
Student Spotlight: Anthony Miller The steelpan player and performance major talks about how ear training courses changed how he hears music, forming a group with his roommates, and some of his current favorite songs.
By
Editorial Staff
July 18, 2023
Image courtesy of Anthony Miller
What's it like to study at Berklee? Our Student Spotlight series asks current students all about their Berklee experience-what they're learning in class, what kinds of projects they're involved in onstage or behind the scenes, how they recharge, and of course, what they're listening to. This week, meet Anthony Miller, a fifth-semester steelpan player and percussion performance major from Trincity, Trinidad and Tobago.
Tell us about your path to Berklee. What made you decide to come here? During the beginning of the pandemic in 2020 I started reflecting a lot on what field of study I wanted to pursue after secondary school. I'd been a musical individual since I was about 8 years old and coming to Berklee had always been in the back of my mind. I decided to apply to Berklee by the end of 2021 as I began to realize that I just couldn't see myself pursuing anything else. The pandemic was a very liminal space in time where I felt very uncertain about my place in life, but the idea that I could attend Berklee in the near future gave me hope.
Whats been your favorite class so far, and what has it taught you? My favorite class so far has been Ear Training. I started in my first semester with Ear Training 2 with Catherine Bent as my professor (I also took her for Ear Training 3 and 4). The ear training curriculum has honestly changed the way that I hear and interpret music. My aural skills have never been better because of it, and I find myself applying those skills in my other classes here at Berklee and throughout my everyday life. Catherine would have very diverse musical examples to share with the class and truly showed how the elements learned in ear training manifest themselves in various musical genres.
Whats a project youve worked on since coming to Berklee that youve been especially excited about? My three roommates and I recently formed this entity called Symphony Sounds. We make music together as well as have begun collaborating with other artists to further boost their content online. My favorite part about this is regularly meeting and working with a diverse set of musicians.
Watch Symphony Sounds version of Nonames Montego Bae:
How do you typically recharge or find new ideas outside of class? For me, going on walks helps my brain to calm and reset my brain. I typically find it difficult to come up with new musical ideas if my mind is not clear or rested, and going for a nice stroll, even if it's for just five minutes, is what really helps me regulate and recharge.
What careers are you interested in pursuing in the future? I look forward to becoming a touring musician so that I can share my music with the world, which will also give me the chance to have others share their music with me. Additionally, I hope to continue composing and arranging music for steeplan as well as other different instrumental ensembles.
When you think towards your own future, who inspires you most? My parents are my two biggest inspirations. I am extremely grateful for the faith and confidence that they have in me, and I know that they would have supported me regardless of what career path I chose. I also admire how much they've accomplished as they've pursued so much in their respective fields as well as raising my sister and me.
Whats one piece of advice youd give to your high school self? Don't try to have your whole life planned out before you graduate. While it's important to be efficient in this life, that doesn't necessarily mean that you should rush to plan everything. There are always going to be curveballs thrown your way, and you'll need to adapt accordingly. Continue to be more adaptable so that you can fully take advantage of as many interactions and opportunities as possible.
Anthonys Top Songs Right Now We asked Anthony to pick five of his current favorite songs and tell us a bit about why he selected each. Here's what he said:
1. We Might Even Be Balling in Love (Interlude), Victoria Mon t
I love the horn countermelody in the background and how it interacts with Victoria Mon t's soothing voice. I wish this song was longer and not just an interlude, but I think the short length does make one appreciate it more.
2. Shadow Dance, Adan Hagley
I'm a big fan of all of Adan Hagley's music, but Shadow Dance has such a nice pulse to it. I also like how the chord progression is reminiscent of traditional jazz as well as calypso music.
3. I Adore You, esperanza spalding
I just love the bass solo that esperanza delivers in this one. I also like the strong vocal presence, but as there's no lyrics being sung, it gives a different type of authenticity in my opinion.
4. Where the Nubians Grow, Endea Owens
This song is just very soothing to me, and it always puts me in a relaxed mood. I think more people need to hear the work of Endea Owens.
