Performances + Events
Adult Education Classes
Continue your musical journey with NEC’s Adult Education class offerings.
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.
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
Tuesday, 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 a combination of in-person learning and 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.Through interactive lessons and hands-on projects, you’ll experiment with various jazz styles and forms, from bebop and swing to modern jazz and fusion. 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 an in-depth analysis of important contrasting jazz compositions and recordings.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, perform them with classmates, 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!
Fall registration for this class is closed.
Monday, 6 p.m. – 7 p.m. (1 hour per week)
Charlie Weller, Instructor
Tuition: $999
Would you like to be able to identify and transcribe the melodies you hear in your head or those sung or played by others? Do you want to recognize the harmonies that you hear and write them down? In this class, you’ll learn about rhythms, intervals, and chords, various listening techniques, and how to identify, understand, and transcribe what you hear. The emphasis is on ear training, vocal imitation, and rhythmic development. This class is highly recommended for instrumentalists who want to strengthen their connection between hearing and improvising, moving beyond just playing preconceived phrases. The course will use the vocabulary of rhythmic numbers related to time signatures and intervallic numbers related to major keys, time signatures and movable do. On that basis, students will be able to sing back and recognize basic chordal colors, bass lines, rhythms and melodic shapes as they relate to various common repertoire associated with jazz and related styles. This course continues into Spring Semester as Jazz Ear Training II.
Fall registration for this class is closed.
Wednesday, 6 p.m. – 7 p.m. (1 hour per week)
Charlie Weller, Instructor
Tuition: $999
This course is similar to Jazz Ear Training I, but is for students that have a fundamental background in intervals, rhythmic transcription and chord identification, and are working with more sophisticated materials including chords with tensions, bass and chord motion that moves outside of a key, and heavily syncopated music. This course continues into the Spring semester as Jazz Ear Training IV.
Fall registration for this class is closed.
Wednesday, 6 p.m. – 7 p.m. (1 hour per week)
Nicholas Grondin, Instructor
Tuition: $999
This class focuses on exposure to recordings and in class discussion of the history of Jazz from its African roots through the present day (over the Fall and Spring semesters). There are listening and reading assignments. Presentations are done at the end of semesters on a live Jazz performance of the student’s choice. This course is crucial for jazz students, because it will help students find out which styles of jazz inspire them, and make them informed listeners. A Jazz student must be able to tell his/her private teacher about their favorite jazz artists or styles of jazz for the quickest musical growth to occur, and the jazz ensembles always draw on many eras of jazz history in each semester’s repertoire.
This course explores the history of jazz from its African roots to the present day, over the course of the Fall and Spring semesters. Students will engage with recordings and participate in class discussions, along with completing listening and reading assignments. At the end of each semester, students present an analysis that puts a live jazz performance of their choice into historical context. Students will acquire the tools to answer questions ranging from “How do different pieces demonstrate the role of instruments and voices in different registers?” to “How does audience setting and performance practice affect the delivery of this piece?”
This course is essential for jazz students, helping them discover the styles of jazz that inspire them and become more informed listeners that can differentiate jazz and related music styles. Understanding various jazz styles enables students to effectively communicate their preferences to their private teachers, fostering quicker musical growth. Additionally, jazz ensembles draw from many eras of jazz history in their repertoire each semester. By providing cultural background and exposure to diverse jazz styles, this course equips students with the tools to become more informed and inspired listeners, players, composers and arrangers. The class is a vehicle to channel both the instructor’s and student’s enthusiasm for various jazz styles and interact while pointing out what makes each piece and cultural context unique.
Fall registration for this class is closed.
Thursday, 6:30 p.m. – 7:30 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. Source Material for Jazz Styles I includes artists associated with: Bebop (Charlie Parker), Harmonic/Thematic Free Improvisation (Cecil Taylor), Standard Forms (Miles Davis), Episodic Composition (Ornette Coleman), Thematic Harmonic Composition/Improvisation (Monk), Fusion (Stern).
Fall registration for this class is closed.
Thursday, 7 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. (1.5 hours per week)
Jamie Stewardson, Instructor
Tuition: $999
Have you ever wondered how a songwriter creates harmonized voices 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. This course continues into the Spring semester as Jazz Theory II.
Fall registration for this class is closed.
Wednesday, 7 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. (1.5 hours per week)
Jamie Stewardson, Instructor
Tuition: $999
Jazz Theory III is similar to Jazz Theory I, but is for students who have a foundation in chord spelling, exposure to modes, and common jazz forms. This course continues into the Spring semester as Jazz Theory IV.
Fall registration for this class is closed.
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!
