Vinyl record featuring the progress pride flag on a turn table.
Articles, Features, Professor Playlists

Songs for Pride Month: LGBTQIA+ Artists to Listen to Now

June is Pride Month and here are 15 LGBTQIA+ artists who you should listen to not only now, but year-round.

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Sean Thomas with Ralph Tresvant and Johnny Gill from New Edition.
Articles, Spotlight, Student Stories

Where Are They Now? Updates from 6 Berklee Online Alumni

If there’s one thing that the vast network of Berklee Online alumni prove, it’s that success can take many different forms and manifest in many impressive career paths. We checked in with six Berklee Online alumni that we previously covered in Take Note, to see what they were doing after graduating, and how they were applying their degrees.

A picture of a heart inside the strings of an acoustic guitar, showcasing the love that Berklee Online instructors have for guitar.
Articles, Guitar, Guitar, Instructor Profiles, Professor Playlists, Spotlight

Best Guitar Songs—According to Berklee Online Faculty

We polled members of the Guitar Department at Berklee on the guitar-based songs they love the most. Some of the usual suspects are there—Hendrix and Van Halen, etc.—but you may be surprised by some of the songs that strike a chord with your instructors, including some acoustic picks!

Musician Aarya Mehta leans against her piano.
Articles, Features, Music Production, Spotlight, Student Stories

Amazing Aarya Mehta Uses Prior Learning to Finish Degree Program in a Year

Aarya Mehta gave herself the “Amazing Aarya” moniker when she was starting her YouTube music channel in ninth grade. With her achievements, she continues to live up to that name.

Father and son playing video games
Articles, Music for Film, TV, and Games

Video Game Music: A Look into the Past and Present

Take a closer look into video game music of the past, and how it has impacted the present (and might impact the future). Plus, learn how listeners are enjoying video game music outside of the gaming context.

Woman sitting at piano with microphone
Articles, Berklee Online News, Spotlight

Berklee Online Announces Three New Degree Programs

Berklee Online will unveil three new degree programs over the next year: a Master of Arts in Interdisciplinary Music Studies, a Bachelor of Arts in Voice Performance, and a Bachelor of Arts in Piano Performance.

A black and white picture of The Ronettes
Articles, Lesson Content, Music History and Liberal Arts, Music History and Liberal Arts, Popular Content, Professor Playlists, Spotlight

25 Influential Female Rockers Through the Decades

During Women's History Month, learn about 25 of the most influential female rockers with the help of Berklee Online's Rock History course.

Guitar Pedals, Rated by Berklee Guitar Instructors!
Articles, Basics, Features, Guitar, Instructor Profiles, Spotlight

Best Guitar Pedals—According to Berklee Online Faculty

If you could only use one pedal for the rest of your guitar-playing life, what would it be, and why? That is precisely what we asked a number of the course authors in the Berklee Guitar department. Their answers may surprise you!

two mixing engineers in a music studio
Articles, Basics, Lesson Content, Music Production, Music Production

Mixing Music: What is Sound Mixing?

Sound mixing is a combination of art and technology with the end goal of creating a new sonic reality. Learn the basics of mixing music, including its history, sound mixing techniques, and the various responsibilities of a mixing engineer.

A photo of a music supervisor working with an editor at a computer.
Articles, Basics, Lesson Content, Music for Film, TV, and Games, Music for Film, TV, and Games

Music Supervision: What Does a Music Supervisor Do?

You never know when a music supervision opportunity might present itself, which is why adding music supervision to your skill sets could set you up to be a valuable member of a production team.

Larissa Luz, Xenia Franca, and Luedji Luna are shown performing together
Articles, Features, Professor Playlists

28 Black Musicians Whose Names You Should Know

In honor of Black History Month, we highlight 28 Black musicians whose names you should know, from unsung heroes to up and comers who you’ll hear from soon.

Arooj Aftab Music Is My Life interview
Podcast, Spotlight, Student Stories, Voice

Arooj Aftab on ‘Vulture Prince,’ Grammy Noms, Genius.com, and Berklee

Arooj Aftab began getting notice with a viral cover of Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah” more than 15 years ago, but with two Grammy nominations, she has finally arrived. Her “Vulture Prince” album is a stunning work that frequently reaches transcendence.

A picture of Bruce Hornsby under red and blue lights
Piano and Keyboard, Podcast, Songwriting

Bruce Hornsby on New Album and Having the Most Diverse Array of Collaborators Ever

Bruce Hornsby discusses his humble start in a Grateful Dead cover band, his mega breakthrough with “The Way It Is,” and his recent indie rock resurgence via his collaborations with members of Bon Iver. And yes, he also discusses how surreal it was to play 100+ shows with the real Grateful Dead!

DAW (digital audio workstation) interface on a computer screen
Articles, Music Production, Popular Content, Spotlight, Technology

What is the Best DAW (Digital Audio Workstation)?

If you want to begin a career in recording music, you just need a personal computer with a DAW (Digital Audio Workstation). Here’s a list of the different DAWs to help you pick which one is best for you.

Whitney Marchell Jackson
Articles, Songwriting, Spotlight, Student Stories, Voice

Jazz Singer and Berklee Online Student Marchell Jackson on Going Back to School in Her 70s

Marchell Jackson’s life in music officially began when she and her friends started a vocal group in the 1960s, and it continues to this day, where at the age of 71 she is a working performer and a Berklee Online student.

Audi Ellis on their first day of school in Incheon, South Korea.
Articles, Features, Spotlight, Student Stories

Audi Ellis on Pursuing the Arts as a Visually Impaired Creator

Berklee Online certificate student Audi Ellis discusses her passion for figure skating, cello, and acting, and being empowered as a visually impaired creator.

