Berklee Online Announces Three New Degree Programs

Berklee Online, the premier innovator and largest provider of online music education, will unveil three new degree programs in 2023: a Master of Arts in Interdisciplinary Music Studies, a Bachelor of Arts in Voice Performance, and a Bachelor of Arts in Piano Performance. All three programs will be taught entirely online by the same renowned instructors who teach at Berklee College of Music, as well as music industry professionals. Applications are open now.

Master of Arts in Interdisciplinary Music Studies

Starting January 2023, the Master of Arts in Interdisciplinary Music Studies offers students the opportunity to design their own educational path in alignment with their musical interests and career goals. Students choose from four areas of study necessary for a well-rounded career in the music industry: music business, music production, songwriting, and film scoring. 

“Today’s industry requires you to embrace the hyphen by doing more than one thing and doing it well in order to have a successful, purposeful, and sustainable career,” says Program Director Sean Hagon, who is also the Dean of Pre-College, Online, and Professional Programs at Berklee Online. 

The graduate program builds off the success of the Interdisciplinary Music Studies bachelor’s degree, which is the most popular undergraduate major at Berklee Online. Like all of Berklee Online’s graduate programs, the curriculum consists of 12 courses (36 credits) that can be completed within one year. 

“Your career is not a destination, it’s a journey,” says Hagon. “You don’t arrive, you evolve. The Master’s in Interdisciplinary Music Studies degree will prepare you for a career that will not only evolve, it will provide you with the skills, knowledge, and entrepreneurial mindset in order to thrive.”

Bachelor of Arts in Voice Performance

Coming to Berklee Online in January 2023, the Bachelor of Arts in Voice Performance program will not only teach students how to sing and perform masterfully, but it will also focus on professional skills to prepare students for career success. Such skills include a music business education and instruction in music technology where students will learn to record, edit, mix, and master vocal tracks. Additionally, students will receive private one-on-one instruction in a weekly voice lesson with a Berklee Online instructor. 

“This program is ideal for vocalists, teachers, and performers interested in pursuing expanded career opportunities with the education provided by a BA degree in Voice Performance,” says Program Director Anne Peckham, who is the chair of the Voice department at Berklee College of Music.

Through the guidance from courses such as Music Career Essentials for the Professional Singer, Popular Singing Styles: Developing Your Sound, and Vocal Production for Singers, students can expect to emerge from the program as independent vocalists who can explore several different avenues in the industry and take advantage of multiple streams of income. 

“Students from around the world will be able to participate in a Berklee learning environment that will challenge and broaden their musical and performance skills,” says Peckham. 

Bachelor of Arts in Piano Performance

The Bachelor of Arts in Piano Performance program starts in April 2023, offering students the comprehensive skills and techniques that are required of today’s professional pianist or keyboardist. Students will bolster their performance abilities, all while developing their unique style as artists. Songwriting, music production, music business, music theory, and the study of other instruments are also key factors in the curriculum. Each student will also receive weekly private online piano lessons from a Berklee Online instructor. 

“Our world-class authors are leveraging their vast performing and educational experience into a curriculum dedicated to contemporary and classical piano performance,” says Dave Limina, program director and chair of the Piano department at Berklee College of Music. 

The classes are diverse from a stylistic and cultural perspective, ranging from deep fundamental studies in piano technique, scales, and chords to specialized studies in jazz, classical, gospel, and Latin piano, plus live performance and technology. 

“Each author was chosen for their deep specialization, experience, and dedication to passing their knowledge forward to the benefit of Berklee Online students,” says Limina. “We are working hard to deliver a powerful and practical educational experience.”

All three of these new programs continue with Berklee Online’s cost-effective, high-quality breadth of offerings, and gives students the chance to earn their degree for an affordable cost. Students interested in learning more can click here for more details.