Performances + Events
Adult Education Classes
Continue your musical journey with NEC’s Adult Education classes.
Taught by NEC’s esteemed faculty, these classes allow you enhance your technique and deepen your knowledge.
Our Spring 2025 semester starts on January 25, 2025 and registration is now open below! For additional information on Adult Education at NEC, please complete our interest form.
Request InformationIn-person Classes
These classes are taught in person on New England Conservatory’s Boston campus.
Thursday, 6:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. (1 hour per week)
Clara Sandler, Instructor
Tuition: $999
In this class you will learn tools to change habitual patterns of tensions; you will find freedom of movement and ease and joy in performing. The Alexander Technique is a unique body-mind method that promotes awareness and change. It has been used for over 100 years by musicians, actors, dancers and athletes to perform at their best. This is an experiential class, with awareness exercises, readings, hands-on work (light touch on joints, i.g. shoulder joint), performances and Active Rest. It works wonders on Performance Anxiety issues!
First Class: Thursday, January 30, 2025
1.5 hours per week (scheduled according to student and instructor availability)
Lautaro Mantilla, Instructor
Tuition: $999
This ensemble is an introduction to the diverse repertoire of underground music starting in 1970s to the present day. This music was (and is) created to represent cultural movements and to help shaping societies. By arranging and recomposing this repertoire, students gain knowledge of different compositional and improvisational approaches and explore different genres and styles.
Wednesday, 5:30–6:45 p.m. (75 minutes per week)
Ben Yee-Paulson, Instructor
Tuition: $999
The Composition Seminar will provide students who are interested in music composition with hands-on training and weekly discussions on composing music. Students will be writing short compositional exercises on a biweekly basis, and will be read by the instructor, fellow students, and occasionally guest musicians. We will be discussing our short compositions openly each course, and discuss various topics in composition. Such topics will include how to compose for specific instruments and players, employing different scales in a composition, current stylistic trends in composition, short-term musical phrases, and long-term compositional structure. The course will also culminate in the creation of a larger composition that will act as a final exam.
First Class: Wednesday, January 29, 2025
1.5 hours per week (scheduled according to student and instructor availability)
Lautaro Mantilla, Instructor
Tuition: $999
In this hands-on ensemble, students will be introduced to creative ways to explore and develop their instrument techniques and the possibilities of musical growth and unique approaches to learning and playing in a band. By studying selected contemporary methodologies of improvisation, students will learn the fundamentals of rhythm, harmony, melody, and ear training. Selected repertoire and practical exercises will guide students down the path of finding their own voice and creating their own musical journey while they gain a better understanding of composition and improvisation.
Wednesday, 6 – 8 p.m. (2 hours per week)
Fredericka King, Instructor
Tuition: $999
For beginners, this class provides a welcoming and easy introduction to the keyboard. Students will learn note-reading, develop rhythm skills, and technique, to play a variety of repertoire at their skill level. No prior keyboard experience is required. For students who have had prior experience playing piano, or who have participated in a previous session, customized instruction will help boost their reading and technique levels, and enable them to progress to more advanced repertoire with a solid skill set. The Keyboard Studio facilities include individual keyboards and headphones for each student, allowing each person to comfortably practice at their own skill level. Please note — no audition is required for this class, but you must have a practice instrument available.
First Class: Wednesday, January 29, 2025
Tuesday, 6 – 7:30 p.m. (1.5 hours per week)
Nat Seelen, Instructor
Tuition: $999
This ensemble offers an introduction for students to a variety of repertoire within the Jewish Tradition of Klezmer. It is an opportunity to perform and arrange repertoire while students gain proficiency on their instruments and learn and explore the multiple layers of this music.
First Class: Tuesday, January 28, 2025
Wednesday, 6:45 – 8:45 p.m. (2 hours biweekly)
Aimee Tsuchiya, Instructor
Tuition: $999
The Piano Master Class Series offers pianists the chance to perform polished works for a class of their peers, led by a guest faculty pianist from NEC Adult Education, NEC College or other guest faculty. Every two weeks, the masterclass will showcase 3–4 different adult pianists of all levels from our class, and the interactive feedback of a leading artist-instructor.
