Getting Going:
After 3 weeks of class I would love to say I'm getting into the swing of things here at Berklee, but I don't think that's possible. Well I've gotten into the swing of classes. I can handle Music App & Theory and Ear Training as this past week we've got onto what minor scales are and how to play eighth note (quaver) rests... So I'm fine there. But then there's English where we're reading a rather eccentric book of poems, 'When my Brother was an Aztec' by Natalie Diaz. It's a weird book and I'm struggling 'coming to terms' with that one. Lastly, my ensemble is still a hoot and a half, so that's one of the things I look forward to in the week. My teacher, Walter Beasley (I know I told you to look him up last time, but seriously do!) is so funny and entertaining, but also so inspiring, knowledgeable and wise! He is the highest record selling, full time teacher in history! He's sold more than 1 million records and he is the bomb!
These two weeks have been the 'Quarterly Test' weeks. I'm pretty sure I'm on track. 100% in Music App & Theory and 93% in Ear Training and upcoming test in ensemble and project in progress with English.
Otherwise, there is no swing (well it's full of jazz, but that's not the point!). Too many things happen and it's always something new. For example, last Saturday, I started my day by going for a run and picking up tickets for a Boston Symphony Orchestra concert that night then I had breakfast and got ready for my 2 hour practice session which was closely followed by our trip to the Beantown Festival, an inspirational jazz festival where we watched Christian Scott (he is incredible! Look him up!) After this we had dinner and got ready for the BSO concert and watched a beautifully epic rendition of Mahler's Second Symphony (that was huge!) and after that we the option of either going to a Gary Burton concert (most famous jazz vibes player in the world right now and Berklee alumni), but that was sold out or one of three MIT parties. So what did we choose? Neither. We went to a friends room, they watched Pirates of the Caribbean and I worked on my drum covers some more. So everything is going on and who knows what to pick?! Oh and the night after... SNARKY PUPPY!!! Bought a CD and got a couple of them to sign it! My roommate got his arm signed!
This past week I saw three clinics from world famous musicians in multiple different fields. Firstly Henrique De Elmaida, who is a professor at Berklee who spoke about brush technique, then Christian Scott who had a emotional story and still to be where he is is amazing, after that, Victor Wooten(!!!) who was an incredibly inspirational speaker and player. He taught us how to jam, get perfect pitch and proves that anything is possible. After that, the Zildjian Artist in Residence, Antonio Sanchez, came for a week to do a clinic, 2 masterclasses and a final concert. In his clinics he talked about the importance of being comfortable in all styles at all tempos and all dynamics and playing melodically. Lastly, I saw Ralph Humphrey who has done so much in his career and he talked about creativity and technique and could have talked more about his experiences.
Also, I've been becoming more active outside of classes etc. I recorded a drum part for my roommate's upcoming EP. Subbed for someone's ensemble as well as jamming more often with more people and I've started jamming on the Vibraphone as well as just kit or tambourine or whatever. Played basketball with my friends in the most typical American 'basketball in the local park' setting. Playing volleyball with the local, Emerson, College. Trying to go to the gym as often as possible to battle back against the world famous American food. I've also bought enough microphones to finish my collection to fully and properly record my drums for more drum covers and general recording work. Oh yeah! Current covers are nearly there. There is a theme this time. Throw Back Thursday. Just remembering some of my favorite times/groups that had 'a song'. I ran out of time so I didn't get to do as many as I wanted to because I recorded them in England, but almost all audio editing is completely done, just need to put the video to it once I've been sent all videos from Belgium (my parents) and I'm super excited for that! I went to a teacher's office hours, Kenwood Dennard, who had drummed for Sting, Jaco Pristorius, Miles Davis and Herbie Hancock among thousands more. He was very quirky. He was always miced up so he can just immediately shout at his student instead of making him stop! He also filmed Dhruv, my friend from Dubai, and I while he answered Dhruv's questions. Then we jammed for around 30 mins and it was incredible! The people he's drummed with... And now Dhruv and I are a part of that list!!!
It's incredibly entertaining, inspiring and just out of this world being here at Berklee. I hope I soak even the tiniest fraction of everyone's knowledge up and then I will be set!
I thank you very much for taking the time to read this. I hope you find anywhere near as exciting as I do. I just want you to see how amazingly contrasting and interesting this world can be.
