Topics: Music

Composer Elena Ruehr, lecturer in music for more than a decade, joined the MIT music faculty when she was 28. From the age of four on, she composed little tunes on the piano, and when she was 11, began formal lessons. By high school, she says,
Winter 2004

Knowing the Score

Composer Elena Ruehr’s new dance opera has critics and audiences on their feet, clapping, cheering, and whistling.

Freshman Nicki Lehrer –– a classical guitarist who has released three CDs –– recorded her first CD at age 12. At 13, she was awarded a U.S. patent for a device she developed for kids. (Photo: Ed Quinn)
Fall 2003

Musical Artist

Freshman Nicki Lehrer, a classical guitarist who has released three CDs, at 13 got a U.S. patent for a device she invented for kids.

Known to have a song in his heart, Prof. Tod Machover has developed Hyperscore, software that makes it possible for kids to compose music like Mozart. Hyperscore can be downloaded free from the Toy Symphony website. Photo: Ed Quinn
Summer 2003

Toy Symphony

Prof. Tod Machover has invented software that makes it possible for kids to compose music like Mozart.

Grace Chung is a jazz singer who performs in Boston, and who says that for a student, jazz singing is a real education. Photo: Ed Quinn
Winter 1999

All That Jazz

Grace Chung, a grad student in computer speech recognition, also is a jazz singer. Jazz singing and engineering may seem unrelated, she says, but actually the two are very much alike.

Beethoven's 7th Symphony is one of Cherry Emerson's greatest joys. He knows the piece note by note. He says that to have heard Beethoven's 7th Symphony in Boston's Symphony Hall nearly brought him to tears because it was so inspiring. Photo: Ed Quinn
Winter 1999

Life of Harmony

Cherry Emerson, ’41, grew up in Atlanta with music on his mind. At 12, he sold Coca-Cola to construction workers to earn money to buy a piano, one he now says he wouldn’t trade for a million dollars.

Fall 1997

Fall 1997

Song of Joy

The spirit is invisible, but for MIT’s Marching Band, joy blares within.

Spring 1997

Spring 1997

Still Voice

Listening closely can carry us closer.