Performers will receive in-depth instruction and advice at a high level of musicianship to further refine and inform their performances. Audience class members can draw ideas of interpretation and execution for their own edification on a broad range of works and from a diverse artistic community. Audience participation in the form of Q&A is encouraged! To broaden our understanding and perspective even further, guest lecturers from other departments (theory, composition, history, etc) may present on performance-related topics. Each semester will conclude with a final recital by all participants, performing works they’ve played in class during the course of the term.
Please note that this course is intended for students who have studied piano for 5 years or more. Email ee@necmusic.edu with any questions.
Class Meeting Dates for Spring 2025: 1/29, 2/12, 2/26, 3/12, 3/26, 4/16, 4/30, 5/14
Monday, 6:30 – 9:15 p.m. (2 hours 45 minutes weekly)
Erica Washburn, Instructor
Tuition: $999
The NEC Symphonic Choir is the Conservatory’s resident community chorus. Ranging from 80 to 90 members and open to all students, regardless of major and year, as well as community members by audition, this ensemble offers its musicians the opportunity to perform music from all styles and periods of choral literature, extending beyond traditional Western masterpieces to the music of non-European cultures. The Symphonic Choir collaborates with NEC’s large instrumental ensembles, as well as with ensembles in greater Boston, and gives its concerts in NEC’s Jordan Hall.
Please note: Registration is not a guarantee of enrollment — this class requires an audition. Email EE@necmusic.com to set up an audition.
Hybrid Classes
These classes leverage the option of in-person learning and/or real-time virtual instruction.
Thursday, 7:30 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. (1.5 hours per week)
Jamie Stewardson, Instructor
Tuition: $999
This dynamic and inspiring course invites you to explore the art of creating your own music. Whether you’re a budding composer or an experienced musician, you’ll discover new techniques and creative strategies to bring your musical ideas to life. Students will experiment with various jazz and related styles and forms from different eras. The course focuses on essential composition techniques such as motivic development, rhythmic manipulation, re-harmonization, and the structure of form and phrase. Exercises and assignments are based on analyzing key contrasting jazz compositions and recordings, along with students’ personal descriptions of their goals and aspirations for their own work. Our supportive and collaborative environment encourages you to share your work and receive constructive feedback from your instructor and to work collaboratively with your fellow composers. You’ll have opportunities to workshop your compositions, and arrange pieces for various small ensembles. Join us in Jazz Composition and let your creativity soar. Unleash your inner composer, gain confidence in your writing, and get your music performed!
Monday, 6 p.m. – 7 p.m. (1 hour per week)
Charlie Weller, Instructor
Tuition: $999
Do you want to perform and transcribe the melodies in your head or those played by others? Are you eager to recognize and notate harmonies? This class will help you develop the ability to identify, understand, and perform what you hear through training in rhythms, intervals, vocal imitation, rhythmic development, chords, and listening techniques. Recommended for both instrumentalists and vocalists, this course strengthens the connection between hearing and improvising. Skills covered include: Vocalizing rhythms with syllables and counting techniques. Identifying distances between pitches based on major keys using numbers and recognizing their relation to chords, modes, or keys within a piece. Singing and recognizing chordal colors, bass lines, rhythms, and melodic shapes. Using syllables to express phrases with more emotional impact by incorporating dynamics and articulations. Students will be grouped by experience level to ensure personalized instruction and meaningful growth.
Wednesday, 6 p.m. – 7 p.m. (1 hour per week)
Nicholas Grondin, Instructor
Tuition: $999
This class explores the history of jazz and its related styles, tracing their African roots through the present day across the Fall and Spring semesters. Students will engage with recordings, participate in discussions, and gain cultural context to become more informed and inspired listeners, players, composers, and arrangers.
The course channels both instructor and student enthusiasm for jazz, highlighting the unique qualities of each piece and its cultural background. Students will expand their understanding of jazz styles and artists, accelerating their musical growth in lessons, ensembles, jam sessions, and professional performances.
Through recommended listening, classroom discussions, and background insights, students will deepen their knowledge of jazz history. Each semester concludes with a student analysis connecting a live jazz performance to its historical context.