The Roaring Crowdfund

The Roaring Crowdfund

In this five-episode podcast from Berklee Online, the online school of Berklee College of Music, we examine four very different musical acts, and track their progress across various crowdfunding platforms, including Kickstarter, PledgeMusic, and Indiegogo.

A person looking at the #hundredtrackhive hashtag on Instagram
Articles, Electronic Music, Features, Instructor Profiles, Music Production, Spotlight, Technology

How to Get Started Making Electronic Music: Compose a Track a Day for 100 Days

Berklee Online course author Loudon Stearns created the #hundredtrackhive project for his class to help them get into the habit of writing a song every day for 100 days.

Man with a guitar writing a protest song.
Articles, Music History and Liberal Arts, Popular Content, Songwriting, Songwriting, Spotlight

How to Write a Protest Song

If you’re looking to express your anger and frustration, put your feelings to song. Here are some tools to revolutionize your songwriting.

Sushant KC
Articles, Music Production, Songwriting, Spotlight, Student Stories

Sushant KC Proves Pursuing Music is a Viable Path in Nepal

Sushant KC is pursuing his bachelor’s in Songwriting and Producing Music at Berklee Online and strives to prove music is a viable career for Nepalese youth.

Chris Read WhoSampled
Articles, Features, Music History and Liberal Arts, Music Production

WhoSampled: Chris Read on the Art and History of Sampling Music

WhoSampled is the leading destination for sample-based music, covers, and remixes, housing the world’s most comprehensive database of music. Chris Read, the Head of Content at WhoSampled, opens up about what drives this powerhouse of a music discovery service.

A music producer sitting at a sound board in a recording studio.
Articles, Basics, Lesson Content, Music Production, Music Production

Music Production: What Does a Music Producer Do?

Learn what music production is, what's involved in the process, what music producers do, as well as what a career in music production looks like.

A young music-lover studies music business law.
Articles, Basics, Lesson Content, Music Business, Music Business, Music Career Advice

Music Business Law Facts Every Musician Needs to Know

You’re more likely to pave a successful professional career in the music industry for yourself when you understand the basics of music business and music law. In this article, we’re going to get into some music business law fundamentals you should know first.

Hip-hop artist and fancy dancer Supaman.
Articles, Professor Playlists

Indigenous Musicians You Should Listen To Now

November in the US is National Native American Heritage Month. Here is a playlist of Indigenous musicians who you should listen to now.

Shalom "J.Storm" Miller in a music studio with his arms open wide
Articles, Features, Music Production, Spotlight, Student Stories

Shalom ‘J.Storm’ Miller on Beyoncé, Missy Elliott, Bad Boy Records, BMI, and Artist Management

Berklee Online degree student Shalom "J.Storm" Miller talks about his two decade-long career in the music business, which includes collaborating with Beyoncé and Missy Elliott, working in the licensing department at BMI, and starting his own music management business out of Nashville.

A hand holds a cell phone, featuring the TikTok logo on the screen, towards the clouded sky.  
Articles, Music Business, Music Career Advice, Technology

TikTok: How To Get Your Music Discovered

Berklee students Rosie Scher and Brandon Harris are just two of the many who have recently earned TikTok fame, and examining the details of their stories will help you get your music discovered on TikTok too.

Articles, Composition, Orchestration, and Arranging, Music for Film, TV, and Games, Popular Content, Spotlight, Student Stories

Budapest Scoring Orchestra Brings Life to Student Film Scores from Across the Ocean

Behind the scenes with four Berklee Online Film Scoring grad students, who recently got to serve as music directors while an orchestra in Budapest performed scores the students had written.

A musician working at a soundboard in a recording studio.
Articles, Music Business

Top 10 Careers in the Music Business (and How Much Money You Can Make)

When you think of a career in music, you might start with the performers who are center stage. But when you pull back the curtain, you’ll find people with an array of music business jobs and careers that help make performances possible. And there's money to be made here!

Jamelle Houston
Articles, Music Business, Spotlight, Student Stories

Jamelle Houston on his Grandfather’s Legacy, his Nonprofit, and BLM

Incoming Berklee Online master's student Jamelle Houston discusses his music career and what keeps him coming back to his hometown of Temple, Texas.

Man standing on top of a mountain observing the view and deep in thought about writing song lyrics.
Articles, Basics, Lesson Content, Songwriting, Songwriting

How to Write Song Lyrics

Learn how to write song lyrics for the first time with these five steps from singer and multiplatinum songwriter Andrea Stolpe at Berklee Online.

This pink car once belonged to 2 Chainz, and sat in front of the celebrated, now-defunct Pink Trap House in Atlanta.
Articles, Features, Music History and Liberal Arts

Trap Music: Where It Came from and Where It’s Going

Characterized by busy hi-hats, heavy sub-bass, super rhythmic snares, and deep 808 kick drums, learn how trap music has influenced the entire direction of pop music.

Vanessa Carlton lies on a white floor and stares at the camera, wearing a silky maroon shirt.
Articles, Piano and Keyboard, Podcast, Songwriting

Vanessa Carlton on Pandemics, Psychedelics, and Stevie Nicks

Vanessa Carlton engages in a candid discussion about the seedy underbelly of the music industry, why followups to “A Thousand Miles” were more successful than some of the men on her team wanted her to believe, and why “Love Is An Art” marks a new beginning for her.

Learn how to write a killer song hook.
Articles, Songwriting

How to Write Killer Song Hooks

Great song hooks break boundaries surrounding genre, generational listening preferences, and longevity. Here are five characteristics to consider when writing a hook.

Articles, Berklee Online News, Spotlight

97 Percent Student Satisfaction Rate at Berklee Online

Berklee Online is proud to report an unprecedented result of 97 percent overall satisfaction among graduating students!

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