Teaching
Teaching Statement
My passion for teaching stems from a lifelong involvement with music education. From early experiences mentoring younger students on piano and music theory to leading university courses, I've honed my skills in fostering dynamic learning environments.
I believe in the power of one-on-one mentorship, mirroring the dedicated teachers who shaped my own artistic journey. This fuels my commitment to personalized guidance, empowering students to navigate their creative paths with confidence.
My philosophy centers on celebrating individual voices within a collaborative exploration. Accessibility, engagement, and inclusivity are paramount, so I utilize diverse tools and techniques to cater to individual needs and learning styles. Project-based learning and interdisciplinary collaboration further ignite student innovation and cultivate a sense of shared artistic ownership.
Student Testimonials
His passion for teaching and commitment to student growth make him an invaluable asset to the UC San Diego community.
Prof. de Filippo is just overall a great person to learn from. He is very excited to teach the material and seems genuinely passionate about it, which bleeds over to students.
He is incredibly engaged with the material at hand and capable of expressing it in a way that students are able to understand and follow along with.
He is very passionate about the music, even though I personally didn't have much previous experience I felt like it was more interesting to listen to since he cares about what he is teaching.
Teaching Spotlight
Assistant Professor of Music, Canadian University of Dubai
2025-present
As Assistant Professor of Music at the Canadian University of Dubai, I design and teach undergraduate courses in music appreciation, communication, and creative practice. My role includes developing syllabi and course content, mentoring students, and supporting the department’s cultural and academic initiatives in Dubai
Courses Taught:
Music Appreciation & Communication: Explores sound, music, and listening across history, culture, and everyday life through creative practice and critical reflection.
Global Entertainment Marketplace: Introduces students to the global media landscape, examining how media technologies develop, converge, and shape culture. Covers key histories, theories, and concepts to prepare students for work in digital, interactive, and traditional media industries.
Fandom and Popular Culture: Introduces students to fandom as a form of creativity, identity, and community across music, film, television, sport, gaming, and social media. Examines how fans shape cultural narratives, media industries, and entertainment brands through practices such as remixing, cosplay, fanfiction, online participation, and activism.
Associate-in Lecturer, University of California, San Diego
2023-2025
As an Associate-Instructor at UCSD, I led generalist music courses encompassing music theory, music history, and specialized topics, with class sizes ranging from 110 to 200 students. My responsibilities included designing comprehensive syllabi, developing and delivering lecture content, overseeing teaching assistants, and ensuring the smooth operation of undergraduate courses.
Courses Taught:
History of Western Music: A survey of the history of Western music from the Middle Ages to the present. Class consists of lectures, listening labs, and live performances. This course has an enrollment of 200+ students.
Music of Australia: Place, Politics & Power: An online course exploring Australian folk music as a reflection of the nation’s history, spirituality, and politics. Students study music from Aboriginal traditions to contemporary genres, examining how it intertwines with key historical events and shapes Australian identity.
Music Fundamentals 1a: First in a three-quarter sequence, offering a foundation in musical literacy through exercises such as harmonic and melodic dictation, sight singing and rhythm in various meters. This course has an enrollment of 200+ students.
Some of my courses (with videos and syllabi) can be found here
New Music/New Communities Mentor, 78th Composers Conference
2022
In my role as a New Music/New Communities Mentor, I collaborated with the New Music/New Communities Initiative, a project aimed at inspiring and engaging young musicians from underserved communities in the greater New England area. Through partnerships with local music education organizations, we provided students with the tools to become composers and creators in a supportive environment, fostering enduring creative relationships. As part of this initiative, I mentored a young child, guiding them in composing and presenting their debut work for solo percussion, which was premiered at the summer Composers Conference.
Teaching Assistant, University of California, San Diego
2018-present
As a Teaching Assistant at the University of California, San Diego (UCSD), I provided invaluable support in lower-division musical generalist courses, including Australian Pop Music, Punk/Alternative Music, Progressive Rock/Metal, Independent Record Labels, Fundamentals of Music, Discover Jazz, Hip Hop, Introduction to Western Music, and Music of the 20th Century. In this role, I facilitated discussions, conducted grading of assignments and exams, offered constructive feedback to students, and held office hours to enhance their learning experiences.
Courses Taught:
Opera: A study of works from the history of opera. Class consists of lectures, listening labs, live performances, and opera on video.
Discover Jazz: An introduction to jazz, including important performers and their associated styles and techniques.
Music Fundamentals 1a: First in a three-quarter sequence, offering a foundation in musical literacy through exercises such as harmonic and melodic dictation, sight singing and rhythm in various meters. This course has an enrollment of 200+ students.
Music of the 20th Century: A critical examination of music from the twentieth century to the present, focusing on the generation and embodiment of cultural ideas.
Hip-Hop: A lower division general elective that gives an overview of the development of hip-hop as a musical form from the late 1970s through today.
Popular Music: A lower division course focusing on popular music topics, covered through lectures, films, and listening sessions.
Music Portfolio Examiner, West Australian School Curriculum & Standards Authority
2018
As a Music Composition Portfolio Examiner for the West Australian School Curriculum & Standards Authority, I evaluated portfolios of secondary music composition students in Year 11 and Year 12 across Western Australia. Responsibilities included assessing compositions, providing feedback, and assigning final grades according to curriculum standards.
Music Composition Teacher, St. Mary’s Anglican Girls’ School
2017-2018
As a Music Composition Teacher at St. Mary's Anglican Girls' School, I conducted one-on-one lessons with students enrolled in 2a/2b and 3a/3b Music, specifically in the composition stream. My role involved designing tailored compositional exercises to develop their skills and guiding them in organizing a portfolio of works suitable for recording for their end-of-year exams. By providing personalized instruction and nurturing their creative abilities, I aimed to empower students to express themselves through music composition.
Courses
Below represent courses where I served as an associate-in lecturer at the University of California, San Diego:
This course is rooted in the belief that music is a powerful lens through which we can explore the notions of place, history, spirituality, law, and collective wisdom.
From the heart of Australia's rich cultural tapestry, we delve into the world of folk music and its unique role in shaping the nation. Beginning from time primordial to the present-day, this course offers a chronological exploration of Australian history, with a strong emphasis on key historical events and a deep dive into the music that reflects and responds to these historical narratives.
Drawing inspiration from Aboriginal traditions, settler heritage, and shared experiences, we explore how folk music serves as a storytelling medium that intertwines with the history and politics of the country, weaving through the colorful threads of tradition folk, country, popular, experimental, and classical genres. This music not only sings of the land but also speaks eloquently about it.
Playlist | Syllabus
This course offers an extensive survey of Western music spanning from the Middle Ages to the mid-20th Century, focusing predominantly on notated concert music. Throughout the exploration, we will delve into the musical trends of each historical period, examining the contributions of specific composers and delving into the intersections of political, social, and musical histories. Music will be approached as both a sonic and a social experience, with particular attention given to the contextual factors influencing each composer's work. A significant emphasis will be placed on listening to and engaging in discussions about various musical works, underlining their critical importance in the course.
Playlist | Syllabus
Lecture Playlist:
This beginner-level music theory course provides students with a comprehensive introduction to the fundamental principles of music theory. Designed for individuals with little to no prior musical experience, the course aims to cultivate a solid foundation in understanding the language of music. Through a combination of theoretical concepts, practical exercises, and interactive discussions, students will develop the skills necessary to read and analyze musical notation, comprehend basic harmony, and grasp essential concepts in reading, writing, playing, and thinking about music.