Berklee in Dublin students outside the Newpark Music Centre

The Berklee in Dublin “The Art of Improvisation” program kicked off this Monday at our host institution and Berklee International Network partner Newpark Music Centre, located in Blackrock, Ireland, just outside the Dublin city center.  Classes started off in full force on Tuesday, with over 50 students from 12 different countries immersing themselves in all things improv.

Greg Badolato of International Programs, along with Berklee faculty Jim Kelly, John McGann, and Ken Zambello, and Newpark faculty member Ronan Guilfoyle, make up the stellar team of instructors for the courses in this week’s workshop.

Students have a set schedule of courses: harmonic considerations and improvisation style labs in the morning, and then performance master classes and special lectures in the afternoon.  Classes are scheduled to allow for each section to have enough variety for a full ensemble, so students can start to put the techniques they’re learning into practice by performing together.  Yet within this format, students are able and encouraged to shift around to visit different faculty and experiment with different styles.  This fluidity gives the program a more personalized feel, and enables the students to maximize their interactions with their fellow musicians, faculty and students alike.

More from Dublin to come, including reports from last night’s panel discussion at the Irish Music Rights Organisation (IMRO) and tonight’s jam session here at Newpark!

Click for more information about Berklee on the Road (BOR) programs and Berklee’s summer programs.