MA.

Driton Bejta

Driton Bejta is recognized as one of the most prominent Jazz musicians in Kosovo and beyond. He graduated in Sweden in Jazz guitar and Pedagogy. He is a lecturer at the Faculty of Music, University of Prishtina, and at the Faculty of Musicology, AAB College. His concert career is rich, distinguished by his stylistic characteristics, with long experience and a deep understanding of Albanian and Balkan folk music. “Jazz & Folk” is the theme with which he has held a series of Masterclasses at both local and international universities such as “St. Louis College of Music”, Rome, Italy and the University of Tirana, Albania. He is active in various local Jazz bands.

Education

2004 – 2009 – Academy of Music in Malmö
Lund University, Sweden.
Degree: Master of Education
Main Subject:  Music in pedagogical work – Music Teaching in Classes/Groups.
Secondary Subject:  Jazz Guitar Performance – Teaching Jazz Guitar/Ensemble
Title of Master Thesis: Wes Montgomery and his approach to the fingerboard of the guitar.

Other university courses:

• Arrangement for Big Band I, II.
• Introduction to Flamenco Guitar.
• Guitar Big Band I, II.
• Logic Pro.

2001 – 2003 – Liljeholmens Folkhögskola
Higher School of Music, Specialization: Jazz.

2000 – 2001 – Skurups Folkhögskola
Higher School of Music, Specialization: Jazz.

Teaching Experience

• 2017 – Present – University of Prishtina, Faculty of Music
  Lecturer in the subject: Jazz Improvisation.
• 2016 – Present – AAB University, Faculty of Musicology
  Lecturer in the subjects: General Pedagogy, Music Teaching Methodology, Psychology of Music,   Instrument Knowledge.
• 2019 – “MasterClass” on the theme “Elements of Balkan Music in Jazz” at ST. Louis Jazz School, Rome, Italy
• 2023 – “MasterClass” on the theme “Jazz and folk” at the University of Arts, Tirana, Albania
• 2023 – “MasterClass” on the theme “Jazz and folk” at the Faculty of Arts, AAB College, Prishtina
• 2019 – ST. Louis Jazz School, Rome, Italy, one week of individual Jazz Guitar teaching with students
• 2014 – 2015 – Music School “Marigona Music Centre”. Individual teaching: Guitar and Ensemble.
• 2013 – 2014 – Music School “Okarina”. Individual teaching: Guitar
• 2012 – 2013 – Music School “Ejona”. Individual teaching: Guitar
• 2009 – Music Courses
  In the private sector he holds music courses for guitar, piano, bass, drums. Mainly in guitar, individual lessons with students of different ages. The working method and course content are adapted to the needs and preferences of the students. Usually in music genres preferred by the students: Pop, Rock, Jazz, Classical music, etc.
• 2004 – 2009 – Practice/Work (Sweden)
  Practice during studies, in the following levels: preschool, elementary school, high school of music and cultural school. In classroom/group teaching: leadership of music ensembles, leading various music projects, individual lessons in Jazz Guitar, and subjects related to studio recordings, use of equipment and software for recording and editing music sheets. Meanwhile, worked short-term as a substitute music teacher.

Music Performances

Published: Jazz (original and arrangements):
On YouTube and Soundcloud under the name: Driton Bejta.

• 1992 – Freelance Musician – Guitarist in various bands and genres including Jazz, Pop, Rock, and Folk music.

Some of the Jazz performances:

• 2004 – Concert at “Malmö Jazz Festival”
• 2006 – 2007 – Series of concerts over two years as guitarist in “Helsingborgs Big Band” (Sweden)
• 2007 – Arrangement for Big Band, for “Helsingborgs Big Band”
• 2012 – Concert at “Prishtina Jazz Festival”
• 2016 – Concert at “National Theatre”, Prishtina
• 2014 – Concert at “Hamam Jazz Bar” in collaboration with UN “International Jazz Day”
• 2014 – Jazz Performance “Live at Homebasesound”, Prishtina
• 2016 – Concert “Jazz Duo” with Rona Nishliu, “Norwegian Embassy”, Prishtina
• 2016 – Concert at “Cultural Center”, Skopje
• 2017 – Concert at “Festari Festival”, Theranda
• 2018 – Concert at “Festari Festival”, Theranda
• 2018 – TV Performance “Jazz Trio” RTK, Prishtina
• 2019 – Concert at “Apollonia Jazz Fest”, Albania
• 2021 – Concert at “Adriana Theatre”, Ferizaj
• 2021 – Album “Replike” – Ilire Avdiu, KTV, Prishtina
• 2021 – TV Live Performance “Sheki & Friends” Klan TV, Prishtina
• 2022 – Album “Një kafe në Paris” – Ilire Avdiu, KTV, Prishtina
• 2021 – “Bukur”, “Kalimtare” – Elsa Raqi, Studio recordings & Live promotion, Klan TV
• 2022 – Concert “Sheki & Friends” – Etno Fest, Kosovo
• 2022 – Concert “Jazz Duo” with Rona Nishliu, “Green Festival”, Mitrovica
• 2022 – Concert in “Sheki & Friends”, organized by Municipality of Ferizaj
• 2022 – Concert “Jazz Duo” with Rona Nishliu, “The Gjallica International Festival”, Albania
• 2022 – Concert “Sheki & Friends”, Theater Festival, Ferizaj
• 2022 – Concert “Jazz Night with John Medeski”, at Defy Them, Prishtina
• 2022 – Concert “Sheki & Friends”, International Cartoon Festival, Ferizaj
• 2023 – Concert “Jazz Duo” with Sheki Hoxha in Copenhagen, Denmark
• 2023 – Arrangement for Big Band, for “Rona Nishliu & Big Band”
• 2023 – Concert at “Adriana Theatre”, Ferizaj (150th Anniversary of the City)
• 2023 – TV Live Performance “Jazz Duo” with Donika Dugolli, ATV, Prishtina
• 2023 – Concert “Sheki & Friends” – Bansko International Jazz Festival, Bulgaria
• 2023 – Concert “Sheki & Friends” – Peja Jazz, Peja
• 2024 – Workshops and concerts “Identifying Young Talents”, Mitrovica, Peja
• 2024 – Concert “Prishtina Jazz Orchestra”, Prishtina Jazz Festival, Prishtina

Other Music-related Experience

• 2010 – 2013 “Kujtesa” (Internet & TV Cable Provider)
  In the film translation department, audio recording, editing, mixing.
• 1995 – Studio
  Engaged in recording studios, experienced with programs such as Logic Pro, Cubase, Reason, Sibelius etc. Certified by Apple in Logic Pro 8 Level 1. In the studio, besides musical activities such as recording, editing, mixing, and arrangement, he has also collaborated on projects for film music, theater music, and advertisements.
• Published: (YouTube)
  Elsa Raqi – “Bukur”, “Kalimtare”
  Burim Sejdiu – “Sillma Erën”, “Mall për Prishtinën”

Foreign Languages

Fluently speaks and writes Swedish and English.