Berklee
Berklee
Berklee
College
of Music
2
Contents
04 Who We Are
10 What We Believe
18 Standout Faculty
20 Specialized Programs
30 How to Apply
3
Who We Are
Dynamic. Influential. Wildly creative.
Berklee College of Music is the leading educational
institution of contemporary music, located in one of the
world’s great artistic cities. We give talented musicians
creative outlets and commercial skills. Since 1945,
generations of artists have broken the mold at Berklee.
4
Berklee continually cultivates its own promise—stretching, expanding, and reinventing itself in a
rapidly changing world. In recent years, Berklee has opened new campuses in New York City and
Valencia, Spain, and grown Berklee Online into the world’s largest online music school. In 2016,
the Boston Conservatory—the oldest and one of the most prestigious conservatories in the U.S. for
dance, music, and theater—joined forces with Berklee College of Music, establishing a performing
arts training institution unparalleled in its breadth and depth. As a combined institution, Berklee is
an education powerhouse with global reach and vast cultural impact.
6
77
Berklee by the Numbers
A Berklee degree has global influence. Our innovative curriculum, exceptional faculty,
career opportunities, and accomplished alumni set us apart. Each year, we’re recognized
as one of the top music colleges worldwide by publications such as Billboard, The
Hollywood Reporter, and Forbes.
1,000 courses
+
9
What We Believe
We believe in the value of contemporary music. Music is the
universal soundtrack of the human experience. We focus on today’s
music in all its forms—from songwriting and performance to music
therapy and video game sound design—and shape its future.
10
11
The Beat
Boston, Massachusetts, is home to our flagship
campus. It’s the birthplace of the American
Revolution, and the spirit of that revolution hasn’t
stopped. This is a city of firsts, of rich history and
modern innovation. It’s reflected in our music
scene: bohemian yet sophisticated, polished
but audacious.
12
of Boston
Now, it’s still the city of choice for performers
who value our open-mindedness, creativity, and
expansiveness. From underground speakeasies to
historic jazz clubs to some of the world’s most
prestigious concert halls, Boston buzzes.
berklee.edu/boston-campus
13
14
Exceptional Studios
Our Boston campus houses 16 professional production facilities on
par with major Hollywood studios and commercial enterprises. At our
custom-built facility at 160 Massachusetts Avenue, you’ll find a 10-stu-
dio music production complex, among the largest of its kind in the
United States. It’s also home to the Shames Family Scoring Stage, a
2,200-square-foot studio where up to 50 musicians can record at once.
At Berklee, it’s all yours. berklee.edu/facilities
15
What You’ll Learn
Berklee College of Music offers two undergraduate degree types: a
Bachelor of Music and a Bachelor of Arts. Many of our Bachelor of Music
majors are also available as a Professional Diploma program, which puts a
heavier emphasis on the study of music with fewer liberal arts courses.
16
Bachelor of Music Majors
Black Music and Culture Jazz Composition
Engage with and contextualize the Build on the rich history of jazz by
historical, social, artistic, and cultural creating compositions and musical
contributions of the global African scores for a variety of ensembles
diaspora at the intersection of arts and musical settings.
and culture—namely music, dance,
and theater. Music Business/Management
Learn the fundamentals of the
Composition music business from a musician’s
Gain inspiration and world- perspective. Dive into the legal,
class instruction in composition, financial, and artistic nuances
conducting, or related fields by of the contemporary music
studying a variety of composition business industry.
techniques, instrumentation,
and orchestration. Music Education
Realize your dream of teaching and
Contemporary Writing mentoring the next generation of
and Production musicians. Learn how to meet the
Develop your writing, arranging, needs of diverse learners by using
and producing acumen in a the latest pedagogical practices.
diverse community of professional
musicians, with the necessary skills to Music Production
work in a studio environment. and Engineering
Develop expertise in engineering,
Electronic Production production, editing, mixing, and
and Design mastering. Master the latest tools
Excel in a world where and techniques and gain essential
experimentation, artistry, and experience to meet the changing
technology meet. Learn to use demands of the recording industry.
technology to create and produce
compositions, sonic design, Music Therapy
and instruments. Use music’s power to connect
people, heal trauma, and improve
Film and Media Scoring quality of life. Gain real-world
Learn to compose, arrange, and experience through internships
conduct music for film, television, and clinical research.
and video games.
