It’s hard to overstate the importance of the career of John Williams in the history and evolution of film music. In honor of Star Wars Day on May 4 (may the fourth be with you), we’ll explore how John Williams and his music became such an essential aspect of the beloved franchise.

Touring as a musician is exciting and rewarding, but it can also take a toll on your health if you’re not careful. Here are some healthy tips to keep you fueled, hydrated, energetic, and well-rested to take the stage night after night.

The musical elements of blues are distinctly African in origin—the pentatonic scales, polyrhythms, use of microtones and pitch bends, and call and response phrase structure all originate from the African continent. Black History Month is the perfect time to get reacquainted with these architects of the blues guitar.

Playlists have become the ultimate music discovery tool, helping artists reach new audiences and boost their streams. From algorithmic to editorial, getting your music on a Spotify playlist is a marketing tactic artists need to hack. Learn how to navigate the process and maximize your chances of your music landing on a playlist.

As a musician, not all of your practice will be on your instrument. Some of it will be in your head, and some of it may even be on objects that just look like your instrument. We call this mental practice, and in this excerpt from Barbara LaFitte’s Practicing Techniques for Musicians course, the former principal oboist in the Boston Ballet Orchestra shares tips on how to practice your instrument when you just aren’t able to actually play your instrument.

Creating the perfect keyboard rig for live performances is all about matching your setup to the gig at hand, whether you’re playing a cozy club, a grand corporate event, or embarking on a nationwide tour. With the help of Adriana Balic (Berklee course author and keyboardist for P!nk), learn how to choose the right keyboard rig to ensure your performance is seamless and stress-free, no matter where you’re playing.

The key of a sound recording may not always work for you; It may be too high or too low. This doesn’t mean that you can’t sing the song. In this excerpt from Berklee Online’s Improvisation Techniques for Singing Pop and R&B course, Gabrielle Goodman teaches you how to find your vocal range so you can pick a key that will make your voice shine.

In this course excerpt from Project Management for Musicians, you’ll learn how to balance your books and make sure that your projects come in under budget, so that you can come out on top!

In many ways, the idea of using twentieth-century concert music to elicit fear and suspense in film was pioneered by The Shining. In this excerpt from Ben Newhouse’s Music Composition for Film and TV 1 course, you’ll examine melody, tone color, tempo and rhythm, harmony, and time associations from the main title sequence of the movie.