Contemporary Improvisation Faculty
Eden MacAdam-Somer, chair
Zoe Christianson
Rakalam Bob Moses
Nedelka Prescod
Certificate Programs
We offer a CI Certificate which is availble in all instruments. See our Certificates page for more information.
Private Lessons
Lessons range from 30, 45, or 60 minutes and are available for all levels, from beginner to expert. Lessons are open to everyone and you can enroll at anytime. Please contact the Continuing Education Office at 617-585-1701 or ContinuingEducation@necmusic.edu for more information and a placement interview.
Classes
Music of the World
Laurato Mantilla, Instructor
Wednesday 7:00 - 8:30pm
1.5 credits: $940
Non-credit: $285
Begins 9/25
Music of the World is a four-semester series of courses, in which we examine works by a diverse group of performers, composers, and improvisers, across cultures and genres throughout history. We will analyze their different approaches and influences, and create our own works based on those techniques. Possible artists/genres included may be Igor Stravinsky, Claude Debussy, Charles Ives, Billie Holiday, Roscoe Holcomb, Esma Redzepova, Ornette Coleman, Appalachian and Eastern European folk music, and many others.
Skill Building
Offered as private instruction. Private lesson rates apply.
Non-credit:
60-minute lessons: $105.00/lesson
45-minute lessons: $78.74lesson
30-minute lessons: $52.50/lesson
School of Continuing Education Credit:
4 CE credits: $2500 for 15 hours of instruction
3 CE credits: $1875 for 11.25 hours of instruction
2 CE credits: $1275 for 7.5 hours of instruction
These classes ground students with a strong foundation in ear training, theory, rhythm, keyboard, performance, and improvisation skills. We develop and hone these skills through vocal and instrumental work, both on our main instruments as well as at the keyboard, as well as through notated exercises. All work is practically applied, so that students are instantly able to connect new skills with their own musical goals.
Ensembles
Medieval Folk Roots Ensemble
Cristi Catt, Instructor
Mondays 7:00 - 8:30pm
1.5 Credits: $940
Non-credit: $285
Begins 9/23
Singers and instrumentalists come together to explore a body of songs that have slipped in and out of oral and written traditions over the centuries; from Medieval cantigas, Gregorian chant, trouvere songs and villancicos to folk songs to works of Machado, Villalobos, Dvorak, Canteloube, and recent composers. We'll play with melodies and modes as we look at how songs travel throught ime and across cultures, creating our own songs and arrangements to add to the tradition.
Please contact instructor Cristi Catt at cristicatt@gmail.com for information about placement auditions for this ensemble.
Jewish Music Ensemble
Zoe Christianson, Instructor
Sundays 2:00 - 3:30 pm
1.5 credits or non-credit: $940 per semester
Not offered in 2013-2014
This ensemble offers the opportunity to listen to, discuss and of course play music from Jewish traditions, with a focus on Eastern European and American klezmer music. We will explore tools that help students learn the material by ear, and discuss ways to question and teach ourselves as we learn from the music directly. Our work together will culminate in a performance, featuring our own arrangements of the pieces that we learned. All instruments and voices are welcome! For ensemble placement start dates please contact the CI Chair Eden MacAdam-Somer.
CI Ensemble: Walking Between the Worlds
Eden MacAdam-Somer, Chair
1.5 credits: $900
Non-credit: $285
Not offered in 2013-2014
In this ensemble, we will explore music and improvisation from many genres, eras, and cultures, creating our own versions as we learn from the sources. Pieces will be chosen based on the interests of students and may include original compositions by participants as well as works stemming from folk genres, pop music, jazz, and classical music. At the end of the semester, we will give a performance showcasing the work that we have done. All instruments and voices are welcome! For ensemble placement and start dates please contact the CI Chair Eden MacAdam-Somer
Explorations of Style and Improv Through African-American Music
Nedelka Prescod, Instructor
Mon 6:00 - 7:30
1.5 credits: $900
Non-credit: $285
Not offered in 2013-2014
This ensemble will explore repertoire that brings awareness to the music of the African-American journey through time and across waters. Participants will be encouraged to connect and work with their own unique process of improvisation and expression, both instrumentally and vocally, using stylistic approaches unique to the genres while experiencing repertoire as a canvas for freedom and expansion of their style and improvisation on their own personal journey. All instruments/voices are welcome. A culminating performance is shared by all.
2013-06-17
CHARLES IVES