by Reuel Daniels

Whether you're a student of music or a student who loves music, there is something for everyone in Boston.

Few college students dare to rise by 6 a.m. But those who do often tune into the Coffeehouse just one of many shows on WERS, Emerson College's student-run radio station. All day long students can hear anything from world music and folk to indie-rock, jazz and reggae. With its wide range of programs, WERS is like the Boston music scene-diverse, cutting edge and driven by the region's college students.

Boston's live-music scene is a subject area college students are well versed in. Students can rock to their favorite local bands at intimate venues like the Paradise, Harpers Ferry and the Roxy, or sample the best of pop culture at the Orpheum, the Berklee Performance Center or the Fleet Center. The warmer months bring students outdoors for free concerts and festivals along the Charles River at the Hatch Shell.

Live Music is Everywhere.
In Boston, live music means more than just watching bands perform at local clubs. It also means watching your college's A Capella group sing in Faneuil Hall, taking in a Broadway-style musical or tuning in to your college radio station. No matter what your musical preferences are, the live-music scene in Boston is easy to master.

Though Boston's 80-plus colleges and universities provide the momentum for a burgeoning rock scene, the classical world also remains an integral part of Boston's cultural heritage. Driven by its colleges of music and conservatories (such as the Boston Conservatory, Berklee College of Music, Emerson College and Boston University's School of Fine Arts) the city's classical music reigns supreme. The Boston Symphony Orchestra, considered one of the most versatile ensembles in the world, celebrates the local diversity of the music scene with its embrace of both traditional and contemporary scores.

Cambridge: Boston's "Left Bank."
It's impossible to speak about musical diversity without mentioning Cambridge. With a sound and a scene quite different from its urban neighbor, Cambridge's five squares comprise a musical haven for the alternative, indie, hip and unaffected rocker. Students line up early at venues like The Middle East, T.T. The Bear's Place and The Lizard Lounge. Lovers of folk, jazz and blues can be found at Club Passim, the Can Tab Lounge and Ryles Jazz Club. For reggae lovers it's The Western Front and for those who prefer Electronica, the Enormous Room features the hottest DJs and the coolest Mediterranean style decor. And you can't talk about live music in Cambridge without mentioning the street performers. Harvard Square is a mecca for a diverse mix of licensed street performers called "Buskers," who earn their chops as well as their pocket money on street corners and subway stops.

It has been said that music and the arts bring great cities to life. With its mix of top colleges, thousands of college students and a diverse arts and music scene, Boston is more than just a great city-it's the perfect college destination. Make sure to check out each week's music listings in the local paper for the best in rock, folk, classical, hip hop and jazz-because in Boston, you are never going to want to miss a beat.