<p>I have a son interested in Berklee, he is a gifted guitar player but I have heard negative and positive things about the school. Has anyone sent their child there or has anyone visited?</p>
<p>Mindy, the best place to look would be the music majors forum. I'm sure there are discussions there about Berklee.</p>
<p>The Berklee College of Music is very well regarded, not just in the Boston area but nationally.</p>
<p>My son had several friends who applied but a couple of them, while gifted musicians, did not have the background in music theory that Berklee was looking for.
And yes, Berklee is well regarded nationally, we are in CA.</p>
<p>A number of years ago, my son was thinking of going there. The impression we had was that it was very easy to get in and very difficult to survive.</p>
<p>I don't think survival is the issue for many who do not complete their degree. I think many students move on to professional opportunities after making great connections at Berklee. Although there is an academic component, it's reputation is in it's music scene and the real working connection it offers in today's music.</p>
<p>Berklee is know internationally as one of the premiere music schools.</p>
<p>Im not quite on board with it being grouped with "premiere" music schools. It is however one of the few schools that focuses on popular music. It is VERY expensive and has been criticized for being too lax in their entrance requirements. I believe that they have tightened things up a bit. We have one friend who attended and felt that the only students that they valued were the ones that received substantial merit aid. Other schools to consider would be USC--they have a new popular music major in the very reputable Thornton School of Music. Have him check out UNT-(North Texas) as well.</p>
<p>Berklee's focus is on the music industry and music performance, as compared to a more traditional conservatory like the New England Conservatory of Music.</p>
<p>We know of a jazz guitar player who is very happy there.</p>
<p>A classmate of mine is currently attending. He's an extremely talented rock musician, and is quite happy there.</p>
<p>We looked at Berklee for my D. She really would have liked to go but there is an extreme lack of student housing available and no one is guaranteed, even Freshman. </p>
<p>That said, Berklee has an extremely low rate of graduation but I was told that is because so many students make professional connections while at the school that they inevitably find good jobs before graduating. Not a bad thing necessarily. </p>
<p>My D was really interested in their Film Scoring degree program. If it weren't for the housing situation I have no doubt it would have been on her itinerary of auditions.</p>
<p>There is a phenomenally wide range of talent at Berklee. Some of the best players (Grammy band winners, for example) are there on full scholarship, in all the top ensembles, and having absolutely unbelievable experiences. On the other hand, there are loads and loads of guitar players and drummers (their two most popular instruments) who would not have been accepted at other music schools. </p>
<p>A lot depends on the drive and ambition (and talent) of the student. There have been some very positive and very negative posts on the school on the music forum.</p>
<p>And yes, housing is a huge problem, although there is a new dorm in the works, to open 2012, I believe.</p>
<p>I have the perhaps-mistaken impression that the University of Miami an alternative for non-classical musicians?</p>
<p>There are a number of threads in the music forum. A couple of them:
<a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/457195-berklee-college-music.html?highlight=berklee%5B/url%5D">http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/457195-berklee-college-music.html?highlight=berklee</a>
<a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/568099-berklee-advice.html?highlight=berklee%5B/url%5D">http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/568099-berklee-advice.html?highlight=berklee</a></p>
<p>I know someone who graduated from Berklee a few years ago. He is an AMAZING guitar player.</p>
<p>He says that Berklee does not prepare you to be a musician. Berklee prepares you to be a music teacher, but not a musician. In his words, "If you really want to be a musician, PLAY MUSIC. Don't go to Berklee, it's a waste. Just go out and play music." He talked about "wasting time in harmony class" when he really wanted to be out there playing guitar with his band.</p>
<p>Many successful musicians that "went" to Berklee did not graduate from there, for example John Mayer (who was apparently an arrogant, idiot, ******* at Berklee, but hey, he seems to be doing okay right about now). Yes there have been some successful musicians that graduated from Berklee, but not as many as those who went, but didn't graduate.</p>
<p>My friend graduated with a LOT of debt, and it's going to take him years to pay it off... another student might graduate from MIT with the same amount of debt, but I bet they'll pay it off a lot quicker. The job prospects for an MIT graduate are much better financially than a Berklee graduate (MIT grads will generally make more than Berklee grads). </p>
<p>Another friend of mine (who is only just starting high school; she's a very, very talented singer/songwriter/guitar player) said that for awhile now, it's been her dream to attend Berklee and major in songwriting. The Berklee grad told her that going to Berklee would be a waste of her time, money, and talent.</p>
<p>Berklee is a great place to study music. If you want to eventually teach music, go to Berklee. If you want to be a musician... don't. </p>
<p>(Again, this is just one person's experience at Berklee. Others may feel differently.)</p>
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<blockquote> <p>Berklee prepares you to be a music teacher>></p> </blockquote>
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<p>Interesting observation...last I heard, they didn't have a music education program at all. Their emphasis was on the music performance industry...performance and all the other things that go with music (recording, scoring, etc). </p>
<p>Many students opt out of graduating because they are offered jobs in the music field before graduation.</p>
<p>my friend's bright son graduated in three years and was very happy living around Boston...he has since moved to starving artist jobs in Nashville but he is very resilient and creative and will bounce. He is a guitarist. I recall a New Yorker story on Gillian Welch and her short Berklee career..it is a truism that a significant portion of students don't finish and pick up gigs instead. Campus is quite scattered BTW but there is some discounted housing in a precious district.
If you want conservatory..take a good look at Blair in Nashville where Edgar Meyer and other instrumentalists are on the faculty....also Belmont College in Nashville has a good music business/recording track. Vandy is a tough entry and an expensive school but they are very good with financial aide. Keep in mind that there are vagrants getting off the Greyhound bus daily who can play the guitar like nobody's business in Nashville plus studio musicians playing all the clubs. GREAT TOWN for classical or new age. LOVE Nashville.</p>