Out of the Box is about approaching art creatively: looking at possibilities to stretch boundaries, expanding your vocabulary, finding ways to make your art meaningful, through discussion, musical demonstrations, talks with inspiring guests, and more.
Important: these are not lessons about learning music, as in learning scales, harmony, or how to play your instrument. There are several other workshops focusing on academic training – they are great.
Why should I participate?
It is a course created by Marco Machera that he has taught in Europe, and now he arrives in Mexico under a renewed scheme, where Marco along with his special guests (Julie Slick, Beth Fleenor, Silvia Cignoli and Pat Mastelotto) will participate with you in moments of musical creation and exercises related to sound and improvisation. You will receive content to work with during four sessions. In each session, a special guest will participate to experience the vision and experience of each one.
In the sessions Marco will share videos, books, movies, music to and discuss them together, hoping that the course will be a source of discovery and inspiration.
Marco's career has been quite diverse so far, where he has been involved in several different activities including session musician, production and composition, arranging and live performances. Most of the time, he has been asked to be himself. What does that mean? There is no simple answer; It is a constantly evolving path that continually motivates you to develop an artistic vision that is personal and recognizable, that can adapt to your creative needs and those of others.
Nowadays, it is important to discuss the role and meaning of music, more than ever; to discover our own identity as artists, and to channel our inner voice, in order to produce beautiful, unique art. It’s important to refuse mediocrity and to establish good values through research, curiosity and open-mindedness. The course will provide tools to mature musical consciousness, that will ultimately serve your artistic vision.
Do not stay out and dare to live the OUT OF THE BOX experience!
Four sessions August 21 and 28- September 12 and 19 - Cost $ 2,500 (course taught in English with instant translation)
Enroll now!
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MARCO MACHERA
Mainly known as an accomplished bass player, he is also a multi-instrumentalist and producer. His session work includes recordings and live shows with Italian composer Teho Teardo, heavy rock guitarist Paul Gilbert, the chamber progressive rock ensemble TROOT, Chrysta Bell (Texan chanteuse and femme fatale, long time collaborator of film director David Lynch) – just to name a few. As a solo artist, Marco has opened shows for Marillion, Stick Men, Adrian Belew, ORk and more.
In 2014, Marco co-founded the band EchoTest with American bassist Julie Slick (Adrian Belew Power Trio, The Crimson ProjeKCt, Springs). The electric bass has a prominent role throughout their compositions – compelling ‘bass duets’ pushing the boundaries of progressive and loop music. In the ever-evolving and experimental worlds of modern progressive rock and avant garde jazz rock, their free-flowing improvisations and strongly melodic songwriting have combined to help them shape a unique identity and garner a growing reputation for their intriguing and surprising albums and their rare and captivating live shows alike.
His debut album One Time, Somewhere features the talent of Francesco Zampi, Pat Mastelotto, Rob Fetters, and iconic artist Mark Kostabi on most tracks. The result is an extremely fresh and diverse record.
Critically acclaimed drummer Pat Mastelotto says: “I had a lot of fun working on Marco’s record. One of the first tracks he sent me sounded like The Beatles with Tom Waits! What a band that would have been,” and also added: “We have stayed in touch throughout the year as Marco overdubbed and mixed, so I can tell he has a keen ear for details without losing the big picture. It’s pop packed with nice surprises.”
– Pat Mastelotto
Here’s what legendary guitarist and songwriter Steve Hackett has to say about One Time,
Somewhere: “It is really good and well crafted and I very much enjoyed it. Beautiful voice and interesting atmospheres and contrasting moods. Days of Summertime has some fascinating sounds.”
– Steve Hackett
His second solo album, Dime Novels (2014) was produced by Machera and long-time collaborator, Francesco Zampi, and features Pat Mastelotto, Tony Levin, Markus Reuter (King Crimson and Stick Men fame), Andrea Faccioli, Jennifer Maidman (Penguin Cafe Orchestra, David Sylvian), among others. His latest solo effort, Small Music From Broken Windows was released in the fall of 2017. An intimate, personal and reflective album, based on “The Outsider”, a short story by H.P. Lovecraft.
English 
Spanish