Photo by Phil Farnsworth

The mission of Berklee College of Music is to educate, train, and develop students to excel in music as a career.

Developing the musicianship of all our students is the foundation of our curriculum. We believe that the lessons and qualities derived from that work—the self-discipline needed for excellence, the empathy required of music making and the openness and inquisitiveness essential to creativity—are critical to achievement in any pursuit, musical or otherwise; and that music is a powerful catalyst for personal growth, which is central to any collegiate experience.

Founded on jazz and popular music rooted in the African cultural diaspora, our comprehensive curriculum is distinctly contemporary in its content and approach, and embraces the principal musical movements of our time. Through a course of scholarly and practical learning experiences integrating performance and writing, our curriculum covers the variety of influential styles, relevant technologies, and career opportunities open to today's music professional.

Objectives

• To define and refine the individual talents of our students by providing a broad range of major programs offered by a distinguished faculty, and to prepare them for careers in music that reflect the diversity of expression and opportunities that define music today.
  
  
• To enable our students to employ their musical education in a global society by providing a coherent liberal arts curriculum that informs their thinking about issues that have shaped our time.
  
  
• To encourage our students to appreciate and apply music's enormous force for the enrichment of society and intercultural understanding.
  
  
• To cultivate a supportive learning environment by actively promoting a climate of respect for personal and cultural differences, and by offering a range of services and activities to support the needs of the student musicians who come to us from around the world.
  
  
• To maintain the vitality of our college community by encouraging and supporting continuing professional development for all of its members.
  
  
• To provide an environment in which all know that they are full and valued members of the community.
  
  
• To value ethical behavior in all aspects of personal and professional life by establishing a community that values integrity in all relationships.
  
  
• To retain our leadership position in music education and to ensure that our curriculum remains relevant by pledging to value academic freedom and innovation.