Every month, we like to spotlight one of our incredible Elemental Music teachers. Some of them have been teaching with us for close to a decade while others might be in their first year of working for our organization, but there is one thing that all of our teachers have in common: their dedication to the young musicians in our programs.
This month, we are featuring Elemental Guitar coach Giovanni Piacentini. Giovanni is in his first year coaching for our programs, working with our Intro Guitar students each week. He is also a composer and recently received his doctorate in music composition from UCLA. We are excited for you to get to know more about Giovanni and his passion for music and teaching!
Elemental Music: How did you get started playing your instrument?
Giovanni Piacentini: I started playing guitar at around 8 years old after watching a wonderful video of the late Maestro Andres Segovia. The sound of the guitar was so captivating to me that I instantly knew I had to learn how to play!
EM: When did you first start composing?
GP: I started writing music soon after I learned my first easy pieces, but I didn’t know I was composing! Really, I was just looking to produce interesting sounds and navigate the instrument’s enormous expressive range. It wasn’t until much later that I finally started to “formally” write my first compositions.
EM: What inspires you to teach in addition to performing and composing?
GP: I’m very inspired by the effect that I see music has on young people. Children have a much more natural and casual approach to sound which reminds me of my own inner child and how important it is to nurture him. This is what inspires me the most.
EM: I know this is your first season teaching with Elemental Music. What is your favorite thing about working with our Intro Guitar students so far?
GP: The Intro Guitar students are a great group of young musicians. They have a lot of energy, and they bring a lot of enthusiasm and freshness to the class. They remind me of when I started on my journey.
EM: What is one of your favorite musical memories?
GP: One of my favorite musical memories is when I first heard the Maestro Julio Cesar Olivia perform his piece “Suite Montebello” in Mexico City. That concert solidified my love for the guitar and still inspires me to this day.
EM: If you could give our students one piece of advice, musical or otherwise, what would it be?
GP: The best advice I could give anyone starting their musical journey is to be consistent and play EVERY DAY. Consistency is the “secret” to getting better at anything in life. It’s much better to play for 10 minutes every day than to pick up the guitar for two hours one day and then let a week go by without practicing.
EM: Is there anything else you'd like to add, that you think might be interesting for our community?
GP: I believe that musical education at an early age is one of the most valuable things that a person can experience in life. There is a huge body of research about the benefits of early music education but beyond that, I believe that a solid musical foundation can enrich everyone's life immensely. An instrument is like a friend that will always be there for you.