The ‘CJ×Berklee Masterclass’ held at CJ Azit in Mapo-gu, Seoul, was a valuable opportunity to directly experience the unique charm of K-Pop. Professors Sharik Hassan and Claire Lim from Berklee College of Music visited Korea to engage in an in-depth discussion about the diversity and flexibility of K-Pop.
Regarding the characteristics of K-Pop, the two professors emphasized the flexibility achieved through the fusion of various genres. K-Pop, which combines pop, R&B, rap, electronic digital instruments (EDI), and dance, transcends boundaries, and this feature is widely influencing students at Berklee College of Music. Professor Lim noted, “As the status of K-Pop changes, students have also become open to various genres.”
The flexibility and open-mindedness of Korean students, in particular, left a deep impression on the professors. Professor Hassan assessed, “Korean students excel in technical and theoretical skills, and their flexibility in music is especially outstanding.” They provided detailed feedback while directly guiding Korean students’ performances, and the students absorbed this to enhance the completeness of their songs.
This masterclass, based on the long-standing partnership between CJ Cultural Foundation and Berklee College of Music, marks its first-time hosting and anticipates more collaborations in the future. The professors mentioned that innovative collaborations in K-Pop could be a hint for the future of popular music, citing the collaboration between BLACKPINK Rosé and Bruno Mars as an example. As Professor Lim expressed, “We hope for more collaborations to advance music development,” K-Pop will continue to pursue diverse musical experiments.
We look forward to what innovative stories will unfold in the upcoming masterclasses and concerts. Let’s keep an eye on the endless possibilities of K-Pop.
