Faculty Biography
John McGann
Title: Associate Professor *
Department: Strings
"At Berklee, we offer the unique opportunity to study with master musicians across a spectrum of styles, from all periods of classical music through the cornucopia of styles found in rock, blues, and various ethnic traditions (each with very specific sub-styles) such as Latin, Balkan, Irish, African, etc., as well as the great variety of indigenous American idioms within jazz and bluegrass (with its associated tributaries of old time and Texas contest styles). Not to mention great music that is, as Duke Ellington might say, 'beyond category.'
"The recently launched acoustic string program (mandolin, banjo, and harp, with an associated mandolin/guitar dual principal) allows us to address the needs of contemporary musicians by deepening their roots in traditional styles while exposing them to a the vast range of music. While the banjo and mandolin are most strongly identified with bluegrass, the possibilities for these instruments are only limited by the imagination of the player. In addition to addressing technique and musicianship, we explore improvisation from a variety of angles, including harmonically based ('playing from the changes') as well as melodic variation and development.
"I truly enjoy exposing students to great music they haven't yet discovered. Opening new doors for people is one of the joys of teaching."
- Founding member of the Wayfaring Strangers, Boston Edge, Rust Farm, Beacon Hillbillies, the Dactyls
- U.S. National Mandolin Champion 1986, Winfield, Kansas; winner of numerous regional guitar and mandolin contests
- Board of Directors, Traditional Music Foundation
- International performances with Celtic Fiddle Festival, Sam Bush, Karan Casey, Seamus Connolly, Paddy Cronin, Seamus Egan, Bill Evans, David Grisman, Martin Hayes, Darol Anger, Yoshirio Arita, John Blake, the Boston Pops, Utah Symphony, Dave Mattacks, the Time Jumpers, and Stefan Wrembel
- Recordings include solo album Upslide (Green Linnet), The Boston Edge (Mapleshade), The Man Behind the Box (Mapleshade), and the Wayfaring Strangers’ This Train (Rounder)
- Compositions and arrangements for the Boston Pops, the Utah Symphony, New Philharmonia, Annika Lückebergfeld/JZO Orchestra, and Childsplay
- Major publications include Developing Melodic Variations on Fiddle Tunes: Guitar and Mandolin Editions (Mel Bay), Guide to Octave Mandolin (Mel Bay), Joaquin Murphey Classic Western Swing Steel Guitar Solos; Rhythm Tune Up DVD; Rhythm Mandolin DVD; and Sound Fundamentals DVD (distributed by Mel Bay)
- House transcriber for David Grisman's Acoustic Disc