 His father was a trumpeter and his brother and uncle were also musicians.He was brought to Padua to be a music tutor in the "Accademia degli Elevati" under Francesco Portinaro in 1557.When the "Accademia" was dissolved in 1560 Alberti went to work for the Este court in Ferrara, where he remained on the court rolls until the court's dissolution in 1598.