Steven Lipman
Unmatched expertise in music education
As founder and president of Inside Music Schools (IMS), Steve Lipman actively collaborates with students and their families to define dreams, make college choices, and prepare future musicians for the college admission audition process. Inspired by his early career as a public school music teacher and later as a Berklee College of Music faculty member and administrator, Steve began IMS to offer unique guidance and preparation to students applying to music college.
Before founding IMS, Steve spent 40 years working at Berklee College of Music in Boston. Beginning in 1970 through 1976, Steve served as a faculty member teaching theory, harmony, ear training, and ensembles. From 1976 through 1995, he was the Director of Admissions where he gained his reputation as the architect of Berklee’s modern-day Admissions Office. Following that, from 1995 until 2010, he served as the Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs and was responsible for overseeing the Admissions Office, the Financial Aid Office, and the Office of Scholarships and Student Employment. Under his leadership, the college experienced significant growth, expanding from 2,100 students to over 3,000. Today, it stands at over 6,600 full-time students on campuses in Boston, New York City, and Valencia, Spain.
Steve was instrumental in organizing and developing the Alumni Admissions Representative Program, expanding the Summer Program offerings, and assisting with the founding of Berklee’s International Schools Network.
Steve is a member of the National Association for Music Education (NafME), the Massachusetts Educators Association (MEA), and the Jazz Educators Network (JEN). He has served on the advisory boards of the Association for Popular Music Education (APME), the Chapman Music Institute, and the Lagond Music School. He blogs for MajoringInMusic.com, and his articles have appeared in publications such as In Tune and School Band and Orchestra magazines.
Born and raised in Brooklyn, NY, Steve attended the New York College of Music with a concentration in classical clarinet before earning his BM degree in Music Education from Berklee College of Music.
HISTORY OF SUCCESS
As Berklee's head of Admissions, Steve Lipman enrolled such Grammy winners & nominees as:
- WILL CALHOUN
Drummer • Living Color - TERRI LYNE CARRINGTON
Jazz & Studio Drummer - VINNIE COLAIUTA
Studio Drummer - AL DIMEOLA
Jazz Guitarist - MELISSA ETHERIDGE
Pop Vocalist - BILL FRISELL
Jazz Guitarist - JAN HAMMER
Film Composer - DONALD HARRISON, JR.
Saxophonist • Actor “Treme” - LALAH HATHAWAY
R&B Vocalist - NEIL JACOBSON
President • Geffen Records; Interscope
- DIANA KRALL
Jazz Vocalist - JOEY KRAMER
Drummer • Aerosmith - ABRAHAM LABORIEL, JR
Rock drummer • Paul McCartney - ALEX LACAMOIRE
Orchestra Arranger • Hamilton, In the Heights - DONNY MCCASLIN
Jazz Saxophonist • David Bowie - NATALIE MAINES
Vocalist • The Dixie Chicks - BRANFORD MARSALIS
Jazz Saxophonist - JOHN MAYER
Pop Guitarist/Songwriter/Vocalist - BEN MCKEE
Bass • Imagine Dragons
- CHARLIE PUTH
Singer/Songwriter/Producer - KURT ROSENWINKEL
Jazz Guitarist - JOE SATRIANI
Rock Guitarist - JOHN SCOFIELD
Jazz/Prog Guitarist - HOWARD SHORE
Film Composer - DEREK SIVERS
Entrepreneur • CD Baby - STEVE SMITH
Studio Drummer • Journey - ESPERANZA SPALDING
Bassist/Vocalist/Composer - SUSAN TEDESCHI
Rock/Country/Blues vocalist