UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music

10/21/2026

What if studying music isn’t the best way to appreciate it?

Dean Beckerman’s love affair with music began when his parents discovered that parking him in front of the stereo was the easiest way to keep him quiet.

That childhood fascination became a lifelong passion. But Dean raises a provocative question: Do we really need to study music to appreciate it—or is listening enough?

His answer might surprise you.

to see the whole interview, visit our YouTube channel. Link in bio.

10/09/2026

Peanut Butter Wolf—DJ, producer and Founder of Stone’s Throw Records—kicked off THE BERRY GORDY SPEAKER SERIES in Lani Hall this Fall. He sat down with Dr. Tiffany Naiman to discuss the longevity of Stones Throw in the context of taste, finding your own point of view, and the desire to follow creative instincts rather than trends. The conversation opened up to students, who had the opportunity to join in.

THE BERRY GORDY SPEAKER SERIES is hosted by the Berry Gordy Music Industry Center at The UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music. The series brings the people shaping the industry—from creatives to executives—directly to UCLA students. Conversations highlight the human side of the industry, from personal growth and wellness to social impact and responsible leadership.

10/09/2026

Getting ready for Coltrane 100 at UCLA. SCENES from rehearsal. Remember, symposium and music Friday, starting at 2 pm in Lani Hall. The concert: Saturday, 8 pm, Schoenberg Hall.

10/07/2026

Madame Gandhi is the first recipient of The UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music’s Dean’s Medal of Distinction. A musician, activist and feminist thinker, she has recorded five studio albums and holds degrees from Stanford, Harvard and Georgetown. Her career has been defined by curiosity, creativity and a commitment to making the world more connected and compassionate. Her music has reached Spotify’s Viral Top 50 and has been featured by Netflix, FIFA and others.

Madame Gandhi was the first commencement speaker of Dean Michael Beckerman’s tenure, and she recently sat down with him to record an episode of his upcoming podcast, UCLA Music Now. Stay tuned for that conversation.
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Michael Beckerman established the Dean's Medal of Distinction in 2026 to celebrate faculty and guests who have achieved distinction in their fields. The award is commemorated by a special medal and honors individuals whose talents, dedication, leadership and curiosity and creative achievements have made a lasting impact on our community.

10/02/2026

From The Guardian: Hearing Gretchen Parlato’s spellbinding version of the Herbie Hancock song Butterfly was unforgettable when the eloquent LA-born singer’s star glimmered into view in the 2000s.

Read more:

With guests including Robert Glasper, Parlato turns her immaculate phrasing to soft funk, dancefloor numbers and interpretations of Stevie Wonder and Tears for Fears

09/30/2026

Gretchen Parlato, global jazz faculty, just dropped her new album "The Wise Ones" with Edition records.

Reuniting with Robert Glasper, Gerald Clayton, Mark Guiliana and long-time collaborator Alan Hampton, The Wise Ones brings together songs written across two decades – new reflections alongside earlier compositions, shaped into one cohesive narrative.

Read more:

Gretchen Parlato, global jazz studies faculty, just dropped her new album “The Wise Ones” with Edition records. Reuniting with Robert Glasper, Gerald Clayton, Mark Guiliana and long-time collaborator Alan Hampton,

09/28/2026

Professor Lily Chen-Hafteck won a Global Education Award to develop a master’s in global music education.

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The UCLA Global Advisors Council has named 17 professors as winners of the 2026 Global Education and Global Research awards.

09/25/2026

The best part of the fortepiano recital? The Beethoven. And then the after party.

09/24/2026

From Textura — The title of Inna Faliks's 2023 book Weight in the Fingertips: A Musical Odyssey from Soviet Ukraine to the World Stage could function equally for her latest release when it likewise offers an intensely personal account of her musical evolution.

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The title of Inna Faliks' 2023 book Weight in the Fingertips: A Musical Odyssey from Soviet Ukraine to the World Stage could function equally for her latest release when it likewise offers an intensely personal account of her musical evolution. Beginning with two short settings by the Ukrainian-born...

09/23/2026

FALL WELCOME! Great to see our students back and together for a meet-and-greet, academic program breakouts, lunch in Dickson Court and a town hall to kick things off. Basically, a full day of talking about music and thinking about music. Eventually, we will make some music.

Here’s to a great 2026–27, filled with music, creativity, critical scholarship and hopefully a reasonable amount of sleep. Go Bruins!

09/23/2026

Tamir Hendelman, continuing lecturer of Jazz Piano, just released a new music video recorded at ConcertLab in Utrecht, The Netherlands. The Tamir Hendelman Trio features Sylvain Fournet-Fayas on bass and Germain Cornet on drums.

Watch here:

*Tamir Hendelman Trio perform original compositions and improvisati...