Many musicians who discover partimenti feel the same thing: curiosity, followed by confusion. Because partimenti was historically taught as an oral tradition, the earliest steps were rarely written down. This post explores why that gap exists and introduces a new, forever-free workshop designed to rebuild those missing first steps.

The Partimenti Workshop is entering a new phase, with updated curriculum, new teaching materials, and a renewed focus on creative musicianship. Here’s a look at what’s evolving and where the work is headed next.

Imagining a correspondence with Joseph Haydn reveals how partimenti training shaped historical composers — and raises timely questions about listening, creativity, and musical fluency in today’s fast-moving musical world.

Partimenti began in the conservatories of Naples as a playful, listening-based approach to learning harmony, improvisation, and composition. Rediscovered today, this tradition offers powerful insights into musical fluency, creativity, and how musicians have historically learned to speak the language of music.