Chairs

• 

  Ron Savage, Chair

  Title: Chair

  Department: Ensemble

  "To prepare for the current music scene, where boundaries are constantly being crossed and new music created, it is important that we expose our students to as many different musical perspectives as possible. That's why the Ensemble Department is so stylistically diverse."

  "I like teaching at Berklee because I like the challenges and rewards of successfully helping young people make music happen.

  "There are many facets to successfully running an ensemble. Focusing on individual development while also accomplishing group objectives, mixing the technical aspects of playing and learning repertoire while inspiring the creative subconscious of each student, these are some of the things that every successful ensemble teacher does.

  "To prepare for the current music scene, where boundaries are constantly being crossed and new music created, it is important that we expose our students to as many different musical perspectives as possible. That's why the Ensemble Department is so stylistically diverse.

  "Some of the highlights of my performance career have been touring with Mulgrew Miller and Gary Bartz, performing with Johnny Griffin, Joe Zawinul, Albert King, Art Farmer, Nnenna Freelon, James Williams, Bill Pierce, James Moody, and many of my contemporaries. I think it's only natural that one reflects on their personal experiences when teaching music. Having performed with many of the jazz legends, I think all of my teaching is geared toward helping students launch a performing career of their own."

  • Alumnus, Berklee College of Music
  • Numerous concert, jazz festival, television, and theater performances
  • Recordings with Christopher Hollyday, Cecilia Smith, and Patrice Williamson
  • Appearances with Gary Bartz, Don Braden, Don Byron, Cyrus Chestnut, Kurt Elling, Jon Faddis, Art Farmer, Nnenna Freelon, Christian McBride, Marian McPartland, Mulgrew Miller, Bill Pierce, Vanessa Rubin, Mark Whitfield, James Williams, Phil Woods, and Joe Zawinul and the Czech State Philharmonic Orchestra Brno

  Related Links:

  • Instant Drum Set
  • Berklee Practice Method - Drum Set - Get Your Band Together
  • Snared by Jazz

  Read More
• 

  Sean K. Skeete, Assistant Chair

  Title: Assistant Chair *

  Department: Ensemble

  "I've been mentoring with City Music since I started teaching here, five years ago. It really just lines up with my life philosophy, which is engaging and inspiring the next generation. Whether or not I'm doing it at Berklee I'm doing it somewhere, because it's part of the way I was raised. I was one of those City Music students at one point, involved in the five-week program. Now I go back and help out the students that are coming behind me and help the program to expand and grow."

  "My approach to teaching is encouraging students to share what their needs are. For me it's really important to have a colearning atmosphere. What do you need, where are you at? Once I assess that I can meet their needs. I stress proactivity. Ask questions. Challenge things. I want you to be fully engaged. We're not going to waste fifteen weeks—not with me. It's too much money.

  "Sometimes students have unique voices, but they're really afraid to put themselves out there. I try to create an environment to draw that out there. If the only thing they get is the sense that I'm totally free and liberated, regardless of what mistakes I make when I play or what other people are thinking, everything else is just gravy. Yes, we've got to get the note accuracy, the rhythmic accuracy, but those to me are secondary, because the lesson I want them to have is intent versus content. I want some feeling, some attitude, some life experience in their playing. That's what makes music music.

  "I've been mentoring with City Music since I started teaching here, five years ago. It really just lines up with my life philosophy, which is engaging and inspiring the next generation. Whether or not I'm doing it at Berklee I'm doing it somewhere, because it's part of the way I was raised. I was one of those City Music students at one point, involved in the five-week program. Now I go back and help out the students that are coming behind me and help the program to expand and grow.

  "I do about two to three gigs a week, locally and sometimes abroad. They vary. Next month is the Boston Symphony Orchestra, but next week is somebody's wedding. I'm always thinking in terms of students going out and working. These are the skills that you've got to have together to go out and work. Because it doesn't make any sense to get in debt at Berklee and then leave here and work at McDonald's. You get an opportunity here that many kids around the world would like to have, and you've got to take advantage of it."

  • B.M., Berklee College of Music
  • Performances with Oleta Adams, Alvin Ailey Dance Theater, Teodross Avery, Freda Battle, Walter Beasley, Blue Man Group, Boston Pops, Boston Symphony, Will Downing, Stephen Hurd, Rueben Rogers, Stomp, Vinx, and Marvin Winans
  • Recordings include Elan Trotman's Memories and the George Russell Trio's Schlickness

  * Part-time faculty member