Berklee Blogs

First-hand accounts of the Berklee experience

Alumni (Page 2 of 59)

Alumni

Where are they now. . . find out how Berklee grads make their way in the music world.

Why Missy Elliott’s Honorary Doctorate Means So Much

By Darcie Nicole B.M. ’01

Missy Elliott at Berklee's 2019 commencement ceremony

Image by Dave Green

“Let me just soak it in… I don’t even know how I’m standing here…” The opening of the incomparable Missy Elliott’s humble, encouraging commencement address was devoid of egotism. Those who have been at Berklee long enough also needed to soak it in. Missy tapped into the ether. How she came to be standing there was a path forged by her musical bravery, compelling creativity, and groundbreaking innovation paralleled by a foundation that was built—sometimes against the grain—at the college for nearly two decades prior.

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Don’t Forget the Memory: ‘Tali Jams New York’ (Episode 7, Final)

Tali Rubinstein with her recorder

Image by Noam Galai

By Tali Rubinstein B.M. ’14

I don’t particularly like goodbyes.

When the time comes to part, maybe it’s better to forget and move on. Thinking about the past is agonizing in so many ways; reminiscing about what we lost (which is, effectively, all that’s in the past) is an empty rabbit hole.

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From Fevers to Hot Jazz: ‘Tali Jams New York’ (Episode 6)

Recorder and singer Tali Rubinstein

Image by Noam Galai

By Tali Rubinstein B.M. ’14

I guess I’ve been having too much fun with this blog, because after writing the last one, I got sick and was mostly in bed, or complaining about not being in bed. I practiced the well-known routine of chicken soup, tea with lemon and ginger, and Amazon Prime movies with 4 stars ratings and above, which only disappointed me half of the times. For the other half, I felt much worse after, and promised myself to never again watch another Amazon movie when I’m sick (I’m quite certain that some actively raised my fever).

Failing film-recuperation, I figured I might as well write my next blog while I’m in bed, but unfortunately the muse didn’t strike me. You would think that being sick and all, I would be inspired to write some serious profound observations, but all I could come up with was a few topics from episode 6: “Shingles. Israel. Floriana. Billiard. Mona’s”. And then: nothing.

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A Belated Valentine: ‘Tali Jams New York’ (Episode 5)

Tali Rubinstein

Image by Noam Galai

By Tali Rubinstein B.M. ’14

Well, it just so happened to be Valentine’s Day while we were shooting episode 5 of Tali Jams New York a year ago. I’ve never actually celebrated Valentine’s before, being the secular Jew that I am (still figuring out what that is—more about religions that contain people who are not religious in my upcoming article about the lesser-known mathematical statement, “Russell’s Jewish Paradox”).

Whoops, just lost 20 readers there! (and there were only 15 to begin with).

What?!

*confused emoji*

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A Different Kind of FOMO: ‘Tali Jams New York’ (Episodes 3.5 and 4)

Israeli recorder Tali Rubinstein

Image by Noam Galai

By Tali Rubinstein B.M. ’14

Hello, good people! Thanks for joining me again on my weekly diary.

For those who are just joining—I am writing about the documentary series about my life as a musician in NYC, which is actually me giving an interpretation of the interpretation of my own life. Feeling confused? So am I.

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