The MIT Institute of Music and Dramatic Arts fondly remembers the legacy of Professor Emeritus Jeanne Shapiro Bamberger, who handed away peacefully from pure causes on December 12, 2024 at her house in Berkeley, California, on the age of 100.
Throughout his 30 years on the institute, Bamberger discovered methods to make use of computer systems to have interaction college students and help them in studying music. A educated pianist, fascinated by the concept of utilizing know-how to achieve perception into music schooling, Bamberger finally helped rework the best way music is taught at MIT and elsewhere.
Bamberger was born on February 11, 1924 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Her mom, Gertrude Shapiro (née Kullberg), was born right into a Romanian-Jewish household, studied youngster psychology, and was energetic within the League of Girls Voters. Her father, Mose Shapiro, was of Lithuanian and Polish Jewish descent and was a groundbreaking pediatric heart specialist.
In 1969, Bamberger started a 32-year profession at MIT, initially within the former MIT Training Division. Whereas at MIT, Bamberger turned the primary girl to obtain tenure within the Division of Music and Dramatic Arts. She was often called a pioneer in utilizing pc languages to show kids music. She additionally used pc improvements to review how kids, and by extension all people, study music, and this vector specifically turned her life’s work.
Forward of his time, Mr. Bamberger labored on the MIT Synthetic Intelligence Laboratory within the Nineteen Eighties and was with the MIT Academic Analysis Division from 1975 to 1995, the place he developed pc languages (MusicLogo and Impromptu). She turned affiliate professor of music and theater arts in 1981, earned tenure shortly thereafter, and served as chair of the division from 1989 to 1990. Throughout this era, she continued to carry out as a live performance pianist, collaborating in concert events with the MIT Symphony Orchestra, and actively performing chamber music each at MIT and locally. She additionally taught at Harvard College College of Training.
Institute Professor Marcus Thompson stated: “Throughout her time with us as a senior professor, she was clearly a crown jewel. For somebody who studied piano with the historic legend Arthur Schnabel, who studied and knew Darius Milhaud, one in all not less than one of many French Six, and labored with the French composer and conductor Pierre Boulez, she was one in all our college members who continued to advocate for the development of recent music. At a time once we had been underneath stress to develop and she or he was our solely senior girl, we noticed the potential of a graduate program in music once we lastly noticed the necessity to do higher.” Each a devoted music constructing and a graduate music program turned a actuality.
Bamberger liked her job and was liked and admired by her college students and colleagues. Kenan Sahin Distinguished Professor Evan Ziporin says she was “an enormous asset to our part. With out her contributions, MIT Music and Theater Arts wouldn’t be the place we’re at the moment. She’s additionally a fairly cool particular person. I imply, what number of 90-year-old teachers find yourself collaborating with Herbie Hancock and taking that work to the White Home?”
Ziporin added that “amongst seven million singular accomplishments,” Bamberger has revealed quite a few articles and books, together with “The Artwork of Listening.” Co-authored with Howard Brofsky, “The Thoughts Behind the Musical Ear,” “Creating Musical Instinct,” and “Discovering the Musical Thoughts.”
Whereas at MIT, Bamberger supervised many college students and assisted many extra with their research. SM’98, PhD ’00, operations researcher, pianist, present professor of engineering at King’s School London, and Bamberger’s mentor, Elaine Chu says, “I would not be the place I’m at the moment with out Jeanne. Jeanne, a toddler prodigy turned music thinker, was concerned in music and AI lengthy earlier than music and AI turned standard. She cared deeply about individuals and was keen about how we study. I will always remember the day I got here in and complained to her about one thing that wasn’t going effectively. As an alternative of telling me what to do, Jeanne stated, “What are you going to do about it?” He inspired them to replicate on and domesticate their very own independence. ” (Chu particulars Bamberger’s inspirational function within the movie. 2016 interview. )
All in all, Bamberger had a artistic, wealthy thoughts and favored to ask probing questions, traits she handed on to her descendants and group. That was her pleasure and fervour.
When he was a professor at MIT, Bamberger was a drive to be reckoned with. Along with her lengthy and fruitful educational profession, during which she revealed 4 books and almost 20 ebook chapters, she was additionally politically energetic, supporting the anti-Vietnam Warfare and civil rights actions. She continued to show and publish effectively into her nineties, constructing a powerful group of friends and colleagues to the tip.
In 2002, Bamberger turned professor emeritus at MIT and moved to Berkeley, California, the place he continued to show within the music division on the College of California, Berkeley.
She was 100 years outdated and was predeceased by her ex-husband, Frank Ok. Bamberger. She is survived by two sons, Joshua and Paul (Chip); 4 grandchildren – Jereme, Kaela, Eli, and Noah; and lots of caring relations and associates.
