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Learner Reviews & Feedback for Developing Your Musicianship by Berklee

4.8
stars
1,294 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

KA

Apr 13, 2020

Hands down the best music theory course I've ever taken. I had trouble with understanding theory in the past, but this course has made it so incredibly easy. I'm so happy with the results!

VB

Jul 15, 2019

I really appreciate the hands-on approach. By diving into creating and recording simple compositions - as well as doing ear training - the theory part became alive and FUN.

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226 - 250 of 420 Reviews for Developing Your Musicianship

By Edidiong A

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Mar 21, 2024

It is a great course, that guides on the essence of music.

By Mạnh Đ C

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May 10, 2021

Helps me kickstart my musical adventure. HIGHLY RECOMMEND!

By Marcos S

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Sep 16, 2018

Pude practicar y fijar conceptos que no tenía muy claros.

By Pascal P

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Apr 12, 2020

I liked that the course was very practical and hands on.

By Audrey D

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Feb 3, 2019

Fantastic course! Both full of sound learning and fun :)

By Leticia S M

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Jul 13, 2017

I loved it, and the professor was absolutely delightful.

By Ani V

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Aug 27, 2020

Great course, amazing teacher, very helpful. Thank you!

By Antonio N

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Nov 11, 2019

Thank you very much to Professor George W. Russell, Jr.

By Julien A

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Dec 14, 2020

Fantastic Course but made easier by a Fantastic Tutor.

By Алена Т

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Sep 26, 2018

It's very interesting and informative course! Amazing!

By Jerome B

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Dec 14, 2017

This advertisement for Berkley Online is incredible ;)

By Yevgeniy L

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Feb 20, 2017

Great for the very start in music theory and practice.

By Андрей Ч

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Jul 11, 2022

A cool course that expands the musical consciousness!

By nyakotey n

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Apr 6, 2021

Very good for both beginners and intermediate players

By ALP

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Sep 15, 2020

Loved the 12 Bar Blues Chord pattern in this course !

By Andersonn P

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May 4, 2018

The instructor is a wizard haha I enjoyed very much.

By Ca

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Jan 12, 2018

nice course which helps me build up the fundamentals

By Chiara

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May 29, 2017

Excellent work done by the group administrator, Samy

By Nathaniel �

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Jun 8, 2019

I had fun and i enjoyed my practice. Great teacher!

By Alejandro P M

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Jan 4, 2019

Awesome! A great way to improve your musical skills

By Julianna A

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Sep 30, 2020

Great professor! Very engaging & easy to follow :)

By mahmudulsajal s

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May 24, 2020

Very good course . I have learned many of things .

By Dr. K N S

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Jun 4, 2020

Excellent course and excellent mentor as well ...

By Matias A R G

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Oct 12, 2025

Very helpful, interesting, and full of knowledge