Concord Conservatory of MusicConcord Conservatory of MusicLearning to play an instrument, says CCM Guitar Department chair Lautaro Mantilla, “is like watching your hair grow. You don’t see a change from one day to the next.”
The challenge for an instructor, he says, is to “communicate that you need to have faith in doing the day-to-day work so you can see progress six months from now.”
“It comes down to trust,” Lautaro continues. “Your students have to trust the process and work at it every day. As a teacher, you have to find the balance between, yes, I have this information and I can tell you exactly what you need to do, but also being open to listening to the students to figure out what they like and what motivates them. Finding that bridge between the information I have for them and that they are willing to share with me is very important for getting them to stick with it.”
Guitar instruction can be particularly tricky. “It’s an instrument that is not very friendly, especially at the beginning,” Lautaro says. “With the piano, you touch the keys and produce a predictable sound. You can use your elbow or your nose and you’ll still get that sound. But the guitar isn’t like that. You need to put your hands in a specific place, you’re going against gravity, and you need to position your fingers in a certain way. It can be especially challenging just to motivate a student to work through the difficulty of the instrument itself.”
A Lucky Break
Lautaro discovered his love for guitar by accident — literally. As a boy in Bogotá, he was an aspiring cellist. This was no surprise; with both a grandfather and father who made their living as conductors, “There was no doubt I was going to be a musician.”
But Lautaro was also passionate about soccer. “I was a classic Colombian kid,” he says.
Soccer ended up dictating Lautaro’s path — just not in the way he had hoped. One day he was practicing with his brother in the house when he broke his cello with an errant shot. Days later he broke his leg in a game. Confined to bed during his recovery, he picked up a guitar and taught himself to play.
“Adversity helped me create my own methodology of practicing and my own way to do things,” Lautaro says. “I was kind of like an underdog.”
That mentality sustained him through a period of intense development. While he was working toward a BM in classical guitar at Pontificia Universidad Javeriana in Bogotá, he also created an alter ego of sorts. The soccer kid became a rocker kid. “I had hair down to my knees,” Lautaro says with a laugh. “I thought I looked very handsome, with a nice guitar pose.”
But he also had substance to go with his style. With a repertoire that included punk rock and Led Zeppelin, Lautaro began entering guitar competitions. “And incredibly I kept winning them.”
The candle burned brightly at both ends for a time, “but I felt like I had peaked by 25.”
When an opportunity to go to the US and study at the New England Conservatory came up, he took another leap of faith.
Not so Fast…
Although his instructors at NEC recognized that Lautaro was a virtuoso performer, they also noticed that he lacked some basic technical skills. “So for six months they made me play nothing but open strings,” Lautaro says.
The experience was humbling. But it also helped inform Lautaro’s approach as an instructor. Students need to understand that there are no shortcuts. They also need to realize that learning is an ongoing process, no matter how successful you become.
That applies to instructors as well. “Teaching is a perpetual frontier,” Lautaro says. “You’re always adding new things. I like that. The day you feel like you’ve got it is probably the day you should do something else. In that sense teaching guitar is kind of like playing guitar.”
As a performer, Lautaro composes experimental pieces that give him new ideas and insights. As a teacher, his repertoire includes not only formal instruction at NEC and CCM, but also lessons in and around Boston for special-needs kids as well as adults with mental-health challenges. His students range in age from eight to 89 and cover the full spectrum of technical abilities and social skills. “It’s like a master class in finding new ways to communicate with students in order to help them,” Lautaro says.
Striking the Right Chord
It’s been a long road from Colombia to Concord, but Lautaro thinks his intuitive GPS has steered him right again. “CCM has a sense of family,” he says. “The first week I was here we had a faculty meeting — but it was really less a meeting than a conversation about music and how can we help the kids. Everybody was so engaged. There was so much care in the room — for the music, for the students, for the process, for the craft of being a teacher.
“That meeting solidified the feeling that CCM is the place to be,” Lautaro says. “I sensed not just a love for the students, but a love for the entire community. That’s priceless.”
Now in its second year, Swamped! is a valuable workshop that empowers students to thrive in all aspects of their lives. Recognizing the challenges of balancing demanding academic and athletic schedules, Swamped! provides students with essential time management, organization, and stress-reduction skills. This equips them to effectively integrate valuable practice sessions into their routines, ensuring progress in their music lessons, on the field, and in the classroom.
Grady Flinn, a CCM high school senior, shared “I think making sure music is included in one’s schedule can feel like a fight at times. In moments when I had a lot going on in my life, I sometimes questioned whether it would be worth staying up an extra half hour to practice my viola. But I really wanted to improve, and as much as I loved my other activities, I didn’t want to give up music. My teacher, Susan Gottschalk, told me something really useful: even just ten minutes spent on scales each day goes a long way. Since then, I’ve realized that it’s always worth breaking out the instrument right before I go to bed, and the practice of even just playing a few scales and maybe some arpeggios every day not only makes a huge difference in my playing, but feels manageable no matter what else is going on. Even though I’ve had to work hard sometimes to juggle activities, continuing my musical studies has been so worth it, at the very least as an outlet that helps me relax at the end of a long day.”
Concord Conservatory of Music is committed to supporting the holistic growth of its students. By offering workshops like Swamped!, CCM goes beyond music education, providing students with the tools and resources they need to succeed academically, excel in their chosen sports, and cultivate a sense of well-being. These valuable life skills not only benefit individual students but also enrich the broader community by fostering a generation of well-rounded and successful individuals.
