American jazz pianist and university teacher
Born: July 25, 1938, Windsor, Pennsylvania
Died: February 15, 2024

Paul Schmeling, a revered figure in the world of jazz music and education, left an indelible mark through his work as a pianist and university teacher. Born on July 25, 1938, in Windsor, Pennsylvania, Schmeling's journey into music led him to a distinguished career that intertwined performance with academic teaching, notably at the Berklee College of Music starting in 1961, shortly after he completed his own studies in 1959.
Throughout his career, Schmeling collaborated with an array of jazz luminaries including Clark Terry, Rebecca Parris, George Coleman, Carol Sloane, Frank Foster, Art Farmer, Herb Pomeroy, Phil Wilson, Dick Johnson, Ernestine Anderson, and Slide Hampton. His passion for jazz was paralleled by his dedication to education, significantly impacting students with his deep understanding of music theory, harmony, and ear training.
Schmeling's discography includes notable albums such as Ac-cent-tchu-ate the Positive with Phil Wilson, celebrating the music of Harold Arlen, and solo projects One for the Road and Star Dust/The Music of Hoagy Carmichael, where he explored the depths of jazz standards and compositions. Beyond recording, he was deeply involved in Boston's theater music scene, contributing his talents to productions like You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown and performances with the touring company of Sesame Street.
As an author, Schmeling co-authored Berklee Practice Method: Keyboard and Instant Keyboard, and penned Berklee Music Theory: Book 1, enriching the resources available to students of music theory and practice. His dedication to teaching was recognized when his Berklee Keyboard Method course was awarded by the University Continuing Education Association as America's best online college course in 2006.