Berklee Online student Paul Zarvis is pictured leaning against a building with a keyboard

Paul Zarvis on Pursuing His Berklee Degree When He’s 64

Nearly four decades after leaving Berklee College of Music’s campus, 64-year-old Paul Zarvis is pursuing his bachelor’s degree in Music Production through Berklee Online.

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A person with tattoos biting their fingernails and looking nervous against a yellow backdrop. 

Stage Fright: How to Get Over Performance Anxiety

Musicians have many fears: Fear that they’ll mess up onstage, that they’re not good enough, that people won’t like their music. Fortunately Ashlee Varner has strategies to reduce your anxiety, in this excerpt from her Music Career Essentials for the Professional Singer course.

Billy Ray McClelland plays acoustic guitar in a chair in front of a house.

US Veteran Billy Ray McClelland Earns His Degree in Guitar from Berklee

Music has always been a place of comfort for Billy Ray McClelland, a US Army veteran who will add a bachelor’s degree in Guitar Performance from Berklee Online to his list of honorable achievements by the end of 2023. In this story Billy Ray discusses his musical upbringing, his plans for after graduation, and the secret about rhythm that he learned in the military.

A group of United States war veterans—including Phil Schwartz and John Gerac—poses for a photo after participating in a Soldier Songs and Voices event.

Harmony and Healing: Veterans Find Camaraderie and Purpose through Music

Many US military veterans are finding that learning musical skills helps them connect with fellow vets and deal with their PTSD. Read their emotional stories.

A group of five strings musicians performing at night on the sidewalk next to a police car and "do not cross" tape.

Autumn Maria Reed Fights Gun Violence with Music

Berklee Online alum Autumn Maria Reed shares about her experience as a first-responder musician for the Black String Triage Ensemble in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Two musicians standing on stage with a written setlist at their feet

How to Prepare a Setlist

Setlists are essential for organizing and structuring a performance, ensuring that your music flows smoothly from one song to another, and energizes the audience. In this excerpt from the Berklee Online course Jazz Singing 201, authored by Patrice Williamson, you’ll learn how to prepare a successful setlist with her tried-and-true practices that will take your audience where you want them to go.

Logos for the following music technology companies are shown: Moises.ai, DistroKid, Freestyle Vinyl, LANDR, and BandLab.

Music Technology Roundup 2023: A First-hand Account of the Latest Creative Resources for Musicians

New music technology has revolutionized how we create, produce, and edit music. Here is one writer’s challenge to himself to explore more music technology.

A drum set is pictured before a concert, and the microphones that are picking up the drummer's sound are showcased in the photo.

Drum Mics: How to Place Microphones Around Your Kit for a Live Concert

Choosing the correct microphone for the job is key to achieving excellent mix results. Nowhere is this more apparent than when you’re miking a drum kit for a live show. In this course excerpt from the Microphone Techniques for Live Sound Production course, you’ll learn the right way (and some of the wrong ways) to mic a drum kit.

A young music listener puts on his headphones and prepares an intense session of ear training, which we can surmise from his huge cup of coffee.

Ear Training Exercises to Help You Become a Better Musician

In these ear training videos, we uncover key exercises to help you develop your inner hearing: conducting in 6/8, singing the root, and identifying chords.

An eighth note with a computational looking background.

AI Music: What Musicians Need to Know

Whether you’re actively using AI in your music, or have some hesitations, it’s becoming increasingly clear that AI is going to be a big factor in the music industry going forward. We discuss with Berklee faculty the current state of AI in the music industry, including the tools that are available now.