According to its website, BSM's mission is to "provide access to high-quality music education to anyone who seeks it, regardless of economic status, ability level, ethnicity, or religious affiliation".
Local residents showed such interest that founder David D. Greer was able to form a board of directors and bring together a skilled faculty.
Together, they raised public and private funds to expand and, in 1971, purchased and renovated the brownstone located at 323 West 108th Street, currently the school's home.
In 1980, the school purchased a rental building located at 325 West 108th Street and renovated the basement area for office space.
[2][3] BSM's Music Access Project (MAP) is a preparatory program for youths living in under-served New York City communities.
In addition, many students were unable to make the commitment of funds and time to come to the school for a separate music theory class.
After discovering that several other schools and studios struggled with the same issue, BSM embarked on a project to create an online theory course that was easy to use and accessible to students at all times.
From the work of more than 50 writers, designers, musicians, and programmers, Theory in a Box was born and is now in use at BSM as well as two other New York City-area community music schools.