The Groove of Growth: Professor Mimi Jones and the Art of Becoming Limitless
When bassist, composer, and educator Mimi Jones walks into a Berklee rehearsal room, she’s not just teaching music. She’s shaping mindsets.
Known for her infectious energy and deep musical wisdom, Jones leads an impressive lineup of ensembles including R&B, Global Jazz, the Prince Ensemble, and her own creation: the Creative and Progressive Drum Circle. Each class becomes a living lab where students learn not only rhythm and groove but also community, self-awareness, and artistic purpose.
“Keep the love of playing at the core,” says Jones.
“Without joy, even money can’t make you happy in this vulnerable art form.”
When she first arrived at Berklee, Jones noticed that many drummers weren’t prepared for the realities of the music world. So she built something new… a space where students could feel rhythm, not just read it. In her classes, horn players, vocalists, and drummers create together, learning how to communicate across instruments and styles.
Beyond her ensembles, Jones also curates Berklee’s Lab Session Jam and the Limitless Music Festival, where students and faculty collaborate, improvise, and connect through live music. “This building is full of rockstars,” she laughs, “and everyone deserves a chance to shine.”
Her message to students is timeless: discipline, joy, and patience are the rhythm of a lasting career.As she reminds her students, “Every day, I wake up and say—one more time, let’s go for it again.”
Catch Professor Mimi Jone’s Limitless Festival on Dec 5th, 2025, at 8p -11p in room B41.
