Online Undergraduate-Level Course

Berklee Keyboard Method

Name: Berklee Keyboard Method
Brand: Course
SKU: 3-Credit Course (OPIAN-100)
Price: 1545 USD
Availability: InStock

Authored by Paul Schmeling

Course Code: OPIAN-100

Next semester
starts April 7

12 Weeks

Level 1

3-Credit Tuition

$1,545

Non-Credit Tuition

$1,290

Master the basics of Keyboard technique and chord voicings, and gain an understanding of more advanced concepts including blues progressions and playing three part chords in this 12-week course. Through exercises that explore the interpretation of lead sheets and chord symbols, the Berklee Keyboard Method will help you to improve your performance, harmonic vocabulary, and composition/arranging skills. By the end of the course you will be able to improvise over a lead sheet while comping chords with their appropriate voicings.

By the end of this course, you will:

Understand how to read treble clef, bass clef and play simple melodies on the grand staff
Understand accidentals and play the black keys on the keyboard
Increase your ability to read and play different notes simultaneously
Understand and play melodies with major and minor triads in right hand
Understand voice leading triads
Understand a lead sheet and play chords and bass with left hand
Add three-part chords to your playing
Understand altered 9ths, 13ths and Blues progressions

Read Less

Overview Syllabus Requirements Instructors Related Music Career Roles

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Syllabus

Lesson 1: Treble Clef

Treble clef notes related to keyboard
Right hand keyboard fingering numbers
Moving 5-note one hand position to various locations within treble clef
Playing a simple treble clef notated melody with right hand

Lesson 2: Bass Clef

Bass clef notes related to keyboard
Left hand keyboard fingering numbers
Moving 5-note one hand position to various locations within bass clef
Playing a simple bass clef melody with the left hand

Lesson 3: Grand Staff

Grand staff notes related to keyboard
Moving both hands to various 5-note positions on the grand staff
Playing simple one line melodies with both hands in octaves
Playing simple one line melodies switching hands and clefs

Lesson 4: The Black Keys/Accidentals

The black keys of the keyboard - their significance and location
Moving hand positions around which include accidentals creating major/minor tonalities
Playing simple one line melodies in octaves which include accidentals
Playing simple one line melodies switching clefs which include accidentals

Lesson 5: Independence Between Hands

Studies to Increase the Ability to Read and Play Different Notes Simultaneously
Rhythmic Independence Studies
Playing Two Notes Simultaneously in One or Both Hands

Lesson 6: Major and Minor Triads

Major and Minor Triads in Root Position
Inversions of Major and Minor Triads
Melodies with Major and Minor Triads in the Right Hand

Lesson 7: Voice Leading Triads

Diatonic Triads
Voice-Leading the I IV V Progression
The I VI II V I Diatonic Progression
Voice Leading the I VI II V I Progression

Lesson 8: Left-Hand Chord Playing

Voice Leading Left-Hand Chords
The Lead Sheet
The Left Hand as Both Chords and Bass

Lesson 9: Right-Hand Chord Playing

Voice Leading Right-Hand Chords
"Slash Chords"
Arpeggiating Right-Hand Chords

Lesson 10: IIm7 V7 Imaj7 Left-Hand Shells

The IIm7 V7 Imaj7 Progression
Left-Hand Shells
Using Left-Hand Shells to Support Right Hand Activity

Lesson 11: Using the 3rd and 7th of the IIm7, V7, Imaj7

Finding and Voice Leading the 3rd and 7th
Using the 3rd and 7th in the Right Hand with Left- Hand Bass
Using the 3rd and 7th to Support Melody

Lesson 12: Three-Part Chords

Adding the 9th and 13th to the Dominant 7th
Adding sus 4 to the Dominant 7th
Comping Patterns Using Three-Part Chords

Requirements

Prerequisites and Course-Specific Requirements

Prerequisite Courses, Knowledge, and/or Skills
At least one year of experience on a musical instrument is required.
Knowledge of basic pitch notation:

Letter names of notes
Some reading ability with one clef
Bar lines, measures, double bar lines, fine bar lines, repeats
Sharps, flats, naturals
Key signatures
Phrase markings
Few ledger lines
Knowledge of basic rhythm notation:
Note and rest values up to eighths
Their value in common meters like 4/4; 3/4
Dotted note values, ties
Some ability to read these rhythms
Knowledge of basic harmony:
Basic level of diatonic concepts (helpful but not absolutely necessary)
Major and minor scales
Seventh chords and chord construction, inversion

Textbook(s)

No textbooks required

Recording

Students are required to record video while playing along with a backing track for their assignments. Options for recording video include:
- Smartphone
- Digital camera
- External webcam
Note: The camera view must be from above, recording the keys right side up. It is imperative that the videos show the student's fingerings. You may need certain accessories to accomplish this, such as a goose-neck camera holder, tripod, etc.

