Berklee VoiceCast

Berklee Voice Department, Charlie Christenson

The Berklee VoiceCast is your all-access backstage pass to the exciting, ever-evolving world of Berklee’s Voice Department. Each episode features thoughtful conversations that spotlight the incredible work of our faculty—whether it’s groundbreaking courses, new perspectives, inspiring books, fresh musical projects, or performances on stages near and far. We’ll dive into what’s on the minds of Berklee’s voice faculty through episodes that range from relaxed, conversational exchanges to more reflective, in-depth discussions—exploring everything from big ideas to the finer details of teaching, artistry, and the creative process. Along the way, we’ll chat with guest artists, highlight the creative journeys of our students, and share a behind-the-scenes look at how Berklee’s vocal community is shaping the future of music. The Berklee VoiceCast is for anyone curious about the voices (and the voices behind the voices) that make Berklee sing.

Episodes

  1. David Thorne Scott on Prosody

    APR 6

    David Thorne Scott on Prosody

    In this episode of the Berklee VoiceCast, host Charlie Christenson sits down with vocalist, songwriter, and educator David Thorne Scott for a deep dive into the art of musical prosody—the subtle but powerful relationship between lyrics, melody, and meaning. Together, they explore how great singers and songwriters align the natural rhythms of speech with musical phrasing to create performances that feel authentic, conversational, and emotionally resonant. From interpreting existing repertoire to crafting original songs, David shares practical strategies for making musical choices that serve the text and connect more directly with listeners. The conversation highlights how strong prosody can transform a performance from technically accurate to genuinely expressive, and why marrying the singing voice to the speaking voice is key to compelling storytelling. Drawing on examples from artists like Mel Tormé and Carmen McRae, this episode offers insight into both the craft and artistry behind meaningful vocal performance. Whether you're a singer, songwriter, or educator, this episode provides actionable ideas and listening strategies to help you bring more intention, clarity, and emotional impact to your music-making. 00:00 Intro 01:22 What is Prosody?07:16 Fixing the Composer’s Mistakes08:25 Writing with Prosody in Mind14:09 Exercises for Developing Prosody (Jazz Ballads & Rubato)14:50 Recommendations and Final Thoughts CreditsProduced and Hosted by Charlie ChristensonMusic by David Thorne Scott, “Lunar Landing,” and Charlie Christenson Guest BioDavid Thorne Scott is a singer-songwriter and instrumentalist who performs in jazz, pop, and classical styles. He is also a composer, arranger, bandleader, and teacher. He often accompanies himself on piano and electric bass. Cadence Magazine said, "He phrases like a saxophone player and is as slippery and hip as the young Mel Tormé," and Herb Wong wrote, "I haven’t been this moved by a performance of 'For All We Know' since Carmen McRae." His most recent album is “Thornewood,” featuring Grammy winners Paula Cole and Sara Caswell. His current project is a new musical, “Animal Spirits,” which explores the life and work of economist John Maynard Keynes. He teaches Survey of Vocal Styles, among many other things, at Berklee College of Music. Links from This EpisodeDavid Thorne Scott Website: davidthornescott.comDavid Thorne Scott on Spotify and Instagram Berklee College of Music: berklee.eduBerklee Voice Department: college.berklee.edu/voiceBerklee Voice Instagram: instagram.com/berklee.voice/Charlie Christenson: charliechristenson.com Carmen McRae on Jazz Casual (1962): YouTube Link Songwriting Resource: Writing Better Lyrics by Pat Pattison (Berklee Press, 2010)

    17 min
  2. Introducing the Berklee VoiceCast

    MAR 26

    Introducing the Berklee VoiceCast

    The Berklee VoiceCast is your all-access backstage pass to the vibrant, ever-evolving world of the Berklee College of Music Voice Department. Hosted by Charlie Christenson, the podcast features thoughtful conversations with faculty, guest artists, and students exploring vocal pedagogy, performance, creativity, and the many paths singers take in today’s music industry. With nearly 1,800 voice students studying each semester with close to 100 faculty on Berklee’s Boston campus, the show offers a behind-the-scenes look at a dynamic community of artists and educators shaping the future of singing across jazz, classical, and contemporary music. 00:00 Sound Check00:09 Introducing the Berklee VoiceCast00:50 Hosted by Charlie Christenson01:40 Excerpts from Future Episodes02:12 Coda Credits Produced and Hosted by Charlie ChristensonMusic by Charlie Christenson and Aubrey Johnson, “Exercise 1”Excerpts of Future Episodes with David Thorne Scott, Rebecca Shrimpton, and Michael Sean Harris Links from This Episode Berklee College of Music: berklee.eduBerklee Voice Department: college.berklee.edu/voiceBerklee Voice Instagram: instagram.com/berklee.voiceCharlie Christenson: charliechristenson.com

    3 min
  • 2 Episodes

About

The Berklee VoiceCast is your all-access backstage pass to the exciting, ever-evolving world of Berklee’s Voice Department. Each episode features thoughtful conversations that spotlight the incredible work of our faculty—whether it’s groundbreaking courses, new perspectives, inspiring books, fresh musical projects, or performances on stages near and far. We’ll dive into what’s on the minds of Berklee’s voice faculty through episodes that range from relaxed, conversational exchanges to more reflective, in-depth discussions—exploring everything from big ideas to the finer details of teaching, artistry, and the creative process. Along the way, we’ll chat with guest artists, highlight the creative journeys of our students, and share a behind-the-scenes look at how Berklee’s vocal community is shaping the future of music. The Berklee VoiceCast is for anyone curious about the voices (and the voices behind the voices) that make Berklee sing.

Information

  • Creator
    Berklee Voice Department, Charlie Christenson
  • Years Active
    2K
  • Episodes
    2
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Berklee College of Music. Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0). https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/
  • Show Website
    Berklee VoiceCast

You Might Also Like