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Learner Reviews & Feedback for Developing Your Musicianship by Berklee

4.8
stars
1,256 ratings

About the Course

Learn the basic concepts and approaches needed to understand, create, and perform contemporary music. If you have a passion for music and are curious about how it works, or if you are a musician who learned to play by ear without formal study, this course will provide you with an engaging introduction to key concepts and approaches needed to understand, create, and perform contemporary music. Taught by Berklee College of Music professor George W. Russell, Jr., the course includes six lessons that delve into harmony and ear training—two areas of intensive focus for every entering Berklee student. The course will teach you the major scale and minor pentatonic scale, and how they are constructed. You will learn what intervals are, how to sing them, and how to find them in music. The course explores tonal centers and how to find the key a song is in, in addition to common time signatures such as 4/4 and 3/4. You will learn how to build chords—major and minor triads, and major and dominant seventh chords—and how to build a common chord progression—the I IV V. You will also learn how to recognize the blues and AABA song forms, and write a basic chord sheet to express your song ideas. In addition to the video lectures, each lesson features Berklee student performances and interviews. The students share their musical journey and offer advice for those wanting to study music. The course culminates with an assignment that asks you to compose and perform a riff blues tune using the minor pentatonic scale. Above all, the course is designed to share the joy of creating music and sharing it with others....

Top reviews

AG

May 20, 2021

This course is a incredible one to kick start as a musician , it allows one to grow and learn basic musical chords and notes, it gave me deep knowledge about the harmony, ear training and song form.

KH

May 30, 2021

Wonderful course! The instructor is great and the lessons are very well planned and with attainable learning goals. So much fun! I loved it so much I enrolled in the 4-course Specialization.

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51 - 75 of 410 Reviews for Developing Your Musicianship

By Peter M

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Oct 29, 2023

I am on a learning journey. Really good course with focus on major intervals and the minor pentatonic scale. The instructor presents a great method to create a 12-bar riff-blues from a 2-riff motive. Clearly one can use this method for further development. At the end of the course you are going to compose your own 12-bar blues. Thank you Berklee Music for sharing.

By ANA K F O

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Jun 8, 2021

Un excelente curso. El profesor y personal involucrado son sumamente amables, carismáticos y llenos de creatividad. Lo recomiendo ampliamente. Si el inglés no es tu lengua materna, hay muchas herramientas para nosotros los hispanohablantes, sin embargo, lo mejor seria tener al menos un nivel intermedio de inglés para aprovechar de mejor manera el curso.

By Abdulrahman H A

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Oct 8, 2020

It was a great experience that I will not limit it to that course; the way I was taught in that course and the fun I had practicing and solving quizzes did make me more passionate about playing the piano. I'm going to finish the whole specialization and go deeper into more advanced ones to be the musician surgeon that I always dreamt of!

By MohammadReza D

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Jul 21, 2021

In addition to what I learned about music from this course, Professor Russell's behavior and teaching, as well as the Berkeley students' talk, was very helpful and instructive, helping me to address one of my biggest internal music issues (lack of self-confidence). Take it off. Thank you Berklee and thank you for the Coursera.org

By bao l

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May 11, 2020

I discovered this course 5 years ago when there was only Develop Your Musicianship I. However, it is recent months when I‘ve decided to take the course II, III & IV. Finally I find myself fulfilled: composing songs with the music theories and skills taught by the magnificent Prof.George W. Russell, Jr. :D

You will not regret it!

By Leah L

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Oct 12, 2020

I went into this course wanting to increase my knowledge of music theory and came out with so much more! I learned the basics of music composition, a new appreciation for blues and discovered the amazing teachers and students of Berklee. Thank you for a musical experience that has been both interesting and enriching.

By Abby M

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Oct 27, 2020

Just completed first module - can’t recommend enough! I have studied music in the past but I have never experienced such high quality positive teaching! I really like the interactive peer group learning as it’s really helpful and encourages me to keep going and other people help you figure things out. Go for it!!!

By Roberta d R B

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Oct 2, 2023

Getting back into studying Music Theory after years with this course, awesome teacher, and high-quality didactic content. On the other hand, I think they need to better organize the peer reviews, as I have read many complaints from former students about it. I reviewed old projects but no one reviewed mine yet.

