As a woodwind player majoring in performance, you will learn the skills, concepts, and methodology sufficient to demonstrate a level of proficiency on your principal instrument typical of that generally required in professional performance. You'll achieve this through private lessons, which include proficiency-based final exams, instrumental or vocal labs, and performance studies classes.
You will complete a performance portfolio, including a juried senior recital (supported by recital preparation lessons and classes) that meets current professional performance standards. Most students also engage in extracurricular and cocurricular concert performances, and each performance major participates in ensembles and public performances in the college’s recital halls and venues such as the Berklee Performance Center.
As a performance major, you'll attend recital classes and take specialized courses in ear training and harmonic applications designed to develop your improvisational skills. You'll also participate in classes given by visiting master performers. Through these activities and interactions, you will develop an aesthetic and critical understanding of the meaning of quality performance and be able to define quality—in both your work and the work of others—using technical and interpretive musical criteria. In addition to these classes and activities, you'll grow as a woodwinds player through opportunites that may include recording sessions, on- and off-campus concerts, festivals, and tours.
As a woodwinds player, you will develop a sufficient theoretical, conceptual, and philosophical background in your instrument to be able to cope with and adjust to changes in the professional music environment. You will achieve both a competency on the entire woodwind instrumental family as well as a diverse stylistic range so that you are prepared for the rigors of a performance career and are an effective performer in all musical venues.
