Program Overview
Boston Conservatory at Berklee offers a Professional Studies Certificate (PSC) in Collaborative Piano for advanced musicians who wish to spend a year focused exclusively on collaborative artistry and performance. This specialized program provides high-level training for students who have completed their bachelor’s degree and wish to continue honing their skills as a collaborative partner through a year of intensive performance and training. The PSC program emulates a professional musician’s schedule. By design, the curriculum does not include classroom work so that students may dedicate their time to rehearsing, coaching, performing, and professional networking.
Performance Opportunities
The Conservatory’s PSC program provides students with an abundance of performance opportunities. In a given year, the school presents more than 700 performances by students, faculty, and guest artists, 260 of which are world premieres. Given this volume of work, students in the PSC program perform often and in a wide variety of settings, from large and small ensembles and chamber groups, to collaborations with guest artists and peer musicians, to solo recitals and appearances.
In addition to their rigorous performance schedule on campus, PSC students are encouraged to take advantage of the Conservatory’s prime location in Boston by auditioning for local ensembles and participating in music competitions and professional music societies. This provides an excellent opportunity for students to build real-world experience and strong professional networks, so that they are better poised to land the roles they desire upon graduation.
Course Requirements
The PSC in Collaborative Piano program requires students to complete 15 credits, consisting of the course requirements listed below. View the
sample curriculum by semester for additional details. - M-AP 0009 Applied lessons (6 credits total; 3 credits each)
- M-AP 0091 Applied Concentrate lessons (2 credits total; 1 credit each)
- M-EN 0xxx Collaborative Options (2 credits total; 1 credit each)
- M-LT 07xx / M-ST 779xx Repertoire courses (2 credits total; 1 credit each)
- M-SK 0009 Recital (0 credits; completed one time)
- M-SK 5001 Graduate Diction Intensive (1 credit)
- M-ST 0009 Applied Lesson Studio Class (0 credits; completed two times)
- M-ST 0629 Performance Seminar: Collaborative Piano (2 credits total; 1 credit each)
What You Will Learn
The PSC in Collaborative Piano program features an enhanced focus on training through performance-focused experiences. Upon successful completion of the program, students will:
prepare and accurately perform a wide range of musical styles, genres, and repertoire with a high level of technical and musical understanding developed in applied and secondary lessons, large and small ensemble experiences, coachings, master classes, and observations, as well as through genre-specific repertoire courses;analyze instrumental technique to overcome technical challenges and assess the quality of the collaboration with musical partners, with an ability to communicate the details of that technique to others, as studied in applied and secondary lessons;develop a skill set for work with singers and instrumentalists through focused repertoire studies and collaborative experiences; and,establish an artistic identity that represents their individuality, celebrating music of the past and present, and serving as a champion for the future of our industry.Your Future
Graduates from this program are prepared to:
create an operative score to partner with a conductor in staging, musical, or coaching rehearsal;accompany a piano rehearsal for a soloist and conductor of a symphony orchestra;partner with a vocalist or instrumentalist in recitals, master classes, and advanced study courses;partner with a chamber ensemble that explores standard and contemporary literature;command language proficiency in Italian, French, and German, sufficient to communicate an informed rubato and accurate ensemble balance, and continue to grow towards fluency or near-fluency;collaborate in musical theater score preparation and pit orchestra performances and rehearsals;develop the art and skill of vocal coaching; andpartner with a dance production through rehearsal and performance, with or without a conductor.How to Apply
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