Performance
Game and Interactive Learn the skills, concepts, and
Media Scoring methodology for your principal
Develop modern approaches to instrument to pursue the highest
video-game-scoring in state-of-the- levels of professional performance.
art studios and scoring labs using
compositional techniques, game and Professional Music
media technology, and interactive Innovate and design your own
scoring methodologies. musical path through Berklee’s
expansive curriculum. Work with
Independent Recording advisors to curate an educational
and Production plan tailored to your goals.
Develop skills to become an effective
music producer at the intersection Songwriting
of art, aesthetics, and commercial Master melody, harmony, arranging,
viability. Using the personal DAW- and lyric writing, and build a
based toolkit of the independent competitive portfolio of original
producer, record, mix, and master songs. Learn to write artfully and gain 17
music at an advanced level. essential skills to create commercially
viable material.
Standout Faculty
Berklee faculty have thrilled audiences on world stages as musicians and orchestrated
stunning performances behind the scenes as producers, composers, managers, and
more. You’ll have a front-row seat in the classroom, thanks to a 1:6 faculty-to-student
ratio. These industry leaders will become your mentors, collaborators, and industry
connections. berklee.edu/faculty
• Produced albums for Prince, David Byrne, Mary J. Blige, Nine Inch Nails, Destiny's
Child, Radiohead, Tina Turner, Dave Matthews Band, Lou Reed, P. Diddy, Usher,
Warren Zevon, Hole, Los Amigos Invisibles, and more
• Performed with Beyoncé, Aretha Franklin, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Lalah Hathaway,
Susan Tedeschi, Steven Tyler, John Mayer, Sting, Hank Jones, Yo-Yo Ma,
Dave Holland, Jill Scott, and more
18
“It was all or nothing, and
that's why I'm at Berklee.”
- MERCEDES ESCOBAR '25
19
Specialized Programs
Harvard-Berklee Joint Studies Program
The Harvard–Berklee Joint Studies program allows students to engage in coursework at
Berklee while pursuing a Bachelor of Arts at Harvard University. The program benefits
musically and intellectually talented students who wish to pursue a contemporary music
education at Berklee and a rigorous liberal arts education at Harvard. Students receive
their Bachelor of Arts after four years, and have the option to pursue a master’s degree
(either an M.M. or M.A.) at Berklee. berklee.edu/harvard-berklee
20
Study in Spain
Our campus in Valencia, Spain, brings the
Berklee trademarks—accomplished faculty,
best-in-class studios and equipment, and
a dynamic, diverse student body—to the
iconic City of Arts and Sciences. As an
undergraduate, you can experience Valencia
alongside fellow Berklee musicians through
our First Year Abroad program or our
semester-long Study Abroad program.
There are also several graduate and summer
programs offered on the Valencia campus.
berklee.edu/valencia
21
Berklee is your
launchpad, where
you’ll improve,
evolve, and advance
as a musician.
22
22
23
24
Campus Life,
Community, and Support
Connect Create
Your first year will be filled with music, From baroque synthesizer to Afro-pop,
exploration, and creative breakthroughs. Berklee offers over 350 ensembles—the
This is a community of more than 5,000 most of any school, anywhere. In your first
passionate musicians in the heart of a major semester as a Bachelor of Music student, we’ll
city—but rest assured you won’t be left to place you with an ensemble based on your
navigate it on your own. Specially chosen preferred genre and audition rating. After that,
Berklee student ambassadors show you the you choose. berklee.edu/ensembles
way. This advising service is available
to all students: Ask questions, get tips,
make friends.
