Music Theories - Unifying two worlds: how we make music and how we understand it to make it better
From 79.39 C$ /h
What is music theory? Is it just one theory? What do we do with it? How come so many of the greatest musicians didn't know even the name of the notes?
Let's dispel the myth.
They may, in fact, have lacked the names, but "knowing" in music means something else than a dusty stockpile of information and labels. Their ears, their voice, and their hands "knew" very well...
Music theory is the way we get some order into the endless realm of possibility that music allows us. Naming and conceptualizing these possibilities is very useful in many ways. It provides us with an overarching and abstract understanding of what we have done (reflective element), and it can even open up to yet unheard sound combinations (generative element). But one point remains crucial: music theories come from music practice and come back to music practice. Theories are the most useful and loyal servants for music-making, but only empty speculations without it.
In these lessons, I will help you to understand how to navigate music theories and what to do with them. I will show you a plurality of approaches to systematizing sound relations that will serve at best the music you love to play or want to compose.
The lessons will be custom made for each student.
Whether you are a beginner who simply wants a little help to get the basics right or you are a cultivated musician fond of music theory who wants to explore advanced and complex concepts out of the box, I will provide you with ideas, materials, and exercises. I will work to adapt to your learning rhythm while keeping you challenged at the same time. You will receive regular feedback, advice, and guidance
Don't hesitate to contact me for more details!
Let's dispel the myth.
They may, in fact, have lacked the names, but "knowing" in music means something else than a dusty stockpile of information and labels. Their ears, their voice, and their hands "knew" very well...
Music theory is the way we get some order into the endless realm of possibility that music allows us. Naming and conceptualizing these possibilities is very useful in many ways. It provides us with an overarching and abstract understanding of what we have done (reflective element), and it can even open up to yet unheard sound combinations (generative element). But one point remains crucial: music theories come from music practice and come back to music practice. Theories are the most useful and loyal servants for music-making, but only empty speculations without it.
In these lessons, I will help you to understand how to navigate music theories and what to do with them. I will show you a plurality of approaches to systematizing sound relations that will serve at best the music you love to play or want to compose.
The lessons will be custom made for each student.
Whether you are a beginner who simply wants a little help to get the basics right or you are a cultivated musician fond of music theory who wants to explore advanced and complex concepts out of the box, I will provide you with ideas, materials, and exercises. I will work to adapt to your learning rhythm while keeping you challenged at the same time. You will receive regular feedback, advice, and guidance
Don't hesitate to contact me for more details!
Extra information
IMPORTANT! Please contact me before the first lesson for all the specifics. The price variates for skype lessons and according to student level: Beginner / Intermediate / Advanced.
Location
At teacher's location :
- Smiley's Barbershop, Stille Veerkade, The Hague, Netherlands
Online from Netherlands
About Me
Hello! My name is Cristiano, and I am an Italian multi-instrumentalist, composer, music theorist, and educator based in The Hague.
I specialize in jazz and improvised music, but throughout my musical journey I have embraced and performed many different styles including Blues, Folk, Classical, Contemporary, Fusion, Prog, Rock, Pop, and World Music. Over the years, I have studied violin, guitar, singing, composition, and improvisation with internationally renowned musicians across Europe and abroad. After several years of artistic development, I specialized in Music Education at the Royal Conservatoire of The Hague, where I later taught for ten years.
Since 2009, I have worked with students of different ages, levels, and musical backgrounds, helping them develop their creativity, musical awareness, skills, and confidence.
My teaching approach combines technical development with aural training, embodiment, musical sensitivity, interaction, and ear–instrument connection. Rather than focusing only on mechanical repetition, I aim to help students understand music deeply while developing their own artistic voice in a creative and supportive environment.
Whether you are a beginner, an advanced musician, or simply curious about improvisation and creativity in music, I look forward to sharing my passion with you in one of my classes!
I specialize in jazz and improvised music, but throughout my musical journey I have embraced and performed many different styles including Blues, Folk, Classical, Contemporary, Fusion, Prog, Rock, Pop, and World Music. Over the years, I have studied violin, guitar, singing, composition, and improvisation with internationally renowned musicians across Europe and abroad. After several years of artistic development, I specialized in Music Education at the Royal Conservatoire of The Hague, where I later taught for ten years.
Since 2009, I have worked with students of different ages, levels, and musical backgrounds, helping them develop their creativity, musical awareness, skills, and confidence.
My teaching approach combines technical development with aural training, embodiment, musical sensitivity, interaction, and ear–instrument connection. Rather than focusing only on mechanical repetition, I aim to help students understand music deeply while developing their own artistic voice in a creative and supportive environment.
Whether you are a beginner, an advanced musician, or simply curious about improvisation and creativity in music, I look forward to sharing my passion with you in one of my classes!
Education
- Master Degree in Music Education – Royal Conservatoire of The Hague
(specialization in Jazz Guitar and ensemble-leading)
- Master Degree in Jazz Violin & Improvised Music – C.M.D.L. Paris
- Bachelor Degree in Philosophy – La Sapienza University of Rome
(specialization in Jazz Guitar and ensemble-leading)
- Master Degree in Jazz Violin & Improvised Music – C.M.D.L. Paris
- Bachelor Degree in Philosophy – La Sapienza University of Rome
Experience / Qualifications
I have been teaching since 2009 through private lessons, workshops, ensemble coaching, and masterclasses for both instrumentalists and singers.
From 2015 to 2025, I taught in several departments at the Royal Conservatoire of The Hague as a primary instrument teacher, ensemble coach, researcher, and lecturer. I have also collaborated with institutions including CODARTS Rotterdam, and the Academy of the Concertgebouworkest Amsterdam.
