Matt's Teaching PhilosophyView All Posts
Educational Programs Overview
MATT’S TEACHING PHILOSOPHY
A little over 10 years ago I joined the piano faculty at one of the world’s leading colleges dedicated to the study of contemporary music: Berklee College of Music (Boston, USA). During that time I have learned a great deal about teaching and have found that ultimately learning is as much about discovering who you are as an individual, as it is about acquiring technical ability on your instrument. As a teacher of the arts I believe we must first learn the rules that man-kind has established only to break them in the name of expressing our deepest selves with an eye (or ear as it were) towards expressing the universal.
I believe that the learning process should be a lot of fun! Because I am excited about what I teach, when I have students who are also excited, sparks fly. A good deal of my time teaching is spent helping students develop technique and style on keyboard instruments: piano, Hammond organ and synthesizers. I specialize in teaching Afro-Cuban styles, Jazz, Blues, Rock, and Reggae including learning theory, improvisation and arranging in these styles. Perhaps my deepest passion is developing the discipline and teamwork of groove ensemble playing with the goal of unleashing an ecstatic communication with fellow band members and the audience. Whether in the ensemble or individual setting, I provide a systematic and disciplined road map to follow with clearly defined goals and extremely helpful hand-outs to aid in this process.
My style of teaching comes from a core belief that every student is an equal on this planet and has a unique voice. By definition a musician is someone who is in the realm of looking inward, daring to plumb the tender depths of self-discovery and expression. Such a pursuit can leave the student feeling vulnerable and exposed and I take care to create an inclusive and supportive atmosphere where confidence in the process of learning can build.
In the end, great music and art is much, if not more, about a committed and aware life than it is about technical achievement and material success. In a society that is so centered around acceptance that is too heavily based on external cues, we now find the human race and the earth upon which we live at a spiritual and environmental cross roads. Our deepest strength resides in our creative abilities, precisely the abilities that musicians aim to develop. Whether one is pursuing music as a career or as an avocation I take great joy and inspiration in sharing the educational experience in a field (music!) that can cross all boundaries and make the world a better place!
Educational programs MATT JENSON
THE MUSIC AND LIFE OF BOB MARLEY CLASS
Bob Marley class link
About 10 years ago I had the opportunity to create a class (at Berklee and in other locations) about one of my biggest musical influences: BOB MARLEY. In this class, called “The Music and Life of Bob Marley,” I take an in-depth study of his life, maintaining the utmost respect for the soulfulness of his music and for his message of LOVE and resistance to oppression.
The story of Bob Marley’s life, despite the many contradictions and sometimes hard to understand realities that surrounded him, can be seen as one of a true modern day sage who remained committed to his vision of raising consciousness through music. His music is so powerful and expansive that it transcends the very idiom from which it came because it has the ability to communicate regardless of language, race, religion or nationalistic boundaries. The recordings and performances of Bob Marley and his band represent near perfection in terms of groove music and spirit-ful production. Rhythmic layering, one of the legacies of the African musical Diaspora, is presented in such gritty precision that its study is imperative and a great joy to experience.
The class consists of roughly 15 singers and instrumentalists who take a biographical tour of Marley’s fascinating life, and then rigorously rehearse in preparation for performance(s).
Aided by inspiring audio / video examples, students learn about the evolution of Marley’s career and the socio-political circumstances from which his music and ideas arose. Students also learn the discipline of playing reggae music in a large ensemble where the emphasis is on working together as they layer specific rhythmic and melodic parts. I have written meticulous arrangements taken directly from Marley recordings and include some additional horn parts, some subtle re-harmonization’s and some new introductions and endings.
Ultimately, students take from this class a deeper understanding of Marley’s life, of how to play reggae music, a greater understanding of the inner workings of great pop song writing, a broader understanding of both current and historical global and local politics, and a notion to think seriously, through Marley’s example, about what it is they are saying with their own musical talents.
I offer this class as anything from a 3-day to week-long intensive workshop. Please contact me for details.
LATIN PIANO LAB
Latin Piano Lab link
For many piano players learning to play Afro-Cuban music can be like walking into an impossible maze where the first beat of the bar is nowhere to be found and trying to play a properly syncopated montuno for more than 4 measures is like trying to ride the most crazed rodeo bull on the planet.
