|
Piano Department
For you, music is not a hobby; it is going to be your career.
Many of today's most
successful pianists began their careers at Berklee—Cyrus Chestnut,
Jan Hammer, Bruce Hornsby, Bob James, Jeff Lorber, Rob Mounsey,
Makoto Ozone, Danilo Perez, Joe Zawinul.
They came to Berklee because of who we are:
the world's largest independent music school and the premier
institution for the study of today's music.
The Piano Department at
Berklee offers the most comprehensive piano education you'll find
anywhere. We provide individualized instruction. We offer you
professional faculty who specialize in each discipline, course
work specifically designed to enhance your abilities, and abundant
playing opportunities.
We respect the classical traditions of
piano instruction. We also understand that the piano is a
versatile and expressive instrument that can be effective in any
musical style, and we know how its potential fits into today's
music world. Studying at a school that offers you this full range
of knowledge is the most important way for you to turn your
playing into a career.
Studying Piano
at Berklee
At Berklee, you will find your own voice
and develop your own style. You will not be limited to one
direction. We encourage you to experiment with other styles that
interest you, so that you can challenge yourself and improve your
skills. Berklee prepares you for today's music by building on
traditional aspects of learning. Piano Department instruction
emphasizes a foundation in the standard technical challenges of
professional performance—scales, arpeggios, exercises such as
Hanon, Czerny, and Pishna—as well as materials designed to help
you master the many combinations of classical, jazz, pop, and rock
styles common in today's music. We also provide intensive training
in sight-reading and in chord symbol terminology and chord
voicing.
Private Lessons
During your first week at Berklee, you will be auditioned by the
piano faculty and placed with a private instructor best suited to
your needs. You will participate in at least four semesters of
private lessons. At the end of each semester, you must pass a
final exam that covers the skills you have learned.
Instrumental Labs
These group lessons bring together piano players of similar skill
levels and provide training in specific aspects of piano
performance. Many of the teaching materials used in these labs are
created by the same Berklee faculty who will be teaching you. In
addition to required lab subjects such as reading and comping, the
elective labs/courses include:
-
Advanced Comping (for funk/fusion, jazz,
Latin, pop, roots/rock, and world beat styles)
-
Advanced Reading
-
Classical Repertory for Two Pianos
-
Hammond Organ Techniques
-
MIDI Performance
-
New Music Improvisation
-
Performance Ear Training for Keyboards
Course Work
The courses at Berklee are continually reviewed and evaluated so
that they consistently reflect today's musical needs. In classes
such as Contrapuntal Jazz Improvisation, Improvisational Theory,
Piano Accompaniment Techniques, and Survey of Piano Styles, you
will learn the history of your instrument, analyze its present-day
challenges, and pursue an in-depth study of styles and techniques.
Ensembles
Through ensembles, you will hone essential performance skills
and techniques. They help you broaden your stylistic range, give
you experience playing with a variety of groups, and expand your
network of musical friends and colleagues. Ensembles are offered
in multiple sections with varying levels of ability. You choose
the group and style that appeal to you. Your eligibility is
determined by ongoing auditions that measure your growth as a
performer. This system enables you to move into more advanced
ensembles as you develop your skills.
More than 270 ensembles rehearse weekly at
Berklee. These groups reflect nothing less than a full range of
musical expression:
-
Avant-garde Ensemble
-
Berklee Recording Orchestra
-
Big
Band Ensembles
-
Chord Scale Madness Ensemble
-
Commercial Pop/Rock Recording Ensembles
-
Electronic/Synth Ensembles
-
Funk
Bands
-
Fusion/Rock
Ensembles
-
Latin Ensembles
-
Small
Group Jazz Ensembles
Visiting Artists
Through our Visiting Artist Series, you will receive valuable
firsthand career insight from some of the finest performers,
songwriters, film composers, music business experts, and music
professionals from every sector of the industry. Visiting piano
professionals have included Kenny Barron, George Cables, Cyrus
Chestnut '85, Chick Corea, Hal Galper '57, Barry Harris, Billy
Joel, Andy Laverne, Lyle Mays, Don Muro, Danilo Perez '88, Kenny
Werner '68, and James Williams.
The Piano Club
Open to all piano principals, the Piano Club hosts guest
performers/speakers, informal student performances, regularly
scheduled meetings, and other events determined by the group. This
organization is completely managed by students and sponsored by
the Student Activities Office.
Piano Rooms
All of the Piano Department's private teaching studios are
equipped with two pianos to enable the teacher to play along or
demonstrate. The studios have either a Yamaha Disklavier for
recording and immediate playback or a Yamaha Clavinova digital
electronic keyboard for rhythmic accompaniment and a wide variety
of instrumental colors. You will also have access to more than 80
practice studios. In addition, there are larger group instruction
rooms complete with the latest in digital electronic keyboards.
Audiotape players, CD players, and digital sequence playback
systems are used extensively for listening/analysis and for
play-along purposes. Piano Department performances are often
videotaped for subsequent faculty and student analysis.
To learn more, visit
Berklee's Official Website. |