My teaching experience ranges from beginners to professional musicians, with a particular focus on improvisation, ensemble interaction, ear training, composition, and creative music-making.
As a performer, I have been active since 2007, leading and collaborating on a wide range of musical projects in different genres and settings, from intimate violin-guitar duos to large ensemble productions across Italy, France, Spain, Poland, and the Netherlands.
Currently, I am mostly engaged in interdisciplinary collaborations that merge music and dance, as I am focusing my artistic development on the interplay between sound and movement in improvised performances.
From 2015 to 2025, I taught in several departments at the Royal Conservatoire of The Hague as a primary instrument teacher, ensemble coach, researcher, and lecturer. I have also collaborated with institutions including CODARTS Rotterdam, and the Academy of the Concertgebouworkest Amsterdam.
My teaching experience ranges from beginners to professional musicians, with a particular focus on improvisation, ensemble interaction, ear training, composition, and creative music-making.
As a performer, I have been active since 2007, leading and collaborating on a wide range of musical projects in different genres and settings, from intimate violin-guitar duos to large ensemble productions across Italy, France, Spain, Poland, and the Netherlands.
Currently, I am mostly engaged in interdisciplinary collaborations that merge music and dance, as I am focusing my artistic development on the interplay between sound and movement in improvised performances.
Age
Teenagers (13-17 years old)
Adults (18-64 years old)
Seniors (65+ years old)
Student level
Beginner
Intermediate
Advanced
Duration
45 minutes
60 minutes
90 minutes
The class is taught in
English
Italian
French
Skills
Reviews
Availability of a typical week
(GMT -04:00)
New York
At teacher's location and via webcam
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
Sat
Sun
00-04
04-08
08-12
12-16
16-20
20-24
79.39 C$ /h
Employing the voice in a rhythmical sense is not a granted or obvious approach for singers and is sometimes overlooked by instrumentalists. However, a rhythmical foundation developed through the voice is a core element of strong musicianship for everyone in the music sector.
In these lessons, we will practice rhythm through the understanding and utilization of Konnakol (South Indian Carnatic rhythmical solfege) alongside other techniques and approach different ways to conceive of rhythm and integrate it into performance.
We will work on rhythmical freedom, phrasing, grouping and moving patterns, cross-rhythms, odd measures and different 'feels'. You will acquire new ideas, improve your timing, gain independence in your lines and obtain a set of tools to practice self-sufficiently.
"Rhythm through Voice" is designed for both singers and instrumentalists who want to enlarge their spectrum of techniques, and improve their rhythmical awareness.
[For instrumentalists: I will support you to translate and apply these techniques into your instrument]
The lessons will be custom made for each student.
I will work to adapt to your learning rhythm while keeping you challenged at the same time. You will receive regular feedback, advice, and guidance.
Don't hesitate to contact me for more details!
In these lessons, we will practice rhythm through the understanding and utilization of Konnakol (South Indian Carnatic rhythmical solfege) alongside other techniques and approach different ways to conceive of rhythm and integrate it into performance.
We will work on rhythmical freedom, phrasing, grouping and moving patterns, cross-rhythms, odd measures and different 'feels'. You will acquire new ideas, improve your timing, gain independence in your lines and obtain a set of tools to practice self-sufficiently.
"Rhythm through Voice" is designed for both singers and instrumentalists who want to enlarge their spectrum of techniques, and improve their rhythmical awareness.
[For instrumentalists: I will support you to translate and apply these techniques into your instrument]
The lessons will be custom made for each student.
I will work to adapt to your learning rhythm while keeping you challenged at the same time. You will receive regular feedback, advice, and guidance.
Don't hesitate to contact me for more details!
Big music from small instruments.
Mandolin and Ukulele have been quite a hype in the past 10 years. Nevertheless, these two small ones are not often used up to their full potential. Have you ever thought you could be a virtuoso in one of these instruments? That you could actually play in many different style and be a great soloist as much as a violinist or a guitarist?
Aside from learning the basics, I will show alternative tunings that will provide you with a better sound, a bigger range to play in, more versatility and comfort for the hand, awesome voicings and a clear visual map of chords, scales, and harmonic movements. I will help you to rethink the mandolin and the ukulele as truly complete and professional instruments and show you how to play on them in a broad variety of styles such as folk, blues, pop, rock, and jazz.
[According to the style we will also be working with loops and effects.]
This class is meant to guide you from the very first steps on your instrument up to a professional level. From beginners to advanced musicians who want to challenge themselves and enlarge their perspective on the instrument.
The lessons will be custom made for each student.
I will work to adapt to your learning rhythm while keeping you challenged at the same time. You will receive regular feedback, advice, guidance and materials
Don't hesitate to contact me for more details!
Mandolin and Ukulele have been quite a hype in the past 10 years. Nevertheless, these two small ones are not often used up to their full potential. Have you ever thought you could be a virtuoso in one of these instruments? That you could actually play in many different style and be a great soloist as much as a violinist or a guitarist?
Aside from learning the basics, I will show alternative tunings that will provide you with a better sound, a bigger range to play in, more versatility and comfort for the hand, awesome voicings and a clear visual map of chords, scales, and harmonic movements. I will help you to rethink the mandolin and the ukulele as truly complete and professional instruments and show you how to play on them in a broad variety of styles such as folk, blues, pop, rock, and jazz.
[According to the style we will also be working with loops and effects.]
This class is meant to guide you from the very first steps on your instrument up to a professional level. From beginners to advanced musicians who want to challenge themselves and enlarge their perspective on the instrument.
The lessons will be custom made for each student.
I will work to adapt to your learning rhythm while keeping you challenged at the same time. You will receive regular feedback, advice, guidance and materials
Don't hesitate to contact me for more details!
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