ALICIA KEYS Teaches Songwriting and Producing C Songs in the Key of Alicia The making of a modern-day Renaissance woman he world loves a prodigy. It was obvious to those closest to bums, four No. 1 singles, more than Blaise Pascal, Wolfgang her long before. When Alicia was 42 million records sold worldwide. Mozart, Bobby Fischer— growing up in the notorious Hell’s But to describe Alicia strictly Twe obsess over their minds and Kitchen neighborhood of New York, as a prodigy would do her a dis- gifts with amazement and envy. We her mother—single, fierce—sup- service. The term, while accurate, imagine the headiness that comes plied ample encouragement. By age writes off her career as God-given with making something immensely seven, Alicia had found her muse talent—something anyone could’ve difficult look as easy as breathing. in the piano, the instrument that pulled off had they been born with We wonder what it must be like to would inspire her stage name; soon her same musical inclination. In harbor a deep, relentless, natural tal- she was creating original compo- reality, her tireless work ethic—the ent and how remarkable it must feel sitions, translating emotion into decades she spent becoming a to unleash that talent on the world. lyrical syllables and onto musical better musician, a better performer, To be sure, Alicia Keys (born staffs. Her songs blend R&B, jazz, a better human—was as crucial a Alicia Cook) is deeply, relentlessly, pop, soul, and classical music into component of her meteoric rise. As naturally talented. That much has a sound that’s at once familiar and a young artist with a singular vision, been clear to the world since 2001, inimitable. The accolades that she’s Alicia often fought for creative con- when her debut album, Songs in A accumulated speak for themselves: trol of her music. She wrestled with Minor, swept the Grammy Awards. 15 Grammys, seven hit studio al- self-doubt and the pressures of con- formity. She asked big questions, took a solo pilgrimage across Egypt, became an outspoken advocate for women’s rights and gender equality, and discovered a passion for non- profit work. Along the way, she kept learning and listening, refining her sound, experimenting in the record- ing studio and on tour. Alicia would be the first to tell you: It might look easy, but it wasn’t easy. So she understands the importance of sharing what she’s learned with a new generation. It’s what compelled her to be a judge on NBC’s The Voice, and it’s what brings her here. Songwriting has led Alicia down a path of self-accep- tance and self-discovery—a path she hopes you’ll take, too. LEE CELANO/AFP VIA GETTY GRAMMYS: ALICIA KEYS; COURTESY IMAGES ARCHIVAL: 1 For more on how to read sheet music for piano, head to masterclass.com. 2 3 Charting two decades of artistic evolution (and a lifetime of spiritual growth) across Alicia’s seven studio albums s a precocious teenage star, Alicia wasn’t afraid teuse in the mold of Aretha Franklin. to present herself as an artist—one who was Not one to be pegged, though, Alicia swerved, tapping thinking in the long-term. Two decades later, into the influences of both piano ballads (see: her rumina- Aher impressive discography reflects a lesson gleaned tive 2009 album, The Element of Freedom) and anthemic from the likes of Prince and Nina Simone: Never make the ’80s- and ’90s-inflected pop and R&B (see: “Like You’ll same album twice. Never See Me Again” off 2007’s As I Am, as well as the Even today, Alicia’s debut LP—2001’s wise-beyond- triumphant, titular track from 2012’s Girl on Fire). its-years Songs in A Minor—has the power to make any In recent years, Alicia’s music has reflected changes listener erupt in goosebumps. She was 20 when the lead in her personal life and the world. The evolution heard on single, “Fallin’, ” dropped, but she’d been toiling away at her impassioned 2016 release, Here, found her exper- the album for years (she wrote its earliest song, “But- imenting with new sounds; it’s her most hip-hop-influ- terflyz,” at the age of 14). The record is virtuoso piano, enced album to date, with a bold, compassionate mes- city-kid swagger, and the soulfulness of her musical he- sage of justice and peace. Songs like “Blended Family,” roes—Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder, and, yes, her “homie” “The Gospel,” and “She Don’t Really Care_1 Luv” eloquent- Frédéric Chopin—remixed to a beat all her own. ly place her own experiences—marriage, motherhood— You get a lifetime to make your first record, and then within a larger social context while adapting to a new about