Berklee Online presents
The tragedy and comedy masks with a red curtain backdrop.

A Brief History of Musical Theater

In this excerpt from David Valdes’ Script Analysis for Theater course, learn a brief history of musical theater as well as common structure and themes in musicals.

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A professional video camera filming a concert

Cinematography Basics: Live Concerts, Music Videos, and Film

In this excerpt from Tal Lazar’s Berklee Online course Introduction to Digital Cinematography, learn about cinematography as it relates to live concerts, music videos, and film.

‘Thinking Out Loud’ about Copyright and Ed Sheeran with E. Michael Harrington

Forensic Musicologist and Berklee Online instructor E. Michael Harrington—a witness in the “Blurred Lines” case—on why he wouldn’t testify that Ed Sheeran violated “Let’s Get It On” copyright. … He was asked twice!

Applicant Advisor Quan Yao Lim.

An Applicant Advisor’s Scoop on Berklee Online’s Application Process

Behind every Berklee Online decision letter is a successfully completed application, and an Applicant Advisor who has reviewed it, like Quan Yao Lim. In this article, he elaborates on Berklee Online’s application process and shares some helpful tips to consider before hitting submit.

A man plays a chord progression on an acoustic guitar.

Common Chord Progressions and How to Make Them Your Own

Songwriting is an art form that requires creativity, imagination, and an understanding of music theory, but if we’re being honest, there’s also a degree of “fake it ‘til you make it.” And with that approach in mind, one technique you could try is to utilize classic chord progressions to write your own.

An illustration of a snare drum with a heart on it, two drum sticks in and X formation are behind the snare.

Top Drum Grooves—According to Berklee Online Faculty

We polled members of the Drum Department at Berklee on the drum grooves they love the most. Some of the usual suspects are there—Ringo and Bonzo—but some of their choices may surprise you. Drumroll, please! …

A woman plays a video game.

Video Game Design and the Playcentric Approach

In video game design, the playcentric approach puts the player experience at the center of the design process. Read why this matters in this course excerpt from Lori Landay’s Game Design Principles course.

Two songwriters work together to write topline for a song.

What is Topline Songwriting?

Topline is a specialized niche of songwriting where the focus is on melody, lyrics, and performance over a preexisting track/beat/sonic structure. Learn a bit of history of how the craft of topline has become a significant role in the creative space of the music industry.

A kitchen timer set to 25 minutes with a backdrop of tomatoes.

Pomodoro Technique and Your Music Practice Routine

There is a very well-known technique called the “Pomodoro Technique” that can help us stay focused and beat fatigue while we practice music. “Pomodoro” is Italian for tomato. Yes, we’re going to improve our efficiency one tomato at a time. Let’s explore how you can incorporate the Pomodoro Technique into your practice routine.

A voice leading paradigm showcases how musical notes switch on a musical staff.

Voice Leading Paradigms for Harmony in Music Composition

These voice leading examples provide guidelines to help you learn how to compose so each voice moves smoothly from note to note, while you create rich harmonic changes.