It took some doing to schedule a time to talk with performer and composer Richard Boulanger, professor in the Electronic Production and Design Department, about his experiences teaching Berklee classes remotely because, as he said, he needed time to prep his space. Even though we'd only be talking over Zoom, I was soon to learn that what Boulanger-or Dr. B., as his students call him-considers prepared for class is what others might consider creating an art installation.
His home studio, which he's rigged with multiple cameras set in different rooms for different kinds of lessons and experiments, looks like a mashup of a recording space, museum, and restaurant kitchen's back pantry, what with the dozens of neatly stacked plastic bins filled with all kinds of musical gadgets. He likens the staging of his remote classes to putting on a cooking show. It's like a Julia Child cooking show I've got the turkey-the broken one, the fixed one, and the tweaked one. (I was afraid to ask for clarification about what exactly a tweaked turkey is).
Considering the highly technical skills that Boulanger teaches his students-such as building a synthesizer, designing an effects processor, or circuit-bending vintage kids toys into novel instruments-it's clear why he puts so much work into being prepared. I've got to be ready to do 10 things at a time, he said, because the students' unique projects are what shape the course, session to session.
One thing that helped set his remote version of Circuit Bending and Physical Computing apart from its campus iteration, for example, is that Boulanger was able to find affordable circuit bending kits that each student can use in their workspace. This brings a new sense of ownership to the course because what the students create, they get to keep. What they lose in terms of access to well-stocked labs, they gain in practical application, which could result in a product they eventually bring to the wider music world.
I'm teaching musicianship and humanity. And we're all discovering this together.
-Richard Boulanger
Boulanger is not just preparing for class, he's preparing the students for their careers as musicians. He believes so much in what his students make that he saves every project created in his courses-a practice he began in 1986. His continued dedication yielded an increase in enrollment over the spring and summer; his summer course on the sound and music computing software Csound is filled with more students than ever. His success speaks to the fact that it takes more than having the right tech on hand and being comfortable on Zoom; it's about his commitment to connecting with his students.
Finding the Human Behind the Screen Matthew Nicholl, dean of the Professional Writing and Music Technology Division, said that the division's faculty were finding ways to transcend the technology in order create an authentic space for student learning, even during a pandemic. The tech needs to become transparent in order to create that space for students, so faculty can still mentor students and curate information and inspiration, Nicholl said.
It feels like a slight exaggeration to say that talking to faces on a computer screen in your bedroom can lead to deep educational engagement. But as Nicholl suggested, the way to get there is through faculty, like Boulanger, who recognize the importance of human connection. At the core of his approach, Boulanger says, I'm teaching musicianship and humanity. And we're all discovering this together. And, in fact, Boulanger told me that when the department's assistant chair recently asked students how remote studies were going, one student responded with a different take on what it's like learning from home, saying, Are you kidding me? Dr. B's in my house now!
--
Related categories:
News
Related Reading
Scarlet Keys Redefines Homework in Her Remote Songwriting Courses Even during a pandemic, faculty, such as Keys, are finding ways to work closely with students despite not being nearby.
What to Expect of the Online Experience This Fall The fall semester will be completely online. Heres what you should know about that experience.
Berklee Announces Fully Remote Semester for Fall 2020 The College and Conservatory will conduct all courses remotely for the fall while providing new opportunities for community building, performance, and collaboration.
More from Berklee Now
Most Popular
What to Expect of the Online Experience This Fall The fall semester will be completely online. Heres what you should know about that experience.
Latest
Dr. B. Is in the House: Why Remote Connection Can Still Be Deep For faculty member Richard Boulanger, teaching highly technical courses remotely is creating new spaces for student connection.
A Time to Be Heard: What Performers Can Expect This Fall The Professional Performance Division offers guidance on what courses and private instruction will look like this upcoming semester.
Berklee Announces ABLE Arts Resource Center The comprehensive resource will benefit artists, arts educators, students, and many others who work at the intersection of the arts and special needs.
Read All
Subscribe The latest sounds, stories, and ideas, sent to your inbox weekly.