5. Live Yuh Life (Like Yuh Playing Mas), Kes featuring David Rudder I love the message of this song. In Trinidad and Tobago, when people play mas [short for masquerader band] for Carnival, it is such a jovial occasion. Since Carnival is just once a year, the main hook of the song, Live yuh life like yuh playing mas, is saying that we should maintain that joy and positivity all year long.
Related Categories
News
Student Spotlight
Most Popular
Illustration by Dana Smith
Music Licensing 101: How to Sync Your Music Learn how to create syncable music, stand out to music supervisors, and negotiate sync deals with these tips and insights from music licensing experts.
Latest
Renowned Pr
More from Berklee
09/05/2025
Berklee Popular Music Institute Announces UK Festival Debut and Tour Dates For the first time, BPMI will bring Berklee-affiliated artists and students to the ...
08/05/2025
Student Spotlight: Grigori Balasanyan The Armenian composer, who was named Boston Conservatory at Berklees 2025 student commencement speaker, talks about his ...
02/05/2025
Students, Alumni, and Faculty Represent Berklee at International Computer Music ...
02/05/2025
Four Boston Conservatory Alumni Nominated for Tony Awards Fifteen alumni from Boston Conservatory at Berklee and Berklee College of Music contributed to nomin...
30/04/2025
Tania Le n and Kelli O'Hara to be Honored at Boston Conservatory at Berklee&...
30/04/2025
Andr 3000 and Sara Bareilles to Receive Honorary Doctorates at Berklee College ...
25/04/2025
Listen to Kim Perlak and Francisco Mela's New Album, Recorded in a Single Af...
24/04/2025
Berklee in Puerto Rico Program to Host 30th Anniversary Concert The event will feature Grammy- and Latin Grammy-winning artist Miguel Zen n BM '98, cuatro...
24/04/2025
Detach Yourself from the Herd': Fito P ez Inspires at Berklee In a session hosted by the Mediterranean Music Institute, the influential Argentine musician...
23/04/2025
Berklee Abu Dhabi's Jazz Night Kicks off Global Celebration of Music and Cul...
19/04/2025
Berklee NYC and NYC Media Launch Season 3 of Inside Power Station @BerkleeNYC This season features faculty member Arun Pandian as the new host and interviews ...
18/04/2025
Berklee Student Yukai Yang Named 2025 Yamaha Young Performing Artist The drummer secured a spot among the elite winners in this years competition.
By
Maddie...
18/04/2025
Boston Conservatory Alums Bring Real Women Have Curves to Broadway The Latin American immigrant community takes center stage in a new musical featuring Tatian...
17/04/2025
In Return to Berklee, Lucius Looks Back and Moves Forward From mood boards to live demos, the alumni band gave students an exclusive look at the process behin...
17/04/2025
Edward J. Lewis III Named Senior Vice President of Institutional Advancement Lewis has more than 20 years of industry experience, leading fundraising initiati...
16/04/2025
Charlie Puths Homecoming Was Also a Victory Lap The pop star, songwriter, and producer talked about his career and shared stories behind his biggest hits, inc...
12/04/2025
Career Jam 2025: Insights, Images, and Inspiration Charlie Puth, Tiny Desk, top A&Rs, and more came together for a day of professional development and energet...
11/04/2025
Electronic Music Genres: A Guide to the Most Influential Styles Discover some of the many types of electronic music and how they've shaped contemporary mu...
05/04/2025
Students to Perform with Earl Slick in David Bowie Tribute Concert Known for his work with Bowie and John Lennon, the influential guitarist will also visit cl...
04/04/2025
Boston Conservatory at Berklee to Present Beloved Works and World Premieres at S...
03/04/2025
Berklee's Ty-Juana L. Flores Appointed Board Chair of the Boston Cultural Co...
03/04/2025
Berklee's South Asian Scholar Association to Host All-Ages Concert The student-led event, Mehfil, will feature songs in eight different languages and blen...
03/04/2025
Berklee Announces Paul Dworkis as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial O...
02/04/2025
Music Therapy Students Awarded First Internship Stipend from Children's Musi...