Instrument

Piano or keyboard instrument with at least 61 keys and a sustain pedal
- If using a MIDI keyboard controller, a high-quality piano software instrument is also required.
- If using a digital piano or keyboard workstation without built in speakers, an audio interface or amplifier is also required.

Hardware

Students are required to capture their instrumental performance, as well as monitor audio output. Options include:
- Input (one required if not using MIDI and software instruments):
  - Keyboard connected directly to audio interface (recommended non-acoustic option; alternatively, the microphone options below can be used with amplified instruments)
  - XLR microphone and audio interface (recommended acoustic piano option)
  - USB microphone
  - Built-in computer/mobile device microphone
- Output (one required):
  - Headphones (recommended option; required if multitracking and/or input monitoring a microphone)
  - Studio monitors and audio interface
  - Built-in or external computer speakers
Note: Depending on your setup, you may also need XLR/instrument cables and microphone stand(s).

Student Deals
After enrolling, be sure to check out our Student Deals page for various offers on software, hardware, and more. Please contact support@online.berklee.edu with any questions.

General Course Requirements

Below are the minimum requirements to access the course environment and participate in Live Classes. Please make sure to also check the Prerequisites and Course-Specific Requirements section above, and ensure your computer meets or exceeds the minimum system requirements for all software needed for your course.

Mac Users

macOS Big Sur 11.0 or later

PC Users

Windows 10 or later

All Users

Latest version of Google Chrome
Zoom meeting software
Webcam
Speakers or headphones
External or internal microphone
Broadband Internet connection

Instructors

Paul Schmeling

Author

Paul Schmeling (1938-2024) was a master pianist, interpreter, improviser and arranger who inspired countless students since he began teaching at Berklee in 1961. He has performed or recorded with jazz greats such as Clark Terry, Rebecca Parris, George Coleman, Carol Sloane, Frank Foster, Art Farmer, Herb Pomeroy, Phil Wilson, Dick Johnson and Slide Hampton. In the 1990s, the Paul Schmeling Trio released two inventive and critically acclaimed albums, interpreting the music of Hoagy Carmichael and songs associated with Frank Sinatra. He was chair of the piano department for 40 years, and he co-authored the Berklee Practice Method: Keyboard (2001) and Instant Keyboard (2002) and on his own he wrote Berklee Music Theory: Book 1.

Ross Ramsay

Instructor

James Ross Ramsay, faculty in the Piano department at Berklee College of Music, has been teaching piano for 25 years, and has been included in the "Who's Who List of American Teachers" several times. He composes and produces music for local and nationally broadcast television, radio, cable, and video programs, and has been a featured soloist on piano and keyboards with various artists touring throughout the United States and Europe. Ramsay is a product specialist and clinician for Yamaha Corporation of America, Digital Musical Instruments, and Pro Audio Division. He received a Bachelor of Music from Berklee College of Music in 1986.

Suzanna Sifter

Instructor

Suzanna Sifter is a jazz pianist, author, and educator who has been on faculty at Berklee College of Music for 30 years. She holds a BM from Berklee and Master’s Degree from New England Conservatory.

Suzanna has traveled extensively with Berklee to places such as Europe, South America, the US, Canada and Japan giving master classes and performing. Suzanna has five recordings as a leader, composer, and arranger: Flowers for You, Awakening, The Illumination, Sophisticated Lady, and the play along CD to her book, Berklee Jazz Keyboard Harmony: Using Upper Structure Triads. The second edition of Suzanna's book was released through Hal Leonard/Berklee Press in May 2015.

Suzanna has performed with John La Porta,, Alan Dawson, John Lockwood, Yoron Israel, Dave Clark, and recorded with Casey Scheuerell, Jon Hazilla, Bruce Gertz, Dino Govoni, Tony Lada, Larry Monroe, and Greg Badolato. Her compositions have been featured on “In the Library” (D. Govoni) and “On the Edge” (T. Lada).

Suzanna's fifth recording, Sophisticated Lady, is a musical tribute to her late mother and was released in July 2018. It features luminous solo jazz piano with relaxing yet poignant improvisations and arrangements. Read Less

Hey Rim Jeon

Instructor

Ever since she began publicly performing in Korea at the age of nine, pianist and composer Hey Rim Jeon's outstanding musical talents have led to significant recognition in the international jazz community. Described as a “brilliant pianist” by legendary saxophonist Benny Golson, Ms. Jeon has been featured on NBC’s “Weekend Today in New York”, and KBN, Korea’s National TV network channel. As a leader of her own band, Hey Rim Jeon & Friends, she has performed both nationally and internationally. Her album, “Mona Lisa Puzzle”, has been described as an “intense, intelligent statement…” by Bill Milkowski of Jazz Times, won the Best Jazz Album category in the 2009 New England Urban Music Awards, and reached CD Baby’s Top 10 Modern Creative Jazz Albums list. As a recipient of Berklee’s prestigious Mentorship Award in 2021, Ms. Jeon has been serving as a Professor in the Piano Department at Berklee College of Music since 2010.