Nicola Mandorino was born in Taranto, Italy in 1963. He started studying the piano at the age of 14 and also began teaching himself the guitar. After a short period of study with the classical guitar, he discovered that the playing style used with this instrument had a close relationship to that method of playing used in jazz and fingerpicking. He expanded his knowledge by listening to and studying the recordings of the most well known guitarists and by attending numerous courses and master classes. In 1986 he started a long concert career as a guitarist of many jazz styles. He worked intently at improving the technique of fingerstyle jazz and continued the study of advanced technical fingerpicking. With the wealth of experience and knowledge accumulated over the years, in 1992 he began working as an instructor teaching modern jazz guitar, blues and fingerpicking. He also taught many basic courses for those of entry skill level. He gradually abandoned the traditional methods of teaching and began to develop his own methods that were more modern and closer to the real interests of his students. These methods are proving to be very effective and hundreds of students over the years have enrolled in his courses. His teaching methods make learning to play the guitar fun and help students develop a passion for their instrument. Currently, he is a teacher of modern guitar at the Music Learning Centre and at several Italian musical associations in the province of Taranto, Italy. His courses help his students maintain a high level of interest and participation. Simultaneously, he continues to play concerts for the public by offering a repertoire of songs consisting of fingerpicking, jazz, country, bluegrass and Irish folk.