Leni Stern Finds a Universe of Rhythm

As part of Berklee's weeklong Guitar Sessions intensive, Leni Stern '80 gave a clinic and performance with pianist Leo Genovese and two other musicians. She began by inviting audience members to clap along with several different African beats. After each extended jam, Stern fielded questions from the audience. Ask me something! she urged.

Stern moved seamlessly from guitar to calabash drum and back again several times during the session. A native of Germany and an accomplished jazz musician, she has spent the past decade-plus exploring West African guitar and drum traditions. Sometimes I take the rhythm and I just put a melody to it, she said of experimenting with African beats. All these rhythms are so unusual, so different from what we hear in the West.

Encouraging students to practice their rhythm skills, Stern said she wished she'd done more of that as a student at Berklee. I went down to practice my rhythm three times a week, she said. I should have gone every day! She spoke about a whole universe of rhythm, adding, As a guitarist, I used to think rhythm was boring, compared to melody and harmony. But it's not!

Related categories:

News

Related Reading

Finding the Groove at DCU Berklee Today

Fall

2018

Volume

30

Number

2

Feel the One: Terri Lyne Carrington and Others Get Mystical with Jazz Advice The drum legend and Berklee professor put together a special ensemble to perform and field questions from students.

American Master Award Goes to Kathy Mattea Berklee Today

Spring

2019

Volume

30

Number

3

More from Berklee Now

Most Popular

Students Find Rainbow Connection at Newport Folk Berklee Instant Strings joined headlining musicians such as Trey Anastasio, Robin Pecknold, I'm With Her, and Kermit the Frog at Newport Folk Festival 2019.

Latest

Leni Stern Finds a Universe of Rhythm The jazz guitarist and Berklee alumna performed with her band and talked with students about working with West African rhythms.

Krystal Prime Banfield Named VP for Education Outreach and Social Entrepreneurship Banfield has been instrumental in empowering young people through music for more than 30 years.

Berklee Online Increases Rates of Female Students, Staff, and Instructors In the last two years, female enrollment at Berklee Online has increased by 65 percent.

Read All

Subscribe The latest sounds, stories, and ideas, sent to your inbox weekly.

Berklee Blogs

Facebook

Twitter

YouTube

Instagram

Snapchat

Soundcloud

Spotify

LINK:	https://www.berklee.edu/news/berklee-now/leni-stern-finds-universe-rhy...
	See more stories from berklee

North America Stories