Concord Conservatory of MusicConcord Conservatory of Music
For Ryan Urato, the key to success in teaching is student engagement, which primarily arises from making the class enjoyable and sparking students’ interest. He believes that the emotional and collaborative aspects of music are particularly fun, as is the process of self-improvement. Ryan emphasizes the importance of students seeing their progress during lessons and rehearsals, as this fosters motivation and a passion for practice. He encourages students to play or sing through passages and simply enjoy them, helping them connect emotionally and become more mature and creative musicians.
In rehearsals, Ryan incorporates videos and recordings to demonstrate the excitement of orchestras doing justice to the music. He also guides students on where their attention should be directed at different points in the music, whether it is on a different section of the orchestra, tone, tempo, character, or rhythm. This focus is crucial for performance, as musicians need to train their brains to give directions to distinct parts of the body quickly and accurately.
Ryan has conducted a wide range of ensembles, from youth groups to college and amateur orchestras to semi-professional orchestras. He takes on various roles, sometimes as a teacher and other times as a collaborator. Although he is a classical orchestral musician, Ryan began his conducting career in musical theater and chorus. He is also a skilled violinist.
Outside of music, Ryan has a dual career as a Spanish teacher, having taught in the Wayland Public Schools and currently at The Rivers School in Weston. Ryan graduated from Brown University with a Bachelor of Arts in Music and Hispanic Studies.
When he is not immersed in music or teaching, Ryan loves cheering on his favorite Boston sports teams and attending Red Sox games.