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Learner Reviews & Feedback for Developing Your Musicianship by Berklee

4.8
stars
1,290 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

TL

Aug 5, 2022

Great introduction with just enought challenge to keep me interested although I was already famailiar with most of the content. I am looking forward to the second course in this series.

EP

Mar 2, 2018

i do not own a printer, which made this class a bit of a challenge at first to get the sheet paper submitted.. but I liked the course content and the teacher has a great energy to him and his work.

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126 - 150 of 419 Reviews for Developing Your Musicianship

By Sudha B

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Oct 25, 2020

I really enjoyed this class mainly because of the positive and encouraging nature of the instructor. Thank you Berklee <3

By Sihara J

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Mar 30, 2021

The course taught me lots of basic to new knowledge. The instructor was excellent and lively. Thank you, it was amazing.

By Rodrigo G

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Sep 13, 2021

Its a good option to start playing piano and get closer to music! For those musicians who need to strengthen the bases.

By Christoph A

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Jan 13, 2020

This course is fantatstic. The teacher is great and it is sooo much fun learning with him. I've got the "Blues" now :)

By vida.hodanu39@btinternet.com

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Jul 28, 2016

Because I did not purchased the course, I was not able to do the quizzes, however I learned something about the Blues.

By ALDO F Z E

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Nov 8, 2020

It´s the best course to start as a musician. Very useful and brings the theory required to start your musical career.

By Martin V

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Jul 30, 2020

Wonderful course experience...Thanks to the instructor, his personality is musical...liked and learnt every bit of it

By Oluwasegun A

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Nov 1, 2020

The instructor made the courses really fun and less stressful. I love the l his approach, twas a very practical one.

By Shunyo J

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Aug 2, 2016

And intro to theory made fun and practical. The ear training is fantastic. Love Berklee's approach. Thank you! :)

By Tormod A

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Sep 14, 2020

Quite basic stuff and just the kind I needed.

I wish I had paid more attention to these things when I was younger.

By Ysanai Y M A

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Jul 6, 2018

I believe this was very well organized and it was very helpful. I really enjoyed the instructor. Thanks a lot

By Vladimir M

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Nov 19, 2019

It is a great course for begginer! If you starting to learn how to play , you must register on this course!

By Gilberto S

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Sep 30, 2017

excellent course, I helped a lot to develop the concepts of harmony, ear training and musical perception

By Kim R

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Dec 5, 2016

So far, I have been learning a lot from this course! my musical knowledge has definitely been improving.

By Wai L L

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Oct 6, 2016

Thank you Coursera. I'm really happy to have a course with Berklee, I'll keep going to learn more at .

By Armando C

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Jun 21, 2021

I wish i had more time, i feel i learned a lot, but still is on me to practice and learn more. Thanks

By Donna M

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Feb 23, 2018

Amazing teacher! Great videos and quizzes. Thank you George for seriously developing my musicianship.

By Charaiveti (

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Dec 31, 2017

Great course, valuable lessons taught in a light but precise manner. Thanks, prof. Russel & Coursera!

By yellow C

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Feb 9, 2025

As a person who didn't study harmony, I found this course interesting. Mr. Russel is a great teacher

By Carlos G D C

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Dec 30, 2020

This course was awesome!!! Was fun and if you haven't know theoretical music this course is for you.

By Jorge G

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Nov 13, 2020

Es un excelente curso, dictado de una manera muy didactica y facil de comprender. Lo disfruté mucho.

By Aneela M

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Oct 8, 2020

i like it very much .

i was easy to understand and also i had fun while listen to the music.thank you

By Janette F

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May 29, 2019

This is a great course. The instructor is excellent and makes the learning both challenging and fun.

By Laurie I

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Jun 15, 2022

This class was wonderful! I learned so much and the instructor kept the course fun and interesting.

By Edgar A P A F B

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May 20, 2021

Very well organized course. Good material, excellent explanations, GREAT TEACHER (Very inspiring)!