User:Bschmitt4/sandbox

About
Jimmy Kachulis is an award winning Composer, Songwriter, Educator, Scholar and Performer. He creates Concert Music, Songs, and Film/TV music. His music has been performed and recorded internationally by some of the world's most accomplished performers, winning a number of International competitions. As an educator Professor Kachulis creates educational material for the world renowned Berklee College of Music, Berklee On Line, and Berklee Press. He presents clinics and lecture demos featuring his Ethnomusicological research, including previously unknown polyphonic, harmonic, melodic, rhythmic and structural aspects of traditional African music, as well as music of the African Diaspora, Latin American music, Indian music, and Balkan folk music, among others. His performing experience has run the gamut from legendary Early Music conductors, to Jazz, World Music, and R&B artists.

Awards

 * Grammy Award for Music Education - finalist
 * Merit Award for Outstanding Teaching - Berklee College of Music
 * Faculty Grants for Individual Study (Gamelan, Ewe Improvisation, Kayal Vocal/Instrumental, Maqams, Tabla) - Berklee College of Music
 * Faculty Travel Grants - Berklee College of Music

Scholar
My fascination with the musical and cultural materials from many of the world's cultures led to my studies in Ethnomusicology. I've been fortunate to study with many of the leading scholars in their fields, as well as discovering new aspects of those musics.

Studies in Ethnomusicology

Tufts University - Boston, MA. My Masters Thesis: Studies in Ewe Music documents discoveries in two previously unknown aspects of Sub-Saharan West African music:

• Polyphonic Harmony of the Ewe • Bell Improvisation of the Ewe

Lecture/Demos on the following topics:

• Multi Dimensional Percussion Rhythms of Sub-Saharan African Music • Multi Dimensional Rhythmic Conceptions of Sub-Saharan West African Songs • Harmony and Polyphony of the Ewe of Ghana • Shona Mbira Music of Zimbabwe • Pygmy Music of the Central African Rain Forest • African Diaspora Music of Three Continents • Classical Indian Music Rhythmic Conceptions • Classical Indian Music Scales and Ragas • Balkan Folk Musics

Scholarly Papers and Texts Presented

International and National meetings of the Society for Ethnomusicology. Studies in Ewe Music is used as a text in graduate level courses at Tufts University and Brown University

Quotes on Scholarly Research


 * "I understand, and totally agree with, your discoveries and analyses of Ewe and other West Coast, Sub-Saharan musics."

J.H. Kwabena Nketia - legendary Ghanaian ethnomusicologist, author Music of Africa


 * "You understand the Harmony and Bell improvisation of our Ewe music more than anyone I know."

Godwin Agbeli - Master Drummer, Choreographer, Director Sankofa Ewe Drum and Dance Ensemble - Ghana


 * "You cracked the code of Ewe Polyphonic Harmony singing."

David Locke Phd - Chair, Tufts University Department of Music


 * "You have great understanding of the music of the Pygmies."

Simha Arom - legendary ethnomusicologist, author African Polyphony and Polyrhythm, producer Music of the Babenzele-Pygmies


 * "I was absolutely blown away by your lecture demo on the Music of the Pygmies of the Central African Rain Forest."

Dr William Banfield Phd, Director Africana Studies - Berklee College of Music, Scholar, Composer

Composer
"My mission in my Concert Music is to bridge the chasm between art, and populist music by creating a repertoire that simultaneously challenges the performers while being captivatingly engaging to a broad audience. My arrangements weave the rhythms and melodic gestures of diverse World Music genres with the sophisticated compositional techniques of Western European art music and Jazz. My aim is to engage brain, heart, and body at the same time. As you’ll see, I often re-orchestrate successful pieces for many types of performing ensembles...

My Concert Music never fails to enthrall an audience and often elicits standing ovations of appreciation."

Performer - Composer
While a freelance musician in NYC, I performed a number of roles in many different musical genres.

Theatre, Jazz, Popular

Music Director, Composer, Arranger, Guitarist for the following artists and shows:

'''• John Lewis (MJQ) • Jon Hendricks • Martha Reeves - Motown recording artist • Stuff - Warner Brothers recording artist • A Chorus Line • George Coleman Octet - Blue Note, Columbia, Enja recording artist  Quotes'''

"I know Jimmy Kachulis' writing, arranging, and production skills, from his work on the Eric Gale albums Live at the Montreux Jazz Festival and Island Breeze. In all of these areas, Jimmy's work was always of the highest professional caliber."

'''Bruce Lundvall - President, Columbia, EMI, and Electra records ''' "I've known Jimmy for many years in different capacities, creating many wonderful compositions and arrangements for my Octet. He has always shown a great dedication to his art."

George Coleman - Miles Davis, Elvin Jones, Max Roach

"Jimmy Kachulis is a genius when it comes to writing, arranging, producing and music directing. He's on of the few who can really do it all. One of the best Music Directors around."

Eric Gale - legendary guitarist - Quincy Jones, Paul Simon, Bill Withers, Stuff, Aretha Franklin

Classical

I sang Medieval and Renaissance music with some of the most notable conductors in the Early Music field including Richard Taruskin, Alexander Blachly, John Blackley and NY Pro Musica members Paul Maynard, Russell Oberlin, and Robert Montesi. He was an original member of the early music choirs Capella Nova, Pomerium, and Schola Antigua.

World Music

As a freelancer in NYC, I performed as a guitarist and bassist for the following ensembles, in numerous clubs and concert venues:

• '''Pe De Boi Batucada Ensemble • Emio Reyes y Su Orchestra • Fotis Gonis - bouzoukee virtuoso''' • Numerous Greek, Irish, Italian, and Jewish bands

Professor and Curriculum Developer
Grammy Nominee for Music Education

• Berklee College of Music

I create courses to address the needs of students at a variety of levels. In addition to creating the songwriting curriculum at Berkleeonline, I was one of the originators of the first and only comprehensive Songwriting program in the world, the Songwriting Department at the world famous Berklee College of Music, where I am currently a Full Professor.

https://www.berklee.edu/songwriting/bachelor-of-music-in-songwriting

At Berklee, Jimmy has been instrumental in creating two sets of curricula: one in Songwriting, and one in World Music, including the following courses:

Songwriting Courses
 * Essentials of Songwriting
 * Songwriting I
 * Songwriting II
 * Lyricwriting I
 * Advanced Songwriting
 * Singer Songwriter Workshop
 * Directed Study in Songwriting

World Music Courses
 * Music of the World
 * Music and Culture of Africa, Latin and South America
 * Music and Culture of India, the Far East and Eastern Europe
 * African Drum and Dance Ensemble
 * World Music Ensemble

Jimmy has also created and taught the following courses at these institutions:

Emerson College


 * Perspectives on World Music and Culture


 * Liberal Arts survey course - largest in the history of Emerson College

Tufts University


 * Small Jazz Ensemble
 * History of Jazz

The Boston Conservatory


 * World Music Materials for Composers

NYC Public Schools


 * Salsa Band
 * Chorus
 * Guitar Ear Training
 * Music Theory