ɪn nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd θˈɜːɾi ˈeɪt hiː ˈɛntɚd ðɪ ɛskwˈeɪlə suːpˈiəɹɪɚ də mjˈuːzɪkə də kæɹˈɑːkəz, wˌɛɹ hiː stˈʌdid sˈɪŋɪŋ wɪð æntˈoʊnɪˌoʊ pˈɑːɹdoʊ sˈaʊbəlt, tʃˈɛloʊ wɪð kˈɑːɹloʊz ˈeɪnjɛz, hˈɪstɚɹi ʌv mjˈuːzɪk wɪð hwˈɑːn bˈɔːɾɪstə plˈɑːzə, ænd hˈɑːɹməni ænd kˌɑːmpəzˈɪʃən wɪð vˈaɪsənt ɛmˈɪlɪˌoʊ sˈoʊdʒoʊ.
In 1938 he entered the Escuela Superior de Música de Caracas, where he studied singing with Antonio Pardo Soublette, cello with Carlos Áñez, history of music with Juan Bautista Plaza, and harmony and composition with Vicente Emilio Sojo.