Berklee Blogs
Facebook
Twitter
YouTube
Instagram
Snapchat
Soundcloud
Spotify
Most recent headlines
04/08/2024
Dalet, a leading technology and service provider for media-rich organizations, is excited to announce Santiago Solanas as its new Chief Executive Officer (CEO)....
03/06/2024
Dalet, a leading technology and service provider for media-rich organizations, a...
04/05/2024
NEW YORK As the Asian Pacific American Heritage Month kicks off in May, Nielsen has released an extensive new report diving into their media habits with data sh...
04/05/2024
PHILADELPHIA As National Military Appreciation Month gets underway, Comcast has announced several new initiatives to help veterans, service members, and their f...
04/05/2024
WASHINGTON, D.C. Federal Communications Commission chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel has announced a tentative agenda for the May Open Commission Meeting scheduled...
04/05/2024
The Broadband Forum has announced major enhancements to key 5G convergence standards that the group said will help advance next-generation applications, improve...
04/05/2024
Spotify Wrapped Campaign Spot Graded With DaVinci Resolve Studio
Brie Clayton May 3, 2024
0 Comments
Blackmagic Design today announced that Colorist M...
04/05/2024
Three Boston Conservatory at Berklee Alums Nominated for Tony Awards An additional eight alums and two current students performed in nominated productions.
...
03/05/2024
An innovative learning tool to help media and civil society better understand ho...
03/05/2024
PARK CITY, UTAH - JANUARY 21: (L-R) Actors K stutis Cic nas and Greta Grinevi i t , Director Marija Kavtaradze and Producer Marija Razgute attend the 2023 Sunda...
03/05/2024
If you aren't familiar with Danny Ocean's music, it's only a matter ...
03/05/2024
Spotify has an unwavering commitment to supporting emerging artists across all genres, to helping them launch and thrive in their careers, and to connecting the...
03/05/2024
Como uno de los sonidos de mayor expansi n en el mundo, la M sica Mexicana va m ...
03/05/2024
As one of the fastest-growing sounds worldwide, M sica Mexicana is more than jus...
03/05/2024
NEW YORK FuboTV reported that it lost 110,000 subs in Q1 2024 but it exceeded its guidance for the quarter with double digit year-over-year increases across key...
03/05/2024
Only 3 Weeks Left To Enter The Creative Industries Most Award
Brie Clayton May 3, 2024
0 Comments
Creativepool is giving a last call to the creative i...
03/05/2024
WePlay Studios Transforms the Future of Live Event Storytelling with AJA Gear
Brie Clayton May 3, 2024
0 Comments
By 2032, the esports market is expec...
03/05/2024
WASHINGTON Shannon Bream, Fox News Sunday anchor and chief legal correspondent, sat for a keynote chat at The Business of TV News, with Tom Umstead, senior co...
03/05/2024
WASHINGTON Asked how important is local news, Martha Raddatz, who has covered foreign conflicts for decades and moderated presidential debates for ABC News, s...
03/05/2024
Sony Pictures and Apollo Global Management have made a $26 billion cash offer fo...
03/05/2024
CBS announced its 2024-2025 primetime schedule, which features the new dramas NCIS: Origins, Matlock and Watson, and new comedies Poppa's House and Georgie ...
03/05/2024
Sports-focused streaming service Fubo said it reduced its red ink in the first quarter, despite losing 110,000 subscribers since the end of the year....
03/05/2024
Walmart is reportedly about to release a new 4K streaming box/smart speaker hybrid device for Google TV that could retail for as low as $50, according to a repo...
03/05/2024
Enhancements to its Delivery Workspace solution provide increased content delivery robustness and security
By Matthew Corrigan
Published: May 3, 2024
Enha...
03/05/2024
According to reports, if the bid is successful, Sony would be the significant majority shareholder of the new private company
By Jenny Priestley
Published: M...
03/05/2024
Located in Manchesters Spinningfields district, the course aims to equip students with the skills, knowledge and industry insight for a career in the creative s...
