Jordan Rudess

Renowned musician Jordan Rudess collaborates with Professor Joe Paradiso and the Media Lab Responsive Environments Group to create new technology that probes the boundaries of where AI meets musical control and expression. A machine learning model trained on Rudess’s playing style and technique improvises and performs live in a duet with its human counterpart. Sometimes leading, sometimes following, the model and human together create new and unique music that interacts in real time with a physical installation that responds to and influences the behavior of the model.

Over a series of visits to campus, Rudess shares his perspectives on music technology, performance, and technique through workshops, guest lectures, and a collaborative concert.

Upcoming Events

Jordan and the Jam Bot: A Work-in-Progress Performance
September 21, 2024 / 8pm

MIT Media Lab 6th Floor Multipurpose Room, Building E14

A work-in-progress performance of new technology that probes the boundaries of where machine learning meets musical control and expression, created by Jordan Rudess and the MIT Media Lab Responsive Environments Group. Learn more and purchase tickets.

Emerson/Harris Masterclass with Jordan Rudess

September 23, 2024 / 5–7pm
Killian Hall, MIT Building 14

A masterclass with Jordan Rudess exploring composition, improvisation, and student performances of Jordan’s work. Learn more and register to attend.

Past Events

Open class with guest speaker Jordan Rudess: MAS.837 Principles of Electronic Music Interfaces
Tuesday, April 9, 2024 / 12:30-2pm
MIT Wiesner Building, E15-341
Open to MIT ID holders

Residency visits:
April 2024
May 2024
September 2024

Additional program details to be announced.

Voted “Best Keyboardist of All Time” by Music Radar Magazine, Jordan Rudess is best known as the keyboardist/multi-instrumentalist extraordinaire for platinum-selling Grammy Award–winning rock band, Dream Theater. A classical prodigy who began his studies at the Juilliard School at the age of 9, his music is a unique blend of classical and rock influences. In addition to playing in Dream Theater and his solo career, Rudess has worked with a wide range of artists, including Deep Purple, David Bowie, Steven Wilson, Jan Hammer, Enrique Iglesias, the Paul Winter Consort, Annie Haslam, Liquid Tension Experiment (with John Petrucci, Mike Portnoy, and Tony Levin), LMR (with Tony Levin and Marco Minneman), Blackfield, Aviv Geffen, the Dixie Dregs, Rod Morgenstein, and Tony Williams among others. 

His interest in state-of-the-art keyboard controllers and music apps is another area of his career in which he has achieved success. Rudess owns the successful app development company Wizdom Music, creators of award-winning apps such as MorphWiz, SampleWiz, and Geo Synthesizer. Wizdom Music’s latest app, GeoShred, was created in collaboration with moForte, founding members of Stanford University’s Sondius team. In addition, Rudess is the author of two keyboard technique books including his latest, Total Keyboard Wizardry: A Technique and Improvisation Workbook. Recently, he was an artist-in-residence at Stanford University’s Center for Computer Research in Music and Acoustics (CCRMA).

Website: jordanrudess.com
Social: Instagram | Facebook | Twitter | Youtube

Faculty Advisor: Joe Paradiso, Alexander W. Dreyfoos (1954) Professor and Director of the Responsive Environments Group, MIT Media Lab

AI Music System Designer: Lancelot Blanchard, Research Assistant, Responsive Environments Group, MIT Media Lab

Installation Artist/Designer: Perry Naseck, Research Assistant, Responsive Environments Group, MIT Media Lab

With thanks to Irmandy Wicaksono, whose Knitted Keyboard inspired the initial collaboration.