What's the prestige level of Berklee College of Music?

I'm a music enthusiast and kind of have my heart set on Berklee College of Music. I've heard some say it's one of the most esteemed music colleges. Looking for some outside opinions and personal experiences here!

Berklee College of Music is indeed recognized as a leading institution in the field of contemporary music. It's based in Boston, but it also has campuses in Valencia, Spain and New York City. So, the footprint is international.

Known for its diverse curriculum, Berklee offers a variety of majors, including performance, songwriting, film scoring, music production, music therapy, and music business, to name a few. It's especially renowned for pioneering the study of jazz and modern American music. This has allowed Berklee to produce numerous successful alumni, including Quincy Jones, John Mayer, and Esperanza Spalding, who all excelled in different aspects of the music industry.

One thing to be aware of is the intensity of the programs at Berklee. Students are expected to essentially "live and breathe" music, with rigorous coursework, regular performances, and high expectations for practice and progress.

It's also worth noting that Berklee's emphasis is less on academic, classical study (like music theory or music history), and more on technical skill development and creative expression. If you're interested more in the classical music study or music education, another institution, like Juilliard or the Curtis Institute of Music, might be a better fit.

So, in terms of prestige, Berklee is very well respected in contemporary music circles. It's definitely considered a community of serious, committed musicians, so you're likely to find it a stimulating environment if that aligns with your passion for music.