Donatella Galletti    Mon, 10 Jan 2000 16:23:14 +0100
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It looks like I'm the only Italian writing....
Well, I live in Milan, Italy, and I got my first guitar ( an Eko with metal
strings)at the age of 10. My "teacher" played in a band and taught me some
chords to accompany songs, trying to prevent me from learning  classical
guitar, which in his opinion was too difficult and wasn't good for earning
money (  under this point of view he was perfectly right.) I soon quit
teacher and guitar, to play electronic organ, learning alone.
After a few years I went back to the guitar, having bought a classical one,
and studied alone, chords to accompany at first, then classical guitar. I
entered the "Civica Scuola di Musica" of Milan and studied there, taking my
exams at Conservatorio.The course lasts ten years in Italy, but you can
shorten it, studying a lot. I did. At the same time I completed my classical
studies.
In summer I went to the courses by Ghiglia ( guitar) and Ruggero Chiesa
(tablature). Towards the end of the guitar course, I met  a lute, in a
cloister at a music course in Ligury. Someone was practising Weiss, so I
asked for a try and ...after some more years I took a Diploma at
Conservatorio, having followed the course there.
I play the archlute, theorbo, Baroque guitar, Renaissance lute and my
favourite, the  Baroque lute.
I've sung in a choir for a couple of years, but it's time consuming, so I
just do it at home  (mostly English and Italian songs) accompanying myself .
Just a curiosity: at the exam of the fifth year of Renaissance lute, you
also have to sing and accompany yourself in four different languages, in
Italy, and there is also a "prima vista" in german tablature.
Apart from music, I have many interests, and among them I should say is the
job I do for a living: I teach English to high school students.(...)
Such a long letter.....to know more, you can visit my site
(http://web.tiscalinet.it/awebd)

Donatella Galletti