Play with Confidence, Focus, and a Desire to Learn More
An Entirely New Path
Isabella is an insightful and enthusiastic teacher with an encyclopedic knowledge of music, guitar theory, and concepts. She also possesses a wealth of teaching and practice strategies for helping students advance their playing. For example, it is routine for teachers to tell students to relax more. It is extraordinary when that instruction is accompanied by multiple strategies and exercises to achieve greater relaxation. When I was fortunate enough to find Isabella, I had been playing classical guitar for more than 15 years, but the last 3 were spent without a teacher. I practiced and maintained, but I wasn’t advancing and wasn’t sure how to advance. It took Isabella only a few minutes to unpack my playing, help me break out of my rut, and send me on an entirely new path with a combination of tangible and conceptual goals. This even included participating in a master class during the 2021 Lanciano International Guitar Seminar. My lessons usually start with a discussion of if and what I practiced, and what challenges or questions I encountered. Whether it is something about sight reading, repertoire, technique, performance anxiety, interpretation, practicing with kids in the house, etc, Isabella is able to speak to it and help with it. She is supportive in her critiques, specific with her instructions, and a joy to listen to playing guitar and speaking about it. I look forward to every lesson.
My Expectations Have Been Consistently Exceeded
I studied classical guitar as a kid and had been playing intermittently since then, but when the pandemic started I decided to get serious again. I originally chose to work with Isabella because I was interested in branching out beyond the “canon” and into more contemporary pieces; we’ve ended up playing a broad spectrum of things. I really can’t say enough good things about her teaching. As someone coming in with a solid technical foundation, my primary goals have been improving musicality and performance quality, and my expectations in those regards have been consistently exceeded. She is a very thoughtful critic of my playing, with a keen ear and a real depth of insight into the pieces I am playing. She has completely transformed the way I think about how to play music. On a very practical level, the online format is very smooth and convenient, and I don’t feel like I’m really missing much compared to being in person.
WHO WE ARE
DalMaestro is a growing faculty of professional musicians and music educators based in New York City dedicated to providing quality music instruction to all ages and skill levels in our Manhattan and Brooklyn studios or anywhere with an internet connection.
DalMaestro is a The Royal Conservatory participating school, and offers certificated music studies through RCM since 2016.
OUR FOUNDER
Isabella Abbonizio, Ph. D.
CEO and Co-Founder DalMaestro LLC
Music is an essential part of human experience.
OUR TEACHERS
Isabella Abbonizio
Classical Guitar, Music Theory, Harmony, History of Music
Italian-naturalized American classical guitarist and musicologist Isabella Abbonizio performs...
Marco Cappelli
Classical Guitar, Improvisation, Music Theory, Harmony
“From my mentors I learned the importance of listening to the sound...
Sam Obrist
Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar, Songwriting
Sam Obrist is a singer/songwriter based in Manhattan, NYC. Some themes in
Daniel Moreno
Classical Guitar
Daniel Moreno is a Brooklyn-based classical guitarist with 15+ years of teaching experience
Louis Mitten
Classical Guitar, Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar
Brooklyn-based classical guitarist and composer Louis Mitten brings a rich and diverse musical background to his teaching
CONTACT US
OUR LOCATIONS
MANHATTAN
UPPER WEST SIDE
131 W 72nd Street, New York, NY 10023
BROOKLYN
WILLIAMSBURG
58 9th Street, Brooklyn, NY 11249
ANYWHERE
Zoom Virtual Studio