Reinhard Berg

Accordion and piano lessons with Vera Shean 1955 - 1964. B. Mus. at U of A 1964 - 8. Piano with Alexandra Munn; composition with Violet Archer. 1968 - 71 studies in Germany with Karlheinz Stockhausen, Wolfgang Fortner, Herbert Eimert, H. H. Eggebrecht, concluding with Diploma in Theory and Composition. 1971 - 74 at University of California, San Diego, with Pauline Oliveros, Kenneth Gaburo et al.

1961-68; 1974 - 2020 organist at St. Paul's Lutheran church, Edmonton. Since 2024 Organ Custodian there. 1976 - 2025 instructor at Alberta College Conservatory Of Music, Edmonton. Member of Royal Canadian College of Organists, Canadian Music Centre, New Music Edmonton, Boreal Electroacoustic Music Society. Over the years, collaborations with various dancers, visual artists, poets; directed various choirs. Scholarships and grants from German Academic Exchange Service, Canada Council, Alberta Culture et al. Performed and got performed in Edmonton and elsewhere in Canada, in San Diego, in Germany, Estonia, Poland, Sweden.

Teaching Quote/Philosophy:  

My teaching style depends on the abilities, interests, and needs of the student.  It is constantly evolving.  A surprisingly large number of students are interested in something more than just mastering the technique of playing an instrument, but in creating, and/or understanding.  Creating on paper, creating on the keyboard, plus adjunct theoretical subjects.  Understanding, from the viewpoint of a creator, what goes into the construction of music.  Perhaps also, understanding, from the viewpoint of a listener, how music is experienced.  In short: becoming an all-round musician, creating, performing, understanding. 

 

Lesson Description: 

Lessons are offered in my home or online, small groups are also possible.  Various workshops on understanding/appreciating music are sometimes offered online.  Organ lessons in the church are another possibility.  Various lengths and frequencies of lessons possible.  Various payment arrangements possible. Any age, though pre-schoolers might be better off with a group program.  Any level. 

 

Education and Certification: 

Master of Arts, University of California, 1975 
Bachelor of Music, University of Alberta, 1968 
Diploma, Musikhochschule Freiburg i. Br., Germany, 1971 

 

Professional Associations and Memberships: 

Royal Canadian College of Organists 
Canadian Music Centre 
New Music Edmonton 
Boreal Electroacoustic Music Society 

 

Testimonial: 

"Reinhard's classes have shaped my understanding of creativity and composition.  His unique perspective offers insights I've never encountered in person nor online.  Each session feels like discovering a new layer of meaning in music, not just in theory, but in how we think, feel, create." 
 
"I wanted something different to what I had experienced as a kid.  I wanted to get to the point where I could hear a piece of music and play it.  I wanted to be able to improvise, take a piece of music and ring changes on it.  I wanted to learn counterpoint, to have different things happening at once.  I wanted to learn to compose.  I checked out 'Alberta Conservatory' . . . and found Reinhard.  He is pretty much exactly what I set out to find."