Hi, I’m Arianna Malatesti!
A violin and piano teacher with over 13 years of solid international experience.
My Musical Journey: From Tuscany to Cambodia, and the Birth of Music & English
Hi, I’m Arianna. I’m a musician, a violinist, and a successful teacher. Music has always been a big part of my life, ever since I was very young. I think this special creativity and imagination made me hear music and melodies even when it was silent. I heard it in the wind, in faraway voices, in the little birds, and in the sounds of the countryside. Yes, because I was born in Italy, in the beautiful Tuscan countryside, in a small town full of history and charm, with strong medieval roots. It was a peaceful village with a simple life, but it vibrated, and still vibrates, with art and culture. Arezzo, a lovely city halfway between the hills of Florence and Siena. And it seems amazing, but this is where the monk Guido, called Guido of Arezzo, who invented the musical staff, was born! That’s right. Coincidence? I don’t know, but what I do know is that my passion for music grew more and more over the years.
My Early Steps in Music
When I was just eleven years old, I chose a special secondary school focused on music. I was busy with music all day: theory lessons in the mornings, and practical violin lessons, orchestra, and choir in the afternoons. Then came the choice that truly marked my musical path: I chose an experimental school, the Liceo Musicale Francesco Petrarca in Arezzo https://liceopetrarca.edu.it. Here, besides studying Italian literature, philosophy, Latin, and English, we studied all the programs usually covered in the first three years of a Conservatory academic course.
This wasn’t just theory. I studied:
- Music Theory
- Music History
- Musical Instrument History
- Analysis of Music Genres through different times
- General Composition, with a special focus on the Bach Method called “Counterpoint”
I also studied Choir (learning singing techniques and how to write and compose for four voices), and played in Orchestra and Chamber Music with quartets and trios.
My Cambodian Adventure and the Start of Music & English
My passion for the violin and for teaching took me far away and led me to a trip to Cambodia in 2014. There, I was part of the very beginning and start-up of what is now the musical journey of many music schools. I personally helped and oversaw the growth of SoundsKool school as the Head of Music Studies. It was a magical time, and I had many chances to lead music lessons at different private music schools, like SoundsKool and CamMelody, and international schools like East West International School and ISPP.
This is an article in Italian language written by the Italian expect community in Phnom Penh in November 2016. Such an amazing memory !
These experiences let me compare my Italian training with some of the best methods in the world, like the ABRSM, TRINITY, and Oxford programs. From this, my Music&English Methodology started to form. After leaving my significant mark and contribution to the SoundsKool project, and having helped with one of the first children’s choir projects in Cambodia, I started my own personal journey. This is where I truly gave space to my Music&English Methodology and developed it fully. Not only that, but alongside my school project, I also started a Cultural Association, where I was the President. Through this association, I was able to organize musical events and concerts for charity. It was a very exciting experience!
To discover more about my methodology, read the article: Music & English Methodology: Emotions and Universal Code
Music & English Methodology 