What do Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Kung Fu Panda: The Dragon Knight, and Gabby’s Dollhouse have in common? Emmy-winning music supervisor Vivian Aguiar-Buff helped shape their sound. In this deep-dive interview, the Music Supervision and Film Scoring instructor reflects on her path from law school dropout to Remote Control Productions, the secrets behind music supervision, and why being part of a creative team means leaving your ego at the door.
As a musician, not all of your practice will be on your instrument. Some of it will be in your head, and some of it may even be on objects that just look like your instrument. We call this mental practice, and in this excerpt from Barbara LaFitte’s Practicing Techniques for Musicians course, the former principal oboist in the Boston Ballet Orchestra shares tips on how to practice your instrument when you just aren’t able to actually play your instrument.
Earth Day is April 22, and now is a great time to listen to songs about climate change and the environment, to reflect on ways we can lean into our collective responsibility.
Cindy Blackman became Lenny Kravitz’s drummer after a lifetime of jazz drumming. In this wide-ranging interview she discusses being visited by the spirits of the jazz greats she befriended during her time in New York City, and how she and husband Carlos Santana stay in harmony, onstage and off.
Get Insider Tips on Music Careers and Berklee Online Programs at Our Live Webinar
On Wednesday, July 29 at 1 PM ET, you’re invited to join songwriting instructor Rodney Alejandro for a free, hour-long Q&A. You can ask him about his vast experience in the music industry as a touring keyboardist and as a topline songwriter, or you can ask him about his brand new Songwriting Fundamentalscourse. If you need additional inspiration, you can read his extensive Take Note Q&A from 2025.
Live Q&A sessions are intended to help you learn more about Berklee Online’s offerings and meet the people who advise, teach, and lead at the world’s largest online music college. To save your spot and to set a calendar reminder before the next event, click below.
If you missed the previous live Q&A session with special guest Julia Michels, or if you would like to watch it again, the entire session is now available for playback.
Julia Michels is a Grammy Award-winning music supervisor at Format Entertainment. Her films have garnered both critical acclaim and over $2 billion in worldwide ticket sales. After leadership roles at Capitol Records, Twentieth Century Fox, EMI, and MGM, she built a successful career as an independent music supervisor. She won a Grammy in 2020 for A Star Is Born and has received numerous honors from the Guild of Music Supervisors and the Hollywood Music in Media Awards. Her credits also include both Devil Wears Prada films, as well as the movies in the Pitch Perfect and Sex and the City franchises, The Greatest Showman, Trolls, and many more.
Please note: If you happen to be visiting this page when either of the links for “REGISTER NOW” or “WATCH THE PREVIOUS LIVE Q&A” are not clickable, please check back shortly and the latest links will be live soon.
