Music Performance with Ben B.

I am a self-taught, multi-instrumental soloist and have been performing and writing music since the age of 12. Now 24, I have developed my show to include a mix of genres from rock, jazz, and hip-hop using a looper to layer instruments and voice to create the dynamic effect of a live band. In 2018 I graduated from Hampshire College with a BA in Music and recorded and release my first solo album that same year. My thesis project was a concert demonstration of the "shape of harmony" where I used large subwoofers and subsonic frequencies to produce harmonic shapes with vibration, lasers, and water. During my time at college I performed and recorded with several bands and recorded and produced albums for other artists at my home studio. My teaching experience began with private lessons at the age of 14. I taught guitar, ukulele, drums, and piano to a range of students for several years before my first classroom experience. From 2014-2018 I taught music at Northstar School for Self-Directed Teens in Sunderland, MA. During my time there I worked with the school rock band, helping them learn songs for their trimester concerts. I led groups in exploratory acoustic experiments where we learned about the physics of sound: acoustic and radio waves, speakers, resonance, and harmonics. I also continued teaching one-on-one lessons with students in with a range of topics from music theory, songwriting, recording, and editing, all the way to distributing original music on streaming sites like Spotify, iTunes, Amazon, and Google Play. I am currently working at Santa Barbara Center for Arts, Science, and Technology, where I am creating music, building alternative speakers, and designing sound installations for events. I believe that curiosity is our super-power and it will bring you to incredible places if you follow it!