recipient of the Ontario Graduate Scholarship, 2016–17, 2017–18
• Winner of the Mississauga Festival Choir Competition, 2015
• Winner of the Violet Archer Composition Award, 2015
• Recipient of the University of Toronto Fellowship (Awarded to an outstanding doctoral student), 2014–15
• Recipient of the Joseph-Armand Bombardier CGS Program: SSHRC Master’s Scholarship, 2013–14
• Recipient of the Lothar Klein Fellowship, University of Toronto (Awarded to an outstanding Master’s student), 2012
• Recipient of the Music Alumni Graduating Award, University of Toronto, 2012
• Recipient of the Smart Abacus Summer School and Camp Teaching Award, 2011 & 2012
• Screen Composer’s Guild of Canada Mentorship Bursary Program Finalist, 2011
• Recipient of the Ben McPeek Scholarship and Arthur Plettner Scholarship, University of Toronto, 2011
• Recipient of the Faculty Artist’s Scholarship and Gwendolyn Grant Scholarship, University of Toronto, 2010

Special Skills and Training

I am originally from Italy and I had the fortune to live in several different countries throughout my childhood, before coming to Canada as an adult. As a result, I have been able to witness both the positive and negative aspects of several education systems and teaching methods, which have moulded me into the teacher I am today. Through my own educational and professional experiences, teaching privately, through music schools, summer schools, and even as a teaching assistant at a university, I have therefore learned how important it is to think out the box, to be enthusiastic and organised, and to tailor my lessons to the learning styles of my students, which has been an exciting challenge for me, and has made me a better teacher. As a composer and musician with a passion for learning and advocacy, I have also undergone further professional development outside of my studies, taking part at the “Orford Online Music Academy,” the “Scarborough Philharmonic’s New Generation Composer’s Workshop,” and completing the “Indigenous Canada” course offered online by the University of Alberta in 2020, as well as a “Logic Pro” course offered through Witz Education in 2011. I have also completed my Grade 8 Electric Guitar through the London College of Music Board (equivalent to Grade 10 RCM), and my Grade 8 Theory through the Associate Board of the Royal Schools of Music in the U.K.