<p>Hi all,</p>
<p>I am considering attending the Berklee College of Music 5-week performance program for jazz studies this summer (I play piano), and I was wondering if anybody has attended this before or has any inside information regarding the program? The program website does give some background information, but it does not list the faculty members that will be teaching at the summer program. I am wondering if it is the standard Berklee faculty who teach in the fall and spring semesters? I would love to hear from anyone who has attended/knows someone who has attended or is thinking about attending too! Also, if you haven't specifically attended the 5-week program but have attended one of Berklee's other summer programs, I would appreciate hearing your feedback as well. Thanks so much!</p>
<p>Hi Mellidy - my son is a current Berklee student and he attended two 5-week programs while in high school. He will be an RA for the program this summer. Obviously he loves Berklee, and he really enjoyed both 5-week programs and got a lot out of both (did not find it at all repetitive and got some top-notch instruction). You will not have student teachers, you will have Berklee faculty, some really impressive instructors. The class choices are terrific and I haven’t heard of anyone attending who didn’t absolutely love it. PM me if you want more specific info!</p>
<p>Thanks for commenting, “guitarist’s mom”! That is great about the presence of real Berklee faculty for the 5-week program - that means a lot to me. It sounds like your son really got a lot out of it - that’s wonderful. I may end up signing up…I hear they also conduct scholarship auditions during the 5-week program, is that right? I might have a few more questions for you, actually, perhaps regarding the housing situation and other details, so I’ll probably PM you soon. Thanks again for the feedback!</p>
<p>My son (drummer) attended this a few years back while in high school. Your experience at this summer session will depend on how old you are. (Son was 16 when attending). He felt his time there was ok, but came home deciding not to apply there for college. You will be pretty much left to fend for yourself in your free time. This is a typical Boston college campus - housing is terrible and in short supply and there is very little to do in Boston that does not require alot of $$$. He did meet some interesting people. Overall, felt like Berklee was just funneling students through to make $$$ and keep dorms filled.</p>
<p>sorry to hear cheerios son didn’t like the program, it’s not for everyone, i guess. It is true that the 5-week experience is like a glimpse into attending college there. There are serious music courses in addition to lots and lots of playing music. There is free time that is not scheduled or regimented, but there are lots of things offered by the college (that are free) to fill those free hours to choose from. So independence is expected, and you are in the middle of the city. There are plenty of RAs and Berklee faculty to ask questions of and to go to with concerns.</p>
<p>Not sure about the housing issue; I am almost positive that all 5 week students are housed in the dorms. The younger students are always put into 150 Mass Ave which is the biggest Berklee dorm closest to the main buildings. I don’t agree that the housing is “terrible.” the 150 dorm is completely air conditioned, which is nice in the summer, and when S attended and lived there for the 5-week, he had a huge room with one roomate and a private bath. Meal plan is included, of course.</p>
<p>I guess I really have to disagree that the purpose of the program is to funnel students through and keep the dorms filled. Berklee is about music, making music, teaching music, hearing music, performing music, and I think that the summer programs really do stem from the overall purpose of sharing music. Name a college that doesn’t try to find ways to make some money over the summer term? Just feel like it is a great experience for the vast majority of kids.</p>
<p>Mellidy, yes, auditions are conducted for scholarship consideration during the summer term for full time attendance.</p>