Today we’d like to introduce you to Luigi Grasso.
Luigi, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
As a teenager, I wanted to take lessons like my older brothers; they were studying in the North End, with Professor Joseph M. Ingo — piano and accordion! So of course, I also signed-up to take lessons and decided upon the guitar. I studied with Professor Ingo through my first year, 1974 or so, and then through my high school arts program, I was able to get into Berklee College of Music’s short, summer program with private lessons studying from the William Leavitt Guitar Volume 1, which was doable since Professor Ingo started me out with Nick Lucas’ Guitar Method, a very good guitar course in the jazz style which Berlee was mostly known for back in those days. I went on to take many more years of lessons with my North End instructor and eventually landed back at Berklee to study there full time after high school. I did learn a lot at college thanks also to my first guitar teacher — he gave me lots of relevant information that I could use at Berklee making my studies there a bit easier.
Eventually, like many musicians, I put a band together. I started with my friend from high school and my cousin. So we formed a band, with myself on electric guitar, my cousin on drums and my friend on vocals. We got our first gig playing for a local dance which paid us $30.00! Being Italian, this was a very easy and natural way of performing music from favorite artists like Lucio Battisti and music from the band Pooh. In the early to late 70s, KC and the Sunshine band was very popular, so we could very efficiently play that music with just drums, funky guitar, and vocals! Classic! We later added a variety of classic rock and pop music to our repertoire. So it was with confidence that led me to believe that I too could continue playing and lead my own bands, which I did all through high school all the way to today!
My repertoire has included all sorts of styles including classic rock, pop, jazz, blues and traditional and modern Italian music. Being Italian, I was able to lead my band with popular music of the decades but also took full advantage of performing for many private Italian customers who would hire bands that performed both American music and Italian pop, traditional and modern songs for weddings, anniversaries, small parties and outdoor, summer festivals, which was in high demand back then — especially in the North End and throughout the Boston area.
As I was continuing to work with my band, a mandolin player, Nino, contacted me to play with him for a private party, I accepted and from there on I began to play in this setting, mandolin and guitar; flute and guitar; violin and guitar. I performed for many years on Hanover Street, in the North End, in many fine establishments, eventually, I decided to play solo, since it became harder to find other musicians in this duo setting, on a steady basis. I continued to play solo acoustic guitar for many years in the North End. Currently I perform at Rosaria Ristorante, in Saugus, just north of Boston.
As a working musician, one has to be able to make a reasonable living if this is the career we decide to pursue, so I got asked to give a guitar lesson to a friend back in 1996, but I wasn’t totally sure how to go about it, I went ahead and taught him his first lesson as best I could and just then I decided I could make this work for me. I could perform on the weekends or whenever I got a gig and also start teaching during the week to supplement my income. This turned out to be a steady line of work for me. I got really good at putting together a course of study that lends itself to giving the student clear, non-pressured weekly instruction, with results-oriented goals so the student can have fun, but also learn at his or her own pace. I started out with one student and throughout the last 21 years, I’ve had hundreds of students specializing with in-home lessons in Boston, the North and South Shores, and Metro-West of Boston. Some of these have gone out to pursue their own music careers, which I’m very proud of. Currently, I have 25 weekly students.
I’m very lucky. I can continue to perform as a soloist and also teach. Both give me a great deal of pleasure and satisfaction. Even in Boston, one can be successful working exclusively as a local musician. This I am most proud of.
Has it been a smooth road?
The fact that you always need to look for work is challenging. But I’m confident that if I continue to be professional and maintain a good reputation, offer reasonable rates and treat everyone with respect, people will continue to recommend me and hire me for events and guitar instruction. This has been a great blessing for me.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with Luigi Grasso, Music Instructor/Performer – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
I’m a musician and instructor — specializing in in-home guitar lessons, all styles.
As a guitarist, I’m best known as an acoustic guitarist/singer.
I’m proud of the fact that when people hire me, whether it’s a live performance or ongoing guitar lessons, they are getting a professional. No hidden agenda, straight talk, clear information on how I will be able to make their event special and memorable with my music and what to expect when I get hired to teach guitar in the privacy of their homes. Arriving on time, patience, inspiring my students to play as best as they can, mentoring, everything that is needed to give guidance so students excel at their instrument which is “instrumental” in having a great teacher, like I had back in the North End, with my private instructor.
Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and least?
I like that it has a “small town” feel; where you can visit different neighborhoods and find great ethnic food. Lots of character. A walkable city, museums, outdoor spaces, the history. We often forget as Bostonians the unique history we have right here that sets us apart from the rest of the US. Not like Rome, perhaps, but just as important and rich.
Hands down: the traffic and tolls! Not a big fan of these. How about you?
Contact Info:
- Website: www.luigigrasso.com
- Phone: 617 306-7840
- Email: luigi.grasso@verizon.net