We’re excited to share that CCM faculty member, cellist Stephen Marotto, will be featured in a special concert celebrating the life and legacy of Pierre Boulez!
The ICA and the Boston University Center for New Music will present Sound Icon, one of Boston’s leading interpreters of contemporary music, performing two monumental Boulez works: the early career masterpiece Le marteau sans maître and the late period Dérive 2 under the direction of conductor Jeffrey Means. These pieces showcase the extraordinary range, color, and depth of Boulez’s music and offer a rare opportunity to experience these works live.
This concert serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of supporting institutions like Concord Conservatory of Music (CCM), which cultivate exceptional musicians. CCM boasts a faculty of renowned performers, such as Stephen Marotto, who are dedicated to inspiring the next generation of artists. By nurturing young talent and fostering a deep appreciation for music, CCM contributes significantly to the vibrant cultural landscape of our community.
Don’t miss this opportunity to experience the brilliance of Boulez and support the work of our exceptional faculty.
First live performance by Overture String Orchestra
On January 10th, CCM’s Overture String Orchestra (OSO) celebrated a momentous occasion with its first-ever performance. This new ensemble, building upon the successful foundation of West Side Strings, provides a challenging and rewarding chamber orchestra experience for aspiring young musicians.
Under the dynamic leadership of conductor Ryan Urato, the OSO emphasizes collaborative learning and fosters a deep appreciation for the connective power of music. The performance showcased the students’ dedication to honing their orchestra skills through listening and adjusting, presenting themselves as a cohesive group.
The OSO helps students refine their musical abilities, building upon the skills they acquire in their regular orchestra classes. By participating in the OSO, students gain invaluable leadership and teamwork skills while deepening their understanding of orchestral repertoire.
At the end of the performance, we spoke with two of the students, Georgio and Shalom Cordova, about why they joined OSO and the challenges they faced playing live in an orchestra.
“This is our first time playing in an orchestra,” said Georgio. “I want to eventually get to a level where I could play with a group so that’s my main reason for joining.” Both students added, “the most difficult thing I had to learn was how to play together. There are a lot of different instruments all around, and sometimes, some instruments can drown out the others.” “Sometimes people would start going too fast or too slow. You have to adjust,” said Shalom.
When asked what they enjoyed most about their experience, Georgio said “Playing with a group is great. There’s a lot more pieces to the song, so it creates this harmony. You can hear deeper and higher sounds than you would usually hear practicing alone,” said Georgio. “The conductor helped us all work together at the same time and gave us advice. He gave us our cues so that we would come in at the right time.“
This inaugural performance marked a significant milestone for the Overture String Orchestra, and we look forward to many successful seasons of musical exploration and growth.
Unlocking Musical Potential with CCM’s Theory Classes
CCM’s Music Theory program has expanded significantly this year, with a larger faculty than ever before! This expansion reflects our commitment to providing comprehensive and engaging music education for all ages.
For adult students with some musical experience, we offer a 6-week course designed to increase your understanding of the fundamental building blocks of music. This course delves into pitches, rhythm, intervals, meter, melody, harmony, and chords, providing a solid foundation for further musical exploration, whether you’re a dedicated performer, composer, or simply seeking to deepen your appreciation for music.
For our younger musicians, we offer the “Musician’s Toolbox,” a four-week, multi-level theory workshop. This engaging
program introduces key musical concepts in a fun and accessible way, making music theory enjoyable for even the youngest learners.
Contrary to popular belief, music theory doesn’t have to be daunting! When taught effectively, it can be both simple and enjoyable. At CCM, we believe that music theory is an integral part of a well-rounded musical education. Our workshops, designed for students of all ages and levels, enhance private instrumental/voice lessons, cultivate sharper listening skills, and deepen students’ overall musical understanding and appreciation.
CCM’s 2025 Concert & Lecture Series
Join us for an unforgettable night of authentic bluegrass with The Po’ Ramblin’ Boys on Saturday, January 25th at 7:00 pm!
Hailing from the Smoky Mountains, this hard-driving band captures the true spirit and energy of the genre. Their music cuts through the noise and speaks directly to the soul. From rural bluegrass festivals to rock clubs across Europe, they’ve wowed audiences worldwide—and now they’re bringing their electrifying sound to Concord Conservatory.
$35 General Admission / Free for students 18 and under
PURCHASE TICKETS IN ADVANCE or at the door on the night of the concert.
Join us for The Bluegrass Band Scramble before the Po’ Ramblin’ Boys concert on January 25th starting at 11:00 AM. Ever dreamt of playing on stage? This is your chance!
The Bluegrass Band Scramble is all about the fun! There’s no competition, just the thrill of playing music with new friends and experiencing the joy of live performance.
Mark your calendars and get your tickets today for these terrific concerts and lectures!
Music & Rebels
Friday, February 7, 7:30 pm
Around Hear
Saturday, March 22, 2:00 pm
Southern Rail
Saturday, April 26, 7:00 pm
We’re grateful to our sponsors!
We invite all music enthusiasts and businesses to sponsor our Concert & Lecture Series. If you’re interested, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us at (978) 369-0010. We would love to discuss how you can be part of this exciting series.
Lead Concert Series Sponsor
Music Supporter Sponsor
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