I have been playing in Salsa and Latin Jazz bands for some 15 years now and teaching this Latin piano lab (at Berklee College of Music and at other locations) for 9 years. I didn’t grow up having a pair of maraca’s, clave’s or a set of conga’s etc., placed in my hands at the family get together where EVERYONE was jamming and dancing. Because learning to play Latin music was not presented to me in such an organic atmosphere where I could absorbs it like water through the skin, I had to methodically deconstruct every nuance of the style in order to play it properly and this has allowed me to develop a very effective method for teaching Afro-Cuban piano playing.
In this class I clear the clouds away with a very concise and understandable description of how Salsa-based Latin music works with a focus on Salsa and Cha Cha Cha styles. You will learn how to play a montuno in both 2-3 and 3-2 clave directions. You will learn what rhythms to listen for in the percussion section that determine how your montuno will properly fall. You’ll even learn a basic Salsa and Cha Cha Cha dance step, which is essential to understanding how to play this music properly. Playing montunos is a physically demanding activity that can lead to serious hand/arm injuries. I will give you technique tips to help avoid this. And finally I’ll show you stylized vocabulary for more advanced montuno playing and solo ideas for both Salsa based playing and Latin jazz playing.
PRIVATE INSTRUCTION / ENSEMBLE COACHING
I offer private instruction on piano and Hammond organ, exploring beginning through advanced concepts in jazz, Afro-Cuban, pop and rock style improvisation and comping. Much of my approach starts with Blues since this style forms the back bone of much of western popular music. I have developed many extremely helpful educational hand-outs explaining anything from jazz II-V-I voice-leading, to blues vocabulary, to the essentials of swing, to upper structure triad application, to chord-scale and mode study and more. They are yours to keep! In addition I enjoy coaching small to mid sized ensembles in the above mentioned styles. Lastly, as a composer, lyricist and arranger, I offer my insights and teaching in these realms.
CONTACT ME IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS OR WOULD LIKE TO BOOK A CLINIC
Music and Life of Bob Marley ClassView All Posts
The Music and Life of Bob Marley Class
Matt Jenson, assistant professor of piano at the Berklee College of Music in Boston, MA has created a class entitled “The Music and Life of Bob Marley” takes an in-depth study of his life, maintaining the utmost respect for the soulfulness of his music and for his message of LOVE and resistance to oppression.
Find out where the ensemble is performing here: SCHEDULE
The story of Bob Marley’s life, despite the many contradictions and hard to understand realities that surrounded him, can be seen as one of a true modern day sage who remained committed to his vision of raising consciousness through music. His music is so powerful and expansive that it transcends the very idiom from which it came because it has the ability to communicate regardless of language, race, gender, religion or nationalistic boundaries. The recordings and performances of Bob Marley and his band represent near perfection in terms of groove music and spirit-ful production. Rhythmic layering, one of the legacies of the African musical Diaspora, is presented in such gritty precision that its study is imperative and a great joy to experience.
The Latin Piano LabView All Posts
Matt’s Latin Piano Lab
For many piano players learning to play Afro-Cuban music can be like walking into an impossible maze where the first beat of the bar is nowhere to be found and trying to play a properly syncopated montuno for more than 4 measures is like trying to ride the most crazed rodeo bull on the planet.
Matt Jenson has been playing in Salsa and Latin Jazz based bands for some 15 years now and teaching this Latin piano lab (at Berklee College of Music and at other locations) for 9 years. He didn’t grow up having a pair of maracca’s, clave’s or a set of conga’s etc., placed in his hands at the family get together where EVERYONE was jamming and dancing. Because learning to play Latin music was not presented in such an organic atmosphere where one absorbs it like water through the skin, Matt had to methodically deconstruct every nuance of the style in order to play it properly. He took the care to remember all of the steps he took and experiences he had on the band stand which allowed him to achieve a deep understanding and as a result this fantastic class was born!
In this class Matt clears the clouds away with a very concise and understandable description of how Salsa-based Latin music works with a focus on Salsa and Cha Cha Cha styles. You will learn how to play a montuno in both 2-3 and 3-2 clave directions. You will learn what rhythms to listen for in the percussion section that determine how your montuno will properly fall. You’ll even learn a basic Salsa and Cha Cha Cha dance step which is essential to understanding how to play this music properly. Playing montunos is a physically demanding activity that can lead to serious hand/arm injuries. Matt will give you technique tips to help avoid this. And finally he’ll show you stylized vocabulary for more advanced montuno playing and solo ideas for both Salsa based playing and Latin jazz playing.
