Marco Ghezzo

I am an Italian violinist with more than twenty years of concert music experience in Europe, the United States and Latin America. I trained from classical music, but soon I started my journey through folk and etnic music, starting from the music of the mountains of my region to get to Balkan and gypsy music. I have recorded 4 albums and countless tours with Italian French and Mexican international bands (Taluna, Guajiro Calentano, Circo Zoé ..
Having also studied Ethnomusicology, part of my work is also focusing on the production of research and video material (Me Bashavao ande Italy, 2007, RomaCultura Aperta ..I recently moved to the Bay Area, where I combine teaching and concert activities with bands of swing and balkan music.

I started teaching violin from the age of 20 privately and in recent years I have had experience of group teaching both in schools and animating Gypsy violin seminars. I like equally to guide the approach of young musicians to the instrument, and the improvement of advanced students. Given my experience in the field of folk and ethnic music i believe that have fun is a central part in learning music at any age. I think it is essential that the study plan is designed to accommodate the student’s musical tastes, to allow you to express, through practice, the maximum potential that each music lover has.

Normally with very young students I start with the parallel study of written music, basic technique and music learned by imitation. It is a question of repeating short fragments of melody and then composing the whole piece piece by piece. This practice is widely used in many musical traditions and leads the student to develop the ear and the memory, that is the main elements of the musical practice. This practice can be applied to all levels from the most basic to the most advanced. For those interested I also offer elements of improvisation in different styles.

The approach to the violin with the orthodox method can be particularly frustrating. The technique is important but equally important is to develop the ability and taste of playing together right away. For this reason, regardless of the styles you want to deepen, I play as much as possible together with the student whether it is classical duets, folk songs or jazz. For the more advanced students a part of the study of the accompaniment is reserved as well as for soloists
Calibrating the objectives based on the abilities of the age and the talent of the students is an attention that can avoid frustrations and lead everyone to the common goal of the musicians: to express and continuously improve.