Stefano Marchese

Pronouns: he/him/his

Hometown: Pescara, Italy

Current employer/position: assistant professor at Berklee College of Music; music teacher at the Eliot K-8 Innovation School, Boston, Massachusetts

Berklee graduate program: M.M. in music education

Undergraduate schools: Berklee College of Music, University of Roma Tre

Undergraduate major: contemporary writing and production (Berklee), theater direction (Roma Tre)

Principal instrument: voice

Languages spoken (other than English): Italian

Why did you choose Berklee’s graduate program?

When I decided to enroll in a master’s in music education, I was already teaching in public schools. I was looking for a master’s program that could better support me in my practice and at the same time project me towards the next steps in my career. This program has the right combination of curriculum and high-profile faculty. At the same time, I was looking for a high-quality program that would allow me the flexibility needed for studying while teaching, in order to keep my position. I had no doubt that this would be the right choice. 

What was the most valuable thing you learned during your master’s program at Berklee?

Thanks to experienced professors, I have learned about the contemporary issues in music education. Among these, the most valuable was learning about urban issues in music education. That class shaped the work that I have developed in the following years and led to publications and presentations at several conferences. 

Briefly describe a memorable moment from your time in the graduate program.

I was always interested in developing strategies that could widen the access to my instructions, in order to reach all learners. I knew that technology often plays a fundamental role in this. While studying how to teach music to students with disabilities, I had the pleasure to be part of a tech workshop where the students had to use technology (iPads, MIDI controllers) to play a tune as an ensemble. 

How do you use the skills acquired during your master’s program in your current teaching position?

Attending this program was the best choice ever. I had the good fortune to teach while studying, therefore I had the opportunity to apply the skills I acquired immediately and to iterate in order to best improve my practice. 

What are your goals as an educator? Did your experience at Berklee help further those goals?

After attending this program, it was natural for me to continue my studies and pursue a doctorate in music education. Thanks to the high expectations and the high standards of this program, I felt ready to reach new heights. I can see how this experience prepared me to be an educator who cares and is always willing to improve and learn. Besides my position at Boston Public Schools, I am also a Berklee faculty member and a doctorate candidate at UMass Amherst.