The Department of Music and Sound Production, Faculty of Creative Arts, University of Lagos (UNILAG), on Thursday, May 21, 2026, hosted an enriching masterclass facilitated by renowned Italian pianist, harpsichordist, composer, and scholar, Professor Alberto Firrincieli.
The programme, anchored by Dr. Michael Bakare with logistics coordinated by Mrs. Oluwaferanmi Ashaolu, further reinforced the Department’s commitment to advancing music education through global collaboration, innovation, and exposure to international best practices.
The masterclass was initiated by the Italian Consulate in Lagos, coordinated by Dr Florence Ewomazino Nweke and hosted by the Head of the Department of Music and Sound Production, Professor Albert Oikelome, under the supervision of the Dean of the Faculty of Creative Arts, Professor Stephen Olusoji.
The event attracted students, academics, and music enthusiasts including the Cultural Attaché of the Italian Consulate in Lagos, Silvia Bollone who attended alongside her daughter, Eleonora Callegari.
The programme provided students of the Department of Music and Sound Production, UNILAG and Mountain Top Conservatory of Music, Lagos with a rare opportunity to interact directly with a globally recognised music scholar and performer whose work continues to influence contemporary music pedagogy across continents.
Inspiring Piano Masterclass: Platform for Global Music Insights
Focused on developing musical intelligence and creativity, the masterclass featured practical demonstrations, lectures, and interactive sessions through which Professor Firrincieli emphasised the importance of quality over quantity in piano practice.
He encouraged participants to approach music with deeper understanding, intentionality, and artistic sensitivity, stressing that meaningful musical performance begins with thoughtful interpretation and a proper understanding of musical language and structure.
Inviting students to perform during the session, the celebrated pianist offered practical guidance and constructive feedback, urging them to move beyond mechanical repetition and instead develop the ability to “think in music.”
According to him, creativity, comprehension, and artistic imagination are essential components of musical excellence.
About Professor Alberto Firrincieli
Professor Alberto Firrincieli is a recipient of the prestigious Knight of the Star of Italy (Cavaliere della Stella d’Italia), an honour awarded in recognition of his outstanding contributions to music education and research. He currently serves as Assistant Professor in the Department of Music Entrepreneurship at Assumption University of Thailand, where he teaches piano, harpsichord, and composition.
An accomplished educator and researcher, Professor Firrincieli is the founder of the pedagogical method T HINK IN MUSIC , a student-centred approach that integrates traditional piano instruction with improvisation, composition, and counterpoint.
Inspired by the philosophies and works of legendary composers such as Johann Sebastian Bach, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Ludwig van Beethoven, and Franz Liszt, the method encourages students to develop musical understanding before performance.
Rather than relying solely on repetitive practice, the approach promotes creativity, comprehension, and artistic imagination while helping students overcome technical and interpretative challenges and reduce performance anxiety.
Among Professor Firrincieli’s notable scholarly works is A Method-Logical Approach to J. S. Bach’s Two-Part Inventions, in which he advocates a teaching model rooted in logical reasoning, creative engagement, and deep musical awareness.
