Julia Sciucco '26 and music instructor Chase Ceglie connect around songwriting

By student writer Megan Dick '27

A few years ago, adjunct professor of music Chase Ceglie and Julia Sciucco ’26 likely wouldn’t have imagined their paths would cross. Ceglie, a musician and producer, and Sciucco, a student just entering Salve Regina University’s pharmacy program, couldn’t have been leading more different lives. Yet their paths would intersect as they leaned into what they were both inherently good at – songwriting.

Ceglie’s path: Musician, songwriter, producer and teacher

Ceglie’s interest in music came from growing up in a household where music was always playing. In fifth grade, he picked up the saxophone, a choice that stuck with him and opened doors, including admission to Berklee College of Music.

Berklee was where his journey into songwriting started. Ceglie wrote and recorded a lot of music and people began to hear it. From there, other musicians reached out to collaborate with him. “Music is people and the more people you know, the better,” he said.  

Now, Ceglie is a member of the band pets, where he plays the saxophone, writes and produces their music. He also writes and produces music for the artist F.G.S.  

After graduating in 2018, Ceglie was contacted by Peter Davis, a senior lecturer in Salve’s Department of Music, Theatre and Dance, who asked if he would teach private saxophone lessons as an adjunct professor.  

Sciucco’s path: Following the thread of music

Sciucco’s interest in music has also been lifelong. Her family is involved in music and like Ceglie, she grew up in a home where music was always playing. She chose Salve initially for its pharmacy program and because she could also be involved in University Chorus. However, early into her freshman year, she decided to change her major to music education, and has since added a minor in creative writing and publishing.

The music education major involves learning the basics of every instrument and taking courses such as music theory – one of which she took during a Salve short-term study abroad program in Austria. She is also working toward completing the education courses required of most secondary education majors and for her minor.

Near the end of her freshman year in 2023, Sciucco was talking with Davis about songwriting, which she had been doing since her early teenage years, mentioning that it might be great if Salve had songwriting classes. Davis turned to Ceglie, and together they developed the songwriting course MSI251: Individual Piano-Songwriting.

Songwriting at Salve  

Sciucco was among the first students to take songwriting lessons with Ceglie at Salve, with each lesson catered to her needs. For example, she first came in with many songs that Ceglie helped her refine, but in her junior year, they started working with recording software. Releasing an album is a big goal of hers, so Ceglie wanted her to have demos recorded to put her work out there. This year, much of her time has been spent working on lyric exercises.  

“I have learned to just do what I want to do in my writing. Make it weird. Make it different. Break the rules, don’t do what’s cliché,” she said.  

The number of students taking songwriting lessons with Ceglie have continued to grow over the years. Since the lessons are open to students from any major and varying skill levels, Ceglie avoids a one-size-fits-all teaching approach. In these one-on-one lessons, he encourages students to think about what they truly want from music and helps them to see themselves as artists. He also encourages them to collaborate with one another.  

“Songwriting is a great way to process things that are happening and get people to relate to you, which is the best feeling in the world,” he said.  

Sciucco agreed. “Every song I write is essentially a page ripped out of my diary. It’s very personal to me and a way to cope with emotions and process things that have happened,” she said.  

Ceglie takes students through a range of exercises, including one that is based on imitation. Students choose a song they like and give it a new name and lyrics, while keeping the original rhyme structure. By the end, they leave with an entirely new song. He teaches the importance of working quickly and not dwelling on ideas and works to help them develop effective communication skills so they can clearly convey those ideas once they reach the recording process.  

“As a musician, it’s an unwritten rule that you have to pass along what you learn. My life was changed by a handful of teachers, so I hope to do the same with my students,” Ceglie said.  

Opportunities for musicians

Sciucco is grateful to get to work with Ceglie, as he has completely changed her mindset and has given her many opportunities. She is also thankful for the other opportunities Salve and Newport have given her. At Salve, she is a member of the jazz ensemble, Madrigal Chorus, University Chorus and Pitches with Attitude, the University’s all-female a cappella group. She has also worked as a counselor at the Newport Jazz Camp for the past few years.  

Both Ceglie and Sciucco believe in the power of the arts. “You need a soundtrack to a world that is harmonious, just and merciful,” Ceglie said.  

“The arts are a great way to express yourself and use your creative energy. It’s a whole new level of emotion and using your body and brain in different ways. It’s so important to tap into and be in touch with that part of yourself,” Sciucco said.