Cris — Italian Folk Percussion Teacher

Cris is a Sydney-based Italian folk musician and ethnomusicologist specialising in traditional southern Italian percussion, particularly tamburello and tammorra. He holds a PhD in Italian Folk Music from Macquarie University and a Bachelor of Music (Honours) from Sicily, combining academic research with authentic, lived performance practice.

He has performed and collaborated with respected ensembles and artists across Australia and Italy, including the NSW Accordion Ensemble, Domenico Sepe Ensemble, Vento del Sud, and renowned folk artist Alessandra Belloni, whose method informs his teaching. His work also spans education and artistic direction, including delivering Italian folk music courses in Mosman and leading live cultural events.

Cris’s teaching is hands-on, exploratory, and rooted in real folk practice. Lessons combine direct instruction with guided analysis of traditional performances, helping students build strong rhythmic foundations and authentic technique while understanding regional styles such as Neapolitan, Sicilian, and Calabrian traditions. Rather than a rigid, standardised approach, he encourages students to experiment, adapt to their instrument’s unique sound, and develop their own playing style.

Lessons are tailored to each student’s goals, whether you want to accompany a tarantella, explore traditional repertoire, or combine singing with percussion. He teaches both tamburello and tammorra across different builds (synthetic and hide skins), working with whatever instrument you have.