Alumni Spotlight: Lissa Schneckenburger ’01
Raised in a small town in Maine and now living in Vermont, fiddler and singer Lissa Schneckenburger ’01 began playing fiddle at an early age, inspired by her parent’s interest in folk music. She graduated from New England Conservatory in 2001 with a degree in Contemporary Musical Arts (formerly Contemporary Improvisation) and has been composing, recording, performing, and teaching music around the world ever since. Lissa recorded seven solo albums; Falling Forward, Thunder in My Arms, Lissa Schneckenburger, Song, Dance, Covers, and Different Games, as well as albums with the bands Halali and Low Lilly and a duo record with pianist Bruce Rosen. Lissa also teaches a class on the fundamentals of learning music by ear, which is available from her web site as a downloadable video course, and has been in demand at in person festivals, music camps, and workshops for the last 20 years.
Over the last several decades, Lissa’s music has showcased everything from traditional New England dance tunes to original songs inspired by her experience as a foster and adoptive parent. Falling Forward, her first fiddle forward album in over a decade, blends her love of traditional music with her love of writing.
Why did you choose NEC?
The Contemporary Improvisation (now known as Contemporary Musical Arts), provided a unique opportunity to explore improvisation, ear training, and world music in a conservatory setting, with several of my top-choice studio teachers.
What have you been up to since graduating from NEC? What projects have you been working on? Do you have any goals you are looking to accomplish?
I've spent the last 20 years touring as a fiddler and vocalist with a variety of folk ensembles, writing and recording music, and teaching. I'm especially proud of my last full length release, Thunder in My Arms, and my single Bedlam Blues that were inspired by my experience as a foster and adoptive parent. I was motivated to write original music on the topics of attachment, developmental trauma, and resiliency, and the results turned out to be an unusual group of songs. The depth of the subject matter and style of music is quite different from what is normally marketed as music for families, and it was incredibly rewarding to record and release. In contrast, my newest goal is to finish an album of original instrumental music which will hopefully be out later this year.
What are some of your favorite memories from your time at NEC?
I absolutely loved participating in the Klezmer Ensemble under the direction of Hankus Netsky ’76, ’78 MM. The ensemble expanded my ears and technical proficiency, and was an incredible learning opportunity. We also had the chance to perform in two different PBS specials, A Taste Of Chanukah and A Taste of Passover. These high profile performances brought our ensemble playing to the next level.
Share a story about one of your favorite faculty or studio instructors.
Like many students, I arrived at NEC thinking I was a big shot. Coming from a small, rural town, I was not challenged musically until I arrived in Boston. Fortunately, I had several teachers who were up to the job of challenging me, including Hankus Netsky. I remember having to redo one particular assignment in Advanced Aural Training five or six weeks in a row before I finally got it right!
How have your NEC experiences shaped your artistic approach?
My teachers at NEC greatly affected how I listen to and appreciate music by significantly expanding my musical pallet and depth. My time at NEC also strongly influenced my teaching style, and I constantly find myself using exercises and assignments that I learned as a student. I am always excited to expand a student's listening technique, including how or what they listen to. I feel that I gained valuable insight as a music student myself, and it is a privilege to be able to pass that on.
Share any other stories about what has inspired you at NEC and beyond.
My time at NEC was influenced by living in Boston, especially with all that the city has to offer culturally. I took full advantage of the opportunity to attend performances at the Boston Symphony Orchestra, visit the Museum of Fine Arts and the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, and frequent the smaller venues and theaters in the greater Boston area. Even having friendly competition from neighboring Berklee students was beneficial! Living in a city allowed me to secure gigs and start working as a musician long before I graduated, and provided me with a rich cultural experience that positively enhanced my college education. I am so grateful for all of those amazing opportunities!
Do you have any advice for young musicians/current NEC students?
Don't over do it and take breaks when you need them! I developed tendonitis in my freshman year because I practiced too hard and too often. Ultimately it helped me overhaul my technique in a positive way, but I wish I did not push myself so hard. If you are practicing several hours a day, make sure you're taking breaks, stretching, and using ergonomic techniques so you can continue playing long into the future.
Learn more about Lissa
Graduation year: 2001
Degree: Bachelor’s Degree
Major: Contemporary Musical Arts (formerly known as Contemporary Improvisation)
Current job: Self Employed Musician
Website: lissafiddle.com
Facebook: Lissa Schneckenburger
Instagram: @lissafiddle