03/05/2024
Lightbridge has created a new Cine Reflect Lighting System kit, dedicated to enabling artistic lighting with consideration of today's productivity practical...
03/05/2024
Broadcast media systems integrator BeckTV and Lawo worked together on a large-scale AES67 build of radio control rooms at KPBS, San Diego's NPR and PBS memb...
03/05/2024
Raleigh, NC, April 12, 2024 SmallHD announces PageOS 6, a powerful software update free for owners of SmallHD monitors, featuring increased functionality, exp...
03/05/2024
SmallHD announces the Quantum 32 a new 31.5 OLED monitor designed to provide reference HDR/SDR images for post-production final color grading, as well as cri...
03/05/2024
By 2032, the esports market is expected to grow to $9.29 billion, bolstered by a global player count and fan following that both continue to climb. The 2023 Lea...
03/05/2024
Amagi, the global leader in cloud-based SaaS technology for broadcast and connected TV (CTV), today announced that the 11th edition of the Amagi Global FAST Rep...
03/05/2024
Riedel Communications today announced that Westdeutscher Rundfunk (WDR) is relying on a media and intercom network based on Riedel technology for the renewal of...
03/05/2024
Broadpeak , a leading provider of content delivery network (CDN) and video streaming solutions for content providers and pay-TV operators worldwide, announced t...
03/05/2024
Media technology innovator Limecraft will exhibit the latest updates to its online platform on stand G79 at the 15-16 May 2024 Media Production & Technology Sho...
03/05/2024
Audio interface specialist Prism Sound is partnering with console manufacturer Solid State Logic, professional monitor manufacturer PMC and acoustic panel and d...
03/05/2024
Intinor, Sweden's leading developer of products and solutions for high-quality video over the internet, is set to join forces with its UK partner Zest Techn...
03/05/2024
NAKIVO Inc., a fast-growing software company dedicated to protecting physical, virtual, cloud, and SaaS environments, announced its Q1 2024 financial results to...
03/05/2024
Hiltron Communications announces an addition to its range of satellite communication products and systems: a field-upgradable motorisation kit specifically desi...
03/05/2024
Visit LiveU at Stand D30
With this year an exceptional one for major sporting events alongside multiple, key elections, the power and flexibility of LiveU'...
03/05/2024
Agile Content, the leader in the development of technology and solutions for the provision of television services over the Internet, announces Koldo Unanue as i...
03/05/2024
Eight co-signers representing streaming services, pay TV operators and public interest groups have sent a letter to Congressional leaders urging their Committee...
03/05/2024
BOSTON Brightcove has announced that it has implemented Amazon Q Business, a new generative AI assistant on Amazon Web Services (AWS)....
03/05/2024
NEW YORK CBS has declared that it will finish the 2023-24 season as Americas Most-Watched Network in primetime for the 16th consecutive season....
03/05/2024
A new survey indicates that U.S. businesses and consumers had an overall positive attitude towards their technology spending plans in the first quarter of 2024,...
03/05/2024
Sony and Apollo Global Management have sent an offer letter to Paramount Global's board of directors making an $26 billion all cash offer for Paramount Glob...
03/05/2024
EMG / Gravity Media has appointed Charlie Cubbon chief operating officer (COO) and Jamie Hindhaugh regional CEO for the U.K., U.S., Australia and the Middle Eas...
03/05/2024
Final 2024 Season Games to Air Saturdays on WRAL at 10:30am in May, Championship on June 1
Taping for the final episodes of the 2024 season of WRAL-TV's Br...
03/05/2024
Estrella MediaCo said it is expanding its connected TV portfolio by launching three new channels with Curiosity that will first appear on Samsung TV Plus....
It took some doing to schedule a time to talk with performer and composer Richard Boulanger, professor in the Electronic Production and Design Department, about his experiences teaching Berklee classes remotely because, as he said, he needed time to prep his space. Even though we'd only be talking over Zoom, I was soon to learn that what Boulanger-or Dr. B., as his students call him-considers prepared for class is what others might consider creating an art installation.
