Berklee Online advisor and graduate Eric Zawada gives his daughter a hug on Graduation Day, 2023.

You May Know Eric Zawada as Your Advisor at Berklee Online, and/or You May Know Him as Your Classmate

Academic Advisor Eric Zawada recently became one of the few Berklee Online employees to earn their bachelor’s degree through the institution. This is his story.

‘Thinking Out Loud’ about Copyright and Ed Sheeran with E. Michael Harrington

Forensic Musicologist and Berklee Online instructor E. Michael Harrington—a witness in the “Blurred Lines” case—on why he wouldn’t testify that Ed Sheeran violated “Let’s Get It On” copyright. … He was asked twice!

A man plays common chord progression on an acoustic guitar.

Common Chord Progressions and How to Make Them Your Own

Songwriting is an art form that requires creativity, imagination, and an understanding of music theory, but if we’re being honest, there’s also a degree of “fake it ‘til you make it.” And with that approach in mind, one technique you could try is to utilize classic chord progressions to write your own.

A group of 2022 Berklee graduates celebrate at Commencement.

Berklee Online’s Class of 2023 Rejoice in Community and Perseverance

Members of Berklee Online’s graduating class head to Boston from around the world to attend Berklee College of Music’s 2023 Commencement ceremony. Read the stories of seven stand-out graduates who are celebrating the hard work that led to this milestone.

An illustration of a snare drum with a heart on it, two drum sticks in and X formation are behind the snare.

Best Drum Songs—According to Berklee Online Faculty

We polled members of the Drum Department at Berklee on the drum grooves they love the most. Some of the usual suspects are there—Ringo and Bonzo—but some of their choices may surprise you. Drumroll, please! …

A picture of a heart inside the strings of an acoustic guitar, showcasing the love that Berklee Online instructors have for guitar.

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.

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.

3 Berklee Online students

Students You’ll Meet at Berklee Online

With a global student population, all seeking flexibility in their music studies and a desire to learn from anywhere, Berklee Online offers unique networking and collaboration you can’t find anywhere else. Learn about the kinds of students you’ll meet at Berklee Online.

Tavi Kaye is pictured at a computer, listening to music on his headphones.

From Vinyl, CDs, MP3s, to Streaming: How I Learned to Listen with Intent

Ottavio Kaye, who is studying Contemporary Writing & Production at Berklee College of Music, shares his take on his music consumption evolution.

Circle of Fifths

Circle of Fifths: The Key to Unlocking Harmonic Understanding

The circle of fifths is arguably the most helpful way of visually organizing Western music theory’s 12 chromatic pitches for learning. This primer, featuring excerpts from Music Application and Theory and Music for Beginners will give you several new tools to commit this concept to memory.