Is Berklee a jazz school, a rock school, or a classical music school?
Berklee’s founding was based on the need for education in America’s popular music, beginning with jazz. Previously no schools used a structured approach to teaching jazz or other forms of popular music; in fact, all musical training had been based on the European, classical model. Some conservatories and music schools still use this classical education model, but Berklee employs a rigorous and pragmatic educational approach to teach jazz, pop, rock, and other forms of world music, including classical music. Berklee is neither just a jazz school, or just a rock/pop school, but a college offering all styles of contemporary music for today’s music industry.
