On this page, you can find the Culminating Experience (CE) Projects for all graduate students from the Berklee College of Music master’s program Contemporary Performance (Production Concentration) (CPPD) from 2015 – present. Click on any title for more information and access to the full paper and other deliverables (if available).
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Deepening the concept of songwriting
Almudena Díaz-Llanos Longares
2017This CE tries to get into the concept of songwriting, using as examples my music, and trying to develop them with different techniques.
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Indigo
Arletis Garcia
2017Indigo is a five song EP that will express my iteration of the Blues through the perspective of the Afro -Latina experience.
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ELEMENTAL
Paula Giraldo
2017ELEMENTAL is a project that utilized different tools to help find my sound and artistic identity today, through experimentation, investigation and songwriting.
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The Yesterday Project
Caleb Gore
2017The Yesterday Project is an experimental concept album that attempts to merge the perspectives of the artist and the audience. The songs within explore various social issues present in different aspects of modern society. By presenting these songs along with recorded interviews from individuals discussing the topics therein, the expected outcome is to create a tableau of opinions and to portray the project as a community conversation rather than a monologue.
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Steve Umculo: The Journey Begins
Stephen Haiden
2017This project is concerned with the creation, definition and development of the artistic profile Steve Umculo- a singer/songwriter with an upbeat and energetic sound that aims to make people dance.
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Chameleon In My Craft: Experimental Electro-Acoustic Technique Through Audio Sample Manipulation
Ryan Kimbrell
2017The goal of this thesis is to explore the ways in which sound design can be utilized to expand the palette of sounds produced by the saxophone, and how this process relates to the goal of extended technique usage in music. Using Ableton Live Suite 9 and personally recorded samples, the final outcome of this project provides an array of new custom instrument sounds as well as some of the standard foundational sounds expected for the creation of popular contemporary music styles. While the total collection of sounds and instruments is not exhaustive in any way, the analysis of the creation process and its results provides a clear workflow for manipulating a preexisting set of sample audio files in order to achieve a desired sonic goal, and outlines how deviations from the originally desired outcome can lead to the creation of new innovative sounds.
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Native Son
Tabari Lake
2017My Culminating Experience project is to forge an artistic identity by writing and recording a series of compositions. These compositions will display the influences on my music that stem from growing up on St. Thomas, Virgin Islands, studying music at a world class institutions, and simply existing in the world as I am. Along with the recordings, I plan on making a video of one of my compositions for visual representation.
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Viola Soundscapes
Rachel Lanskey
2017An EP containing 4 or 5 original songs that focus on using the viola as the primary instrumentation for their creation experimenting with its sound acoustically before expanding into Ableton.
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The Creative Modern Guitarist
Emmanuel Linois
2017My project is a portfolio, or collection of works, revolving around the guitar. I have explored the scope of what the instrument can do, and its numerous roles and applications.
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From Studio to Stage
Devin Malloy
2017Through research, analysis, and self- development, I will create a framework and a process for taking ones music from the studio to the stage. In order to acheive to acheive my goal, I will compile transcriptions, conduct performance analyses, cultivate musical techniques, and study iconic performers, then create a set of my own original material original material based on my findings. By doing so, I hope to be able to share a framework and a process for presenting ones music in a live performance format.
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The Rhythms from the Arabian Peninsula
Gilbert Mansour
2017The main aim of this study is to provide an accurate notation of Arabian Peninsula Rhythms from a percussionist perspective and elaborate a concise source for learning including the historical origins and recordings of these rhythms.
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Vocal Freedom & Learning To Fly
Jennifer McMahon
2017A self-reflective journey through music, focusing on improvisation as a tool for self-expression and composition.
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Creativity, Inspiration, and Daily Composition
Kyung Hoon Min
2017This project includes tips about daily composition practice and thoughts about inspiration and creativity.
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Setting Music to Latin-American Poetry: An Exploration of Female Identity
Gina Mirenda
2017My CE project consists of setting music to three poems by female Latin-American writers.
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Songwriting in Electric Formats: What is the Satarra Sound?
Satarra Moore-Troutman
2017An experiment and analysis of writing in electric formats, in order to find the key elements of my personal sound as a songwriter.
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The Contemporary Working Bassist
Ricardo Osorno Chávez
2017My Culminating Experience will be focused on the creation of a compelling portfolio as an electric bassist and double bass player.
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New Roads: The Blues Meets the Cello
Scott Peters
2017New Roads is a project of research and analysis of the blues music that speaks so deeply to me, along with an application of these sounds and emotions onto the cello.
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Video · New Music · Art
Paula Pinero Quesada
2017My Culminating Experience is focused on producing three music videos. The chosen repertoire is a selection of three high level pieces. This project is fundamentally practical, based on the challenge of preparing a demanding repertoire. At the same time, it is an approach to the field of audiovisual production. The purpose is generating material for my personal artistic portfolio.
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Jazzical
Cheung Joyce Pui Chih
2017Jazzical is a creative project that consists of 4 contemporary arrangements based on a selection of well-known classical repertoire.
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The Making of Me
Kaya Rand
2017The creation of a 4-5 track EP, music videos, and an EP release event/concert. This work will explore the realm of popular R&B music, combining digital and acoustic instruments and production techniques.
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An approach to the pedal harp improvisation
Cesar Secundino
2017The main objective for this Culminating Experience is to create a method to develop and improve the improvisation skills of any pedal harp player.
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Music and Consciousness
Jelena Soro
2017The purpose of the project is researching the ways music can help raise consciousness to a higher level.
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An Investigation into Creating an Effective Business Model for the Modern Musician
John Stewart
2017This paper will analyse how business models have evolved in the internet age and what are the most effective ways for an independent artist to market and sell their music.
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Omne Trium Perfectum: The Rule of Three
Matthew Struthers
2017This is a project EP which will be themed around the universal perfect rule of three.
