Tal Zilber
About
Pianist, Dr. Tal Zilber enjoys an unusually diverse career of classical, jazz, and pop performances as well as composing, arranging and improvising. His chamber, orchestral and vocal arrangements have been performed by the Carmel String Quartet, the Be’er Sheva Symphony Orchestra, the Worcester Youth Symphony Orchestra and the Boston City Singers choir among others. His piece Four Preludes for Piano and Alto Saxophone was broadcast on Radio Clásica (Spain National Radio). In 2009 he performed his electro acoustic compositions at the Louisiana-Texas electro acoustic music festival (LaTex).
In the classical music scene, Dr. Zilber has appeared as a soloist with the Ramat Hasharon Orchestra in Tel Aviv and with Beth El orchestra in Hartford CT, and his recordings were featured on the Galei Zahal and Kol Hamusica radio stations in Israel. International tours include USA, Australia, Argentina, China, Germany, United Kingdom and Costa Rica.
Prizes and Awards include the Andre Watts Scholarship, the America-Israel culture foundation scholarship, the Lillian H. Duncan Prize and the Marian Fox Martel scholarship.
Dr. Zilber holds a Doctorate degree from the New England Conservatory, an M.M from Rice University, a Performance Diploma from Indiana University, and a B.M. from the Rubin Israeli Academy of Music. Past teachers include Brian Connelly, Edmund Battersby, Michael Boguslavsky, Alexander Volkov, Ran Blake, Bert Seager and Wha Kyung Byun.
Teaching Style
Experienced teacher has taught beginning & advanced students, private lessons and group classes, ages 3-60; at university, graduate students, pre‐college programs, community music schools and private studios; Lessons incorporate classical, jazz, folk and pop genres with an emphasis on technique, theory skills, improvisation, ear training, and musicality. Flexible, creative approach individually tailored to each student’s needs. Using music technology such as MAX/MSP programing language for creating additional tools for learning and practicing. Performance experience includes diverse musical styles from classical, jazz and pop to electronic contemporary music.
Curriculum
Education
The New England Conservatory (NEC) • Boston, MA
Doctor of Musical Art in Contemporary Improvisation, (2010-2017)
Dissertation: A new approach for Computer-Aided Instruction (CAI) software for melodic pitch-identification.
Dissertation advisor: Paul Burdick
The Shepherd School of Music at Rice University • Houston, TX
Master of Musical Art in Piano Performance (2008-2010)
Jacobs School of Music at Indiana University • Bloomington, IN
Performer Diploma in Piano Performance, (2007-2008)
Rubin Academy of Music at Tel Aviv University • Tel Aviv, Israel
Bachelor of Music, graduated cum laude (2000-2004)
Teaching Experience
The New England Conservatory (NEC) ∙ Boston, MA (2012-2017)
DMA Teaching Fellow
Taught music theory and ear training classes at the undergraduate and graduate level
Designed the curriculum for several classes, including aural, written and keyboard exercises.
Developed computer-aided applications for practicing keyboard and ear-training material.
Established the Music Theory Learning Center for practicing keyboard harmony using the new software.
Page Music Lessons • Boston, MA (2010-2017)
Piano instructor
Taught piano (classical, jazz, pop and world music), piano arranging and music theory. Studio includes beginner, intermediate and advanced students ages 4-80. Focus on classical repertoire and improvisation skills.
Ip Piano School • Boston, MA (2010-2014)
Piano and music theory teacher
Taught classical and jazz piano, preparing students for the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music examination (ABRSM), concerto competitions, and performances with the school’s orchestra.
Jacobs School of Music (Indiana University) • Bloomington, Indiana (2007-2008)
Associate Instructor
Taught private piano lessons to music and non-music majors at the undergraduate and graduate level.
Prepared students for Piano Proficiency Examination
Led group piano classes focused on piano skills and technique (scales and arpeggios), harmonization on the keyboard, transposition, Improvisation and sight-reading.
Alon High School / Ramat Hasharon Conservatory • Ramat HaSharon, Israel (2002-2007)
Music Teacher
Taught piano, composition, music history, music theory, solfege and ear training.
Taught private and group lessons to students ages 5-70, at beginner, intermediate and advanced levels.
Credentials & Affiliations
Israeli Scholarship, The New England Conservatory (NEC) • Boston MA (2010)
Marian Fox Martel Scholarship, Rice University • Houston TX (2009)
Lillian H. Duncan Prize, Rice University • Houston TX (2009)
Andre Watts Scholarship, Rice University • Houston TX (2008)
Prize in honor of Mrs. Rosi Varon at the Young Artist Competition • Jerusalem, Israel (2006)
America-Israel Cultural Foundation scholarship (AICF) • Israel (2006)