Please stay tuned for the next instalments and I will try to get them out more frequently, but I'm trying to make sure I get enough content in and I spend enough time to throroughly write this
Hope your life is well :)
After 3 weeks of class I would love to say I'm getting into the swing of things here at Berklee, but I don't think that's possible. Well I've gotten into the swing of classes. I can handle Music App & Theory and Ear Training as this past week we've got onto what minor scales are and how to play eighth note (quaver) rests... So I'm fine there. But then there's English where we're reading a rather eccentric book of poems, 'When my Brother was an Aztec' by Natalie Diaz. It's a weird book and I'm struggling 'coming to terms' with that one. Lastly, my ensemble is still a hoot and a half, so that's one of the things I look forward to in the week. My teacher, Walter Beasley (I know I told you to look him up last time, but seriously do!) is so funny and entertaining, but also so inspiring, knowledgeable and wise! He is the highest record selling, full time teacher in history! He's sold more than 1 million records and he is the bomb!
These two weeks have been the 'Quarterly Test' weeks. I'm pretty sure I'm on track. 100% in Music App & Theory and 93% in Ear Training and upcoming test in ensemble and project in progress with English.
Otherwise, there is no swing (well it's full of jazz, but that's not the point!). Too many things happen and it's always something new. For example, last Saturday, I started my day by going for a run and picking up tickets for a Boston Symphony Orchestra concert that night then I had breakfast and got ready for my 2 hour practice session which was closely followed by our trip to the Beantown Festival, an inspirational jazz festival where we watched Christian Scott (he is incredible! Look him up!) After this we had dinner and got ready for the BSO concert and watched a beautifully epic rendition of Mahler's Second Symphony (that was huge!) and after that we the option of either going to a Gary Burton concert (most famous jazz vibes player in the world right now and Berklee alumni), but that was sold out or one of three MIT parties. So what did we choose? Neither. We went to a friends room, they watched Pirates of the Caribbean and I worked on my drum covers some more. So everything is going on and who knows what to pick?! Oh and the night after... SNARKY PUPPY!!! Bought a CD and got a couple of them to sign it! My roommate got his arm signed!
This past week I saw three clinics from world famous musicians in multiple different fields. Firstly Henrique De Elmaida, who is a professor at Berklee who spoke about brush technique, then Christian Scott who had a emotional story and still to be where he is is amazing, after that, Victor Wooten(!!!) who was an incredibly inspirational speaker and player. He taught us how to jam, get perfect pitch and proves that anything is possible. After that, the Zildjian Artist in Residence, Antonio Sanchez, came for a week to do a clinic, 2 masterclasses and a final concert. In his clinics he talked about the importance of being comfortable in all styles at all tempos and all dynamics and playing melodically. Lastly, I saw Ralph Humphrey who has done so much in his career and he talked about creativity and technique and could have talked more about his experiences.
Also, I've been becoming more active outside of classes etc. I recorded a drum part for my roommate's upcoming EP. Subbed for someone's ensemble as well as jamming more often with more people and I've started jamming on the Vibraphone as well as just kit or tambourine or whatever. Played basketball with my friends in the most typical American 'basketball in the local park' setting. Playing volleyball with the local, Emerson, College. Trying to go to the gym as often as possible to battle back against the world famous American food. I've also bought enough microphones to finish my collection to fully and properly record my drums for more drum covers and general recording work. Oh yeah! Current covers are nearly there. There is a theme this time. Throw Back Thursday. Just remembering some of my favorite times/groups that had 'a song'. I ran out of time so I didn't get to do as many as I wanted to because I recorded them in England, but almost all audio editing is completely done, just need to put the video to it once I've been sent all videos from Belgium (my parents) and I'm super excited for that! I went to a teacher's office hours, Kenwood Dennard, who had drummed for Sting, Jaco Pristorius, Miles Davis and Herbie Hancock among thousands more. He was very quirky. He was always miced up so he can just immediately shout at his student instead of making him stop! He also filmed Dhruv, my friend from Dubai, and I while he answered Dhruv's questions. Then we jammed for around 30 mins and it was incredible! The people he's drummed with... And now Dhruv and I are a part of that list!!!
It's incredibly entertaining, inspiring and just out of this world being here at Berklee. I hope I soak even the tiniest fraction of everyone's knowledge up and then I will be set!
I thank you very much for taking the time to read this. I hope you find anywhere near as exciting as I do. I just want you to see how amazingly contrasting and interesting this world can be.
Please stay tuned for the next instalments and I will try to get them out more frequently, but I'm trying to make sure I get enough content in and I spend enough time to throroughly write this
Hope your life is well :)