We are at least free to conjecture that before 1479 Lavagnolo trained the chorus of Mantua in dancing so that he may have contributed something to the ballata which we shall at the proper place see as a number in Poliziano's "Orfeo." Travel between the courts of Mantua and Ferrara was not unfamiliar to musicians, and there is reason to believe that those of the former court often sought instruction from those of the latter.

For example, it is on record that Gian Andrea di Alessandro, who became organist to the Marquis of Mantua in 1485, was sent in 1490 to Ferrara that he might "learn better song and playing the organ from Girolamo del Bruno." In 1492 he was sufficiently instructed to be sent by the Marquis to San Benedetto to play for the ambassador from Venice to Milan.
The celebrated composer of frottole, Bartolomeo Tromboncino, was for some time in the service of the Mantuan court.

It was formerly believed that he went to Mantua in 1494, but Signer Bertolotti unearthed a document which showed that his father was engaged there in 1487.

From which the learned Italian investigator reached the conclusion that the young Tromboncino was with his parent.

It seems to be pretty well established that the two went together to Venice in 1495.
But he returned to Mantua and for many years passed some of his time at that court and some at Ferrara.