a year—if you’re lucky—to make your second. sonic palette of driving beats, sparser soundscapes, and Alicia elegantly sidestepped a sophomore slump with bluesy vocals. ALICIA, released in September 2020, picks 2003’s The Diary of Alicia Keys. The album explored up that thread and runs with it. The album features some the sensuous textures of neo-soul and what she calls of the most political songs of her career (“Perfect Way to “retro-futuristic” production styles; she was pegged as Die,” “Good Job”) while making space to collaborate with a modern-day torchbearer for the 1960s and ’70s, a chan- young artists like Sampha, Khalid, and Tierra Whack. Developed in the mid-20th and develop rigorous habits sensitivity, discipline, and century by the Japanese through repeated practice endurance. He gets a beauti- violinist Shinichi Suzuki, the and sequential introduction ful heart.” Suzuki Method is an educa- to classical compositions. tional system that teaches Suzuki’s philosophy also children how to play music focuses on music’s ability Learn the fundamentals with the same ease that they to inspire the spirit. “If a of music—from scales learn to speak their native child hears fine music from and chord progressions language. Practitioners start the day of his birth and to the difference between early—Alicia was around six learns to play it himself,” he melody and harmony—at years old when she began— once wrote, “he develops masterclass.com. 4 The Essential Alicia Playlist Soaring ballads and hip-hop flare, soulful grooves and social commentary—it’s all here “FALLIN’ ” reconsiders materialism in the wake handful of top 10 charts, further Now her signature song, “Fallin’ ” of the 9/11 terrorist attacks and the solidifying Alicia’s star power and introduced the world to Alicia. The death of R&B luminary Aaliyah. technical prowess. seminal arrangement showcases her vocal range, lyrical maturity, and “YOU DON’T KNOW MY NAME” “LIKE YOU’LL NEVER early neo-gospel–infused sound. Another top-ten hit, another Grammy SEE ME AGAIN” winner. This lovelorn treat, produced A soothing piano riff helped this “A WOMAN'S WORTH” by Kanye West and featuring a pre- sumptuous track skyrocket up the The tango-style earworm and fame John Legend on background R&B charts, where it bumped anoth- second single of Alicia’s career vocals, ensured Alicia’s second er of Alicia’s songs, “No One,” out of broke into single digits on the Hot album got the music world buzzing. the No. 1 spot. 100 thanks in no small part to an award-winning music video. “DIARY” “NO ONE” Featuring original instrumentals by “No One” topped Billboard’s Hot “IF I AIN’T GOT YOU” ’90s neo-soul act Tony! Toni! Toné!, 100 for five weeks straight and the Winner of one Grammy Award and “Diary” was certified gold, garnered Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart for nominated for a second, the song a Grammy nom, and cracked a 10 weeks. It was the most-heard SONGS IN A MINOR (2001) THE DIARY OF ALICIA KEYS (2003) AS I AM (2007) THE ELEMENT OF FREEDOM (2009) GIRL ON FIRE (2012) HERE (2016) ALICIA (2020) 5 radio song of 2007. Within a year, it ranked among the bestselling singles of all time, earning a pair of Grammy Awards. “SUPERWOMAN” The super-catchy, organ-driven ode to female empowerment became the theme song for the WNBA’s 2008 season. “UN-THINKABLE (I’M READY)” The longest-running No. 1 single of 2010—it sat atop Billboard’s R&B away the hip-hop swagger and dou- “BLENDED FAMILY chart for a solid three months—was bled down on Alicia’s warm, intimate (WHAT YOU DO FOR LOVE)” propelled by a hit music video that piano playing. It was a hit overseas, Exploring coparenting and modern- explored interracial relationships charting at No. 4 in the U.K. day familial dynamics, this collab- and was recognized at the NAACP oration with Gen Z megastar A$AP Awards. “GIRL ON FIRE” Rocky was both a conversation Building on “Try Sleeping With a starter and a top 10 track on Bill- “TRY SLEEPING WITH Broken Heart,” the smash hit served board’s Adult R&B. A BROKEN HEART” as the centerpiece for a three-song The song peaked at No. 2 on suite (alongside a stripped-down “GRAMERCY PARK” Billboard’s Hot R&B/Hip-Hop version, plus a remix with Nicki Mi- Alicia performed this meditative chart—Alicia’s 13th top 10 hit of the naj) that showcased Alicia’s mastery groove—equal parts soul, gospel, and decade—but also marked a par- of musical arrangements. folk—during her weeklong, socially ticular moment in her career: Once distant concert residency on The Late enamored of Prince’s synthy power “HOLY WAR” Late Show.