28
28
Apply for Financial Aid
To be considered for need-based aid, we encourage
all U.S. citizens and permanent residents to fill out the
FAFSA and CSS Profile. International students should fill
out the CSS Profile.
Earn Scholarships
All applicants are considered for merit-based
scholarships, which are offered based on the quality
of the applicant’s academics, audition, interview, and
supplemental information such as extracurricular
activities and test scores. Approximately 40 percent of
the entering class receives a partial tuition scholarship
each year. While the majority of scholarships offered
are partial tuition, Berklee does offer a limited number
of full-tuition scholarships and presidential scholarships
covering tuition, room, and board.
berklee.edu/scholarships
Transfer Credits
If you have previously completed college-level
coursework, you are invited to submit an official
transcript from a regionally accredited online or
campus-based institution for transfer credit evaluation.
Requesting to apply transfer credit to your degree is a
cost-saving measure that can help make your time at
29
Berklee more affordable.
berklee.edu/transfer-credit
How to Apply
• Submit your application form.
Complete your form online
and pay the nonrefundable
application fee. Standardized tests
such as the ACT and SAT aren’t
required.
30
The Audition The Interview
The audition is your chance to shine. You’ll Your interview with an admissions
perform in front of accomplished musicians representative will touch on your goals,
who share your love for music and under- aspirations, and potential contributions
stand your drive to succeed. to Berklee. Think about:
We seek the most diverse and skilled musi- • How have you prepared for Berklee?
cians, which is why we hold audition tours
across the globe. Auditioning at our Boston • What are your professional/career goals?
campus offers a unique Berklee experience,
including campus tours and student perfor- • Why do you want to study at Berklee?
mances. Visit our website to see where you
can find us next, learn about instrument-spe- • How will you contribute to our diverse
cific guidelines, and view practice questions community?
to help you get ready.
berklee.edu/audition-interview • Why is being a part of an inclusive
environment important to you?
Preparing for
Your Audition While applicants to the Bachelor of
Arts in music industry leadership
The audition is your first chance to work and innovation are required to
directly with a Berklee faculty member. complete an interview as part of the
The audition is just 15 minutes long, but
application process, they are not
it covers a lot of ground, including:
required to audition.
• A prepared piece
• Improvisation
• Sight-reading
• Ear training
31
Other Ways to
Engage with Berklee
Summer Programs Global Partner Schools
Experience Berklee before the school We partner with educational
year starts. Choose from precollege institutions around the world that
offerings in music, theater, or dance at our enable you to complete up to two full
campuses in Boston or Valencia, Spain, or years of study before coming to Berklee.
online. Play in a band, mix in our studios, Review each institution’s credit-transfer
and learn from the same world-class agreement to understand which courses
faculty and visiting artists who teach will easily transfer to Berklee College of
during the school year. Students who Music. After successful study at one of
attend our most comprehensive these institutions, you’ll be prepared to
program—Aspire: Five-Week Music apply to Berklee, and, once admitted,
Performance Intensive—have the arrive ready to join our community to
opportunity to earn college credit and complete your degree.
audition for an undergraduate program berklee.edu/global-partners
while they are on campus.
berklee.edu/summer
Berklee Online
Study with Berklee’s faculty and indus-
try experts at our award-winning online
school before you enter college, and
pursue your education wherever you are.
With four term starts each year, Berklee
Online provides individual 12-week
courses, multicourse certificate programs,
and fully accredited bachelor’s and
master’s degrees. It’s also a great way to
sharpen your foundational music skills
while sampling the Berklee educational
experience. berklee.edu/online
32
“There's nowhere
else like Berklee.”
- DANIEL RAMOS '23
33
Start Your Journe
If music is central to your life; if you want to actively build your
skills, knowledge, and network; if you want to place yourself among
a diverse, talented, and ambitious group of students, faculty, and
alumni in one of the world’s greatest music cities, then you belong
at Berklee College of Music.
34
34
ey
35
1140 Boylston Street
Boston, MA 02215 USA
[email protected]
+1 800-BERKLEE (+1-800-237-5533)