28/03/2025
Student Spotlight: Ava Della Pietra The singer-songwriter enrolled in the Harvard-Berklee Joint Studies Program talks about her love of medicine and music, ov...
28/03/2025
Berklee's Africana Studies to Host Gospel Extravaganza 2025 The Signature Series event will celebrate over 40 years of gospel music at Berklee.
By
Colet...
28/03/2025
Berklee Online CEO Debbie Cavalier Recognized for Extraordinary Leadership Cavalier receives the rare Julius M. Nolte Award from UPCEA.
By
Colette Greenstein
...
26/03/2025
New Music USA and Berklee Institute of Jazz and Gender Justice Announce 2025 Nex...
22/03/2025
Antonio S nchez, B la Fleck, and Edmar Casta eda Push Boundaries on BEATrio The trio's debut album drops May 16, but you can hear the first single, Archi...
21/03/2025
Neil Leonard's Matanzas Sound Map Turns Sound into Place at Tate Modern The Berklee professor's immersive installation transports visitors to Matanzas...
21/03/2025
Berklee to Host Annual Jazz Composition Festival Performances will feature modern jazz masters Sean Jones, Ayn Inserto, Miguel Zen n BM '98, and Christine...
21/03/2025
PARADEs National Tour Is a Procession of Boston Conservatory Talent Michael Tacconi BFA '12 and fifth-semester musical theater major Olivia Goosman talk a...
21/03/2025
Neil Leonard's Matanzas Sound Map Brings Immersive Sonic Cartography to Tate...
21/03/2025
Boston Conservatory at Berklee Presents the Tony Award-Winning Musical Natasha, ...
20/03/2025
Berklee's Trailblazing Music Inclusion Ensemble Debuts at Berklee Performanc...
19/03/2025
Music Marketing: 5 Proven Strategies to Engage and Grow Your Fanbase Find out how you can get your work in front of more people with these music marketing str...
19/03/2025
Watch Berklee Valencia Alum Wow the American Idol Judges with an Otis Redding So...
17/03/2025
BPMI Presents 2025 Festival Artists at 23rd Annual Showcase The Berklee Popular Music Institute will showcase eight artists performing at this summer's ho...
15/03/2025
Student Spotlight: Rachel McFarlane The Canadian composer talks about being drawn to the storytelling power of scoring for film and video games, working with ...
14/03/2025
Singaporean Singer-Songwriter JJ Lin on Craft, Courage, and Creativity The artist shared candid insights into his musical evolution, personal challenges, and ...
13/03/2025
Watch Student Naomi Soleils Folk Pop Performance on The Voice The songwriting major sang Stars by Grace Potter and the Nocturnals during the blind auditions.
...
12/03/2025
Berklee Awards Fenway Neighborhood Improvement Grant to Four Organizations A total of $17,000 will be distributed among the Boston-based nonprofits.
By
Madd...
11/03/2025
New Book Explores How the Quiet Storm Shaped Modern R&B In The Quiet Storm, Berklee Online alumnus Amani Roberts explores how the radio format defined America...
11/03/2025
The Berklee Institute of Jazz and Gender Justice Presents the Grand Gathering The Signature Series concert will feature performances by all nine of the instit...
10/03/2025
Berklee and FIFA World Cup 26 Debut Official Boston Host City Theme Boston is the only host city to work with an educational institution to create its unique,...
06/03/2025
Boston Calling and Berklee Partner to Showcase Student Talent When Boston Calling comes to Allston this May, student performers will light up the festival'...
06/03/2025
Building a Home Studio? Start Here. Berklee professors and alumni break down the basics of setting up your home music studio, and share tips on how to get the...
03/03/2025
The Art of Connection Alums Melanie Bacaling and Gabriella Reyes share a deep bond that's carried them to the heights of the opera world.
By
Sarah Godch...
03/03/2025
Scripting Her Path Writer Alexis Scheer takes on a wide range of subject matter, from the stage to the screen.
March 3, 2025
Alexis Scheer
Photo by Gabriel...
27/02/2025
Student Spotlight: Manuela S nchez Goubert The vocalist from Bogot , Colombia, talks about releasing and touring her album, RA CES (roots), and how Berklee ha...