There is a rich tradition of music greats and students mixing at Berklee. In Berklee's early years, artists often made impromptu visits out of curiosity about the burgeoning school. Duke Ellington stopped by Berklee in 1957 when he heard that a student ensemble was planning an Ellington tribute. Duke spent the day on campus, eventually sitting in on piano during one of the rehearsals.

Many times artists would visit to return a favor from a colleague who was somehow affiliated with the college. Touring musicians performing at Boston night spots would sometimes use their free time during the day to visit the campus and give clinics. In those days, guest clinicians included Cannonball Adderley, Oscar Peterson, Jimmy Smith, Charles Mingus, Max Roach, and Woody Herman.

	Bassist Charles Mingus performedand answered students' questions in a 1975 clinic.

The diversity of clinicians has also reflected the many styles and demands of the music industry. For example, master classes have been given by artists like Trisha Yearwood, Jimmy Buffet, guitarist Steve Morse, Grover Washington, Jr., fiddler Vassar Clements, songwriter Janis Ian, African musician Angelique Kidjo, and John Scofield, as well as by a long list of the highest-ranking producers, engineers, film composers and other music industry professionals.

Oscar Peterson talks with students during his 197 visit to Berklee.

In 1983, jazz vocalist Betty Carter engaged in a question-and-answer session with students at the Berklee Performance Center. When Carter asked for a pianist to accompany her, students began chanting for then-student Cyrus Chestnut '85 who joined Carter on stage for a version of "Body and Soul." A few years later, Carter remembered her first encounter with the young pianist and hired him for her trio.