In the context of music education in the Federal District, the Brasília School of Music (EMB), known as the Professional Education Center (Centro de Ensino Profissional Escola de Música de Brasília - CEP-EMB), stands out as a regional and national leader in training musicians and music professionals. Officially established in 1964 (Matos; Pinheiro, 2007, p. 214), the Brasília School of Music offers diverse musical programs and is committed to serving the professional music market in the Federal District. Over its pedagogical and musical history, the Brasília School of Music (EMB) has distinguished itself as an innovative center and a model for music teaching and learning. Currently, EMB provides various training paths based on the triad "individual practice - theorizing (group classes) - collective practice" (CEP-EMB, 2023, p. 32). These include learning a specific instrument or singing through individual or group classes (usually groups of four students); acquiring knowledge of musical theory focused on musical language, history, and styles; and participating in collective musical practices such as orchestras, bands, choirs, chamber groups, and ensembles. Musical training also encompasses musical performance, including preparation for recitals and concerts.Given the importance of the CEP-EMB in the musical culture of the Federal District, this paper aims to analyze the process of institutionalizing popular music at EMB, including its history, its original and current curriculum, and the course's influence on training professional musicians in the Federal District. Evidence of the institutionalization of popular music at the music school includes: the political opening as a favorable event for pedagogical and musical innovations proposed by educators and musicians; the supportive pedagogical and musical environment for establishing popular music; and the musical practices rooted in popular music that preceded the establishment of the Popular Music Center at EMB. This paper also examines how the redemocratization and the founding of the New Republic influenced the EMB, especially in terms of the institutionalization of popular music. According to Albergaria (2025), the New Republic, along with its economic and political challenges, is also characterized as a period of social progress marked by wider access to healthcare and education. This research is based on bibliographic sources, testimonies from music teachers, and educational documents related to the inclusion of popular music in the EMB curriculum.