Undergraduate Voices: David Tarrega on Studying Abroad at Berklee Valencia

In this series of interviews, we sat down with undergraduate students from the Study Abroad and First Year Abroad programs to hear about their experiences at Berklee Valencia.

They spoke about life both on and off campus, highlighting the tight-knit community, numerous performance opportunities, unique course offerings, and all that the city of Valencia has to offer.

Liam Joyce

June 12, 2025

David Tarrega

Major: Film and Media Scoring

Semester: 4th

Semester Abroad: Fall 2024 & Spring 2025

"The connections between master and undergraduate students are much stronger here in Valencia… It’s very inspiring to learn from them."
David Tarrega

What made you decide to study abroad at Berklee Valencia?

I’m from Valencia. I know how beautiful the culture, the weather, and the community are here, so I wanted to come back after living in the US for a while. I also knew I’d enjoy the smaller community that Valencia offers.

What does your course load look like?

I’ve taken a lot of classes in my two semesters here. I took Recording and Mixing Skills for Music Production, in which we got four hours of studio time a week. And that’s in addition to the two hours all students at Berklee Valencia get, so it was really great.

I also took Tonal Harmony and Counterpoint, Literature, as well as Valencia-specific liberal art subjects, such as The Art of Fairs, Festivals, and Fire, which is a super interesting class about Valencian traditions. Then there’s the performance subjects, like Flamenco Ensemble and Cajon Playing Styles, so I’m learning a lot here.

David Tarrega at Un Lago de Conciertos — David at Un Lago de Conciertos

What creative opportunities have stood out to you during your time here?

Because of the smaller community in Valencia, it feels like there’s even more opportunities to gig. Right now, I’m preparing for a gig off-campus at the Patio de Butacas and I’m also doing theater in the city.

What’s something unique about Berklee Valencia?

Being a smaller campus, the connections between master and undergraduate students are much stronger here. You get to connect with the students studying business, music production, contemporary performance, and film scoring. It’s very inspiring to learn from them and see where they are headed.

What has life in Valencia been like outside the classroom?

One of my favorite aspects of Valencia is the culture. The architecture, the food, the traditions and festivities, and the culture of always being outside. I really like that about Valencia and think it’s pretty unique.

I’ve also really enjoyed the trips organized by Student Affairs. I remember, at the beginning of my first semester, we took a boat to see the sunset and we were all laughing and taking photos and I thought to myself, “This is going to be a fun year.” That was one of my fondest memories in Valencia.

What would you say to someone who is considering studying abroad?

I would say do it. Just come do it for a semester. You’ll probably stay longer because of the studio access, the culture, the weather, the people, and you’re in Europe too!

It’s a really eye-opening experience. It’s in beautiful Valencia and it has many things to offer both your academic life and career.