Berklee College of Music

College Majors Music Major
1

<p>Hi, I'm a junior and I'm really passionate about music and music production.
It is my dream to go to Berklee and hopefully get a full ride scholarship or something.
but it seems like no one really knows anything about berklee and the majors that I'm interested in.. which are
Contemporary Writing and production and
electronic production and design.</p>

<p>I got 1900 on my first SAT and I'm planning to take another one on October. ( aiming for 2100)
my gpa is alright. it's 3.6~3.8ish. But i don't think this matters that much since it's all about music and stuff.</p>

<p>I don't really have anything that shows that I'm into music.. but I am ! lol.
I played piano for 10 years and got the level test thing to level 10 but i'm not going for performance. I love composing and making background musics and it is my dream to have my song played on the radio in the future. but i don't think that's good enough for berklee since it's not really like.. you can measure it or anything.</p>

<p>I put my compositions on youtube and gained some money and subscribers.. idk what else to do. I really want to get into berklee but idk if they have a audition for these majors?</p>

<p>can anyone help? please..!</p>

2

<p>My daughter didn’t apply there, but we do know a guy who directed a lot of music theater who is at Berklee. His piano playing is not at the level of classical pianists, but he can improvise, compose and conduct. </p>

<p>My understanding is that most admitted students do not get offered much money, if any.</p>

3

<p>Hi. My son was accepted into Berklee last year. He deferred enrollment until this coming year as we couldn’t afford it. He reauditioned for possibly more scholarship — still waiting (till the 31st) to find out.
At Berklee one doesn’t declare a major until the 2nd year. So you will designate an interest, but not have your major until year 2.
To audition for anything at Berklee you just need to decide which instrument or voice… it looks like you would audition on piano. You have 6 minutes total for your audition pieces, one of which must be something from someone else (a transcription, a jazz tune, classical, it doesn’t matter) but as a composition interest, you may want to use the other 3 minutes for an original. Any style.
The rest of the audition (about 10 more minutes) is improvising, ear training – they play some notes and have you play or sing back those and some rhythms – and sight reading. They do understand that not everyone is at the same level for this.
The other hugely major factor is an interview where you can let them know your goals and what you want to gain for Berklee and what you will bring to the program.
Do not look for major money at Berklee. There are 7 to 8 full rides. That’s not a lot.
They will not consider SAT scores.
They also have a huge Composition scholarship. Go to their website and read through the admissions info (which also has specific instrument requirements, etc) and read through the scholarships.
You should also probably broaden your search a bit. My son went into this thinking Berklee was the ONLY place that could fulfill his needs/wants. It still is at the top of the list, no doubt. But we have found plenty of places now that he would love to go — Middle Tennessee, Southern Maine, William Patterson, Miami Frost, Univ. of Denver/Lamont, … the list is long!
If you have any more questions, don’t hesitate to ask!</p>

4

<p>My son is a passionate musician (piano, guitar, drums) with a focus on composition and producing. SAT 2200 Straight A’s in an IB diploma course with predicted 6/7 for all. He really liked the programs at MTSU, Drexel (where he has been accepted with a scholarship) Clive Davis at NYU (wait listed) and Berklee (one. more. day. :slight_smile: He applied for the composition scholarship at Berklee and did the (very intense) audition in London in February. Another great program he looked at, but did not apply was Belmont in Nashville. </p>

<p>Keep writing, performing uploading to youtube, soundcloud, bandcamp. Maybe create a website where people/admissions officers can find all of your work in one place.</p>

<p>good luck!</p>

5

<p>Look up coursera courses (free on-line) for music. There is a great song writing course offered by Berklee. Also courses on jazz improvisation etc. </p>

6

<p>Oh, so even though you’re not really good at piano, you still have to audition for that area? ugh… </p>

7

<p>Yes, sorry! :smiley: But if music production is truly your passion, I would really look into Middle TN State. Their recording arts program is tops and you wouldn’t have to audition on piano (I don’t think). There is also Cincinatti’s CCM program. It is for people who want to record and produce contemporary music. Berklee doesn’t have to be your only path. But if you truly want Berklee, you should really look at their site and go ahead and audition. If you are able to show them your potential as a songwriter in the material you submit and an original song and the interview… who’s to say what would happen! Nothing ventured, nothing gained.
But I would seriously consider some schools and programs that don’t require that. Berklee is the best at what they do. But there’s more than one way to achieve your goals.
Cincinnati – CCM
Middle Tennessee’s recording arts
Belmont
William Patterson’s Popular Music Program (requires you to show how you use social media to promote your music) ---- we realllllllllllyyyyyy liked the program there and you’d be just outside NYCity so it is placed well to help you network. <a href=“B.A. in Music with Popular Music Emphasis | William Paterson University”>http://www.wpunj.edu/coac/departments/music/undergraduate/bapop.dot&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;