By the end of the course, students will develop the tools to address questions such as:
“How does this piece illustrate the roles of instruments in an ensemble?”
“How do audience setting and performance practices shape the delivery of this piece?”
“In what ways do these sounds reflect and influence a specific subculture?”
Thursday, 7-8 p.m. (1 hour per week)
David Zoffer, Instructor
Tuition: $999
Jazz Styles is a four semester modular course (students can enter in any one of the four Fall Spring semesters and the course material rotates). This class requires some basic prior knowledge of theory (major keys, chord spellings, etc.) In this class, compositions will be analyzed from both the “big picture” (form, harmony, arrangement, melody and rhythm) and the “little picture” (articulation and methods of improvisation and embellishment). Class assignments will include improvisation, model composition and transcriptions and are scalable to the amount of time students can put into the course in a given week. Students deliver a short in-class analytical presentation at the beginning and end of each semester year on a subject of their choice that shows how they would compose, improvise, arrange and/or practice differently after their research. Module II (Odd-numbered years, Spring – 2025): Exploration of Post-Bop (Miles Davis, Wayne Shorter), Swing Ballad Composition (Duke Ellington), Reharmonization, and Contemporary Jazz, including Jazz-Influenced Pop (Stevie Wonder).
Thursday, 7 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. (1.5 hours per week)
Jamie Stewardson, Instructor
Tuition: $999
Have you ever wondered how a composer or songwriter creates melodies over a chord progression? Have you ever thought about how different harmonies or chords affect how you feel? Have you ever considered writing down the musical ideas in your head? In this class, you will explore how different artists apply the techniques studied across various styles and time periods. Whether you’re interested in jazz, classical, or any genre of pop music, this course will provide you with the tools to bring your unique musical interests and voice to the forefront. It will enhance your ability to communicate effectively and efficiently with other musicians, leading to more satisfying collaborations. As both a band leader and a band member, quickly understanding harmony, rhythm, and melody is essential.
During the course, students will listen to recorded examples demonstrating jazz theory in practice. They will also learn to apply these theoretical concepts to their instruments/voice and compose pieces that showcase their understanding of jazz theory. It’s important to note that this class covers very different material compared to a classical theory class. By building a solid foundation in jazz theory, students can make their private lesson time more effective, allowing their teacher to focus on technique and improvisation rather than fundamental theory. Additionally, the class is engaging and interactive, with opportunities for social interaction, playing, singing, and improvising in class, all while building essential skills through practical application of theory. Students will be grouped by experience level to ensure personalized instruction and meaningful growth.
Online Classes
These classes can be taken completely online, offering real-time access to an NEC education from anywhere.
6 Week Class
3 Sections Available:
Monday, January 27 – March 3, 2025: 6-7:30pm (1.5 hours per week)
Wednesday, January 29 – March 5, 2025: 6-7:30pm (1.5 hours per week)
Wednesday, January 29 – March 5, 2025: 7:30-9pm (1.5 hours per week)
Andrew Schartmann, Instructor
Tuition: $599
This course explores the ever-changing face of video game music from its origins in the late 1970s to current trends in virtual-reality (VR) gaming. Drawing on primary and secondary sources from areas including music, computer science, ludology, and film studies, we will focus on how technology, market forces, and popular culture shaped compositional techniques for video game music. We we also explore how music’s role in game design has evolved over the past 50 years.
6 Week Class
3 Sections Available:
Monday, March 10 – April 14, 2025: 6-7:30pm (1.5 hours per week)
Wednesday, March 12 – April 16, 2025: 6-7:30pm (1.5 hours per week)
Wednesday, March 12 – April 16, 2025: 7:30-9pm (1.5 hours per week)
Tuesday, 8 – 9 p.m. (1 hours per week)
Nat Seelen, Instructor
Tuition: $599
Welcome to your semester-long introduction to klezmer music. We review the history of our music, key musicians, recordings, and readings you need to know, and learn some of the core repertoire you’ll use for concert or simcha performances. We also cover the basic music theory of klezmer, including modes, cadences, time feel, and ornamentation. By the end of the course, you’ll be prepared to perform with a traditional klezmer band, or maybe even start your own!
