We’re proud members of the Berklee City Music network!
By Valeria Ayala
Quincy Jones, Meghan Trainor, Esperanza Spalding, and Aimee Mann: artists that fall under very different regions of the musical spectrum but, surprisingly enough, share quite a few things in common.
Aside from their notable careers and Grammy wins, the deeper connection between them traces back to their dorm days: they are all Berklee College of Music graduates. The list of talented and successful alumni is as varied as it is long, from the comedic stylings of Trey Parker (co-creator of South Park and The Book of Mormon) to the epic scores of Howard Shore (composer of The Lord of The Rings and The Hobbit trilogies). Berklee has been the artistic home to countless musicians and has continually set the standard for music education.
That’s why we are humbled, happy, and oh-so-proud to share with you that LIVE! School of Music is a full-time member of Berklee’s City Music Network.
Berklee College of Music in the Berklee City Music Network is a collaboration of mentors and musicians that provide nonprofit music education and resources to underserved students in cities across the nation.
The Berklee City Music Network establishes a crucial relationship between musicians worldwide that merge musical communities, expanding opportunities for students, both new and existing at Live! — join us.
Summit highlights
Each year, Berklee hosts an annual music summit that brings together industry veterans, music educators, students, and members of the City Music Network for a weekend of collaboration and professional development. One of the main highlights of the summit is the student ensembles that perform during the event.
In 2016, a select group of level-three students participated in the Berklee City Music Summit held in New Jersey.
From master classes with acclaimed artists to one-on-one mentorship, our students took their musicianship to the next level, forging new relationships and discovering a new city along the way.
The band was fortunate to be paired with Banda Magda's Magda Giannikou as their mentor. The students participated in individual piano, voice, and guitar workshops and group percussion sessions.
On the last day, everyone ventured out to the Big Apple, where the LIVE! family reunited with a few alumni now calling New York City home. We met with Maia, Theo, Delbert, and Luca and shared a gorgeous afternoon, talking about life, music, and the future.
There's nothing we love more than witnessing our students live out their love for their craft, growing collectively, and sharing experiences that change them individually and strengthen their bond.
This experience would not have been possible without support from the Berklee City Music Network, which continually backs our vision and provides our students and organization with the absolute best resources and opportunities for growth and higher learning. We're humbled to be a part of this incredible network and are excited for what's to come.
A warm and heartfelt thank you to our talented band for representing the school so beautifully, to the families that traveled to support these amazing musicians, and to the wonderful Magda Giannikou for the encouragement, passion, and wisdom shared with our students.
What is BCMN?
Berklee College of Music founded the City Music Network to become involved with local communities across North America and extend the reach of music education to the young talent who may not have the financial means to do so. Organizations within the network receive access to the Berklee PULSE Music Method, a series of online lessons and materials emphasizing contemporary music theory and instrumental technique, and support and resources directly from Berklee. Only music schools and programs that reflect Berklee's vision and mission are invited to join the network. In 2013, we received the call that would change everything - LIVE! was selected to become a part of the Berklee City Music family. Over the last few years, we have collaborated with the incredible team at City Music Network. We are excited about what this relationship will help bring to our young musicians.
What does this mean for us?
We connect musically potent kids to professional musicians across the country and our city to provide scholarly resources for development.
We also use the Berklee PULSE (Pre-University Learning System Experience). This web-based music method gives all students access to professional Berklee instructors and critical learning material. This proven system allows students to learn and absorb music knowledge in an engaging network that teaches while connecting them to other musicians.
Being a part of Berklee City Music Network allows us to award full scholarship opportunities to Berklee's renowned 5-week summer program. Each semester, we will select a group of advanced students to apply for Berklee's summer program in Boston, where they will have the chance to learn from and play with some of the best musicians in the industry. They will also have the opportunity to interact with classmates from all over the world, as students from more than 70 different countries attend the program each year. As a bonus, summer scholarship recipients also receive special consideration for full-tuition scholarships to Berklee's 4-year music program - truly an opportunity of a lifetime.
We are deeply honored to be part of the Berklee City Music family. We are grateful for the chance to connect our students and the community with an organization whose mission we feel so aligned with - to provide musicians with the educational tools, environment, and support needed for creative development and expression.
Our students gain practical and interpersonal skills through a collaborative and accredited music program that fosters creativity and musicianship.