By SUBODH P

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Apr 27, 2020

Great course! It has significantly increased my ability to recognize different chords, intervals and many more about music. I am very thankful to the Berklee team and especially my instructor George. His teaching technique is absolutely brilliant and I have definitely improved a lot as a musician. Thank you.

By Kevin M H

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May 31, 2020

Excellent course for those with limited to moderate music theory knowledge. The professor introduces concepts in a clear and concise manner, and the topics are varied enough that you remain engaged. The course also features well designed in-video quizes and assignments to ensure the material is sinking in.

By Mary P L

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Jul 19, 2020

Hats off to Mr.George my music teacher, who made my learning as easy as possible, he's the best teacher ever i learnt from. Thank you sir, now wish to pursue more into music. I really enjoyed for the first time learning music, as Mr. George always tells, it's mandate to have fun while learning music.

By Aggie P

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Jun 4, 2020

This is the first time that a take a music course, of course I know read sheets and some chords (the basics), but I didn't know about the scales or other chords, I know how to read a song, but I want to improve and play my own songs, this course is perfect to start to know more about music theory,

By Jazmine

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May 3, 2020

Absolutely loved this course and suggested it to my friends to take. I appreciate the school providing quality material and a quality instructor for many to learn from, free of cost. I learned so much, genuinely enjoyed myself, and am excited to take the other three courses in this specialization!

By Leo A

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Apr 4, 2017

George Russell is a beyond phenomenal teacher. I would fly to Boston just to take classes with him.

What a blessing of a human being. I never played piano in my life and thanks to him and his amazing personality, am becoming proficient!

Thank you for being you Mr. Russell!

Leo Arias

By SAMIT P B ( i C

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Jun 7, 2020

Very well paced course. George is an absolutely awesome teacher and he builds the concepts taught right into your sub conscience effortlessly. You'll have to practice a lot outside the course to see the real application of the concepts being taught but he lays a great foundation.

By lizzy

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Sep 15, 2022

I love the teacher. The first time in many years that I can accurately define intervals. I love the tips and tricks that he gave since it really helps. The quizzes and assignments are fun it just makes you want to learn more and more. Would definitely recommend to others!

By Gabriela P

•

Nov 26, 2018

excelente formación para profesionales en música y personas que quieren dedicarse a ello, en mi país hay carencia de educación musical, por lo tanto estos cursos son excelentes para ordenar el conocimiento empírico y al académico que levemente se puede accesar.

By Axel Y M L

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Apr 9, 2022

este curso beneficiara a todo aquel que lo haga , cambiara positivamente su visoon de la musicam, ademas del intercambio entre compañeros de curso, una experiencia totalmente motivadora, agradecido enormemente por su ayuda al aprobar mi solicitud economica,

By Adrian Q F

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Apr 14, 2021

It can appear short or kind of "easy" but it teaches some very important fundaments in a very natural way.

Your skills will improve depending on your discipline and practice schedule, but there is no better way to learn the subjects covered in this course

By Alex A

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Oct 10, 2018

This course has really opened op my creative potential and built my confidence in playing and songwriting/producing. Anyone who sees me taking the lessons or hears how much I'm enjoying what the course offers wants to take the course themselves!

By Vladimir H

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Sep 23, 2016

This course is a great introduction to music theory. I have been playing by ear for a long time and i now finally understand some of the things that i did before. I recommend this course to those that one to get a good foundation in music.

By Ishita P

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Jul 23, 2019

I have been able to develop the skills that I couldn't in my regular classes at a music academy. The practise questions and the teaching style is very thorough. I am really having fun learning and improving with every lesson every week.

By Xavier F

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Sep 29, 2022

Superb pedagogy from George. I resume learning music after a break of a few decades. And I must say that I absolutely understood everything. Taught with precision and lightness... very perfect, many thanks George. Many thanks. Xavier.

By El

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Jan 1, 2019

Loved the instructor. The songs he created really helped me retain the material. This course contained just the right intensity of challenge for me. I knew how to read music but had no formal music training since 5th grade.

By Eleanor E

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Oct 12, 2018

I love the teacher in these courses, he explains things very clearly. It has given me great ideas for my students in the future! Perfect course for beginners or people who want to clarify/simplify some musical concepts.