My son is seriously considering Berklee for jazz saxophone and getting somewhat conflicting (or “misleading”, I can’t really tell) information about who his private saxophone teacher may or may not be for freshman year. I’m hoping someone with actual experience may be able to provide some insight into how it really works at Berklee for freshmen.
When my son was accepted, he got a “welcome and ask me any questions you have” email from someone in the woodwinds department who indicated that studio placement would happen based on auditions at the beginning of the year. He emailed (or called, I can’t remember) that person, asking who potential teachers might be (the Berklee website lists 7 or 8 sax faculty) and got a rather puzzling “I have no clue and I’m not the right person to ask” answer. He then emailed the teacher who he would want and asked whether he was available to freshmen and, if so, whether it would be possible to schedule a lesson/meeting before the May 1st decision date. We live in Michigan, so clearly a significant trip. The teacher emailed back suggesting a lesson on a certain date, certain time, $150 an hour. My son inferred (perhaps wrongly) that this indicated that he would be available as a teacher assuming he accepted my son.
I was just about to buy the expensive last-minute plane ticket but decided to call the dept chair to confirm my son’s assumption, in case he should maybe stay a few more days and meet other teachers. Got a completely different story from the dept chair, who directed me to a separate dept website that lists 14 saxophone faculty and told me flat out that there’s no chance that the teacher my son wants would be available to a freshman, because the studio selection system has a seniority component that would rule out incoming students from getting a spot in the highly coveted studio.
I guess the obvious route is to “trust the system”, and let the chips fall where they may – and I’m really fine with that. I have this sense of Berklee in that it’s mostly a mill, but if you have what it takes to be the big fish in the big pond, then the system will work for you. My son seems to want that challenge. My immediate question, though, is whether there’s any value or advantage to be had in him going out there next week for a lesson. My “visits & auditions” budget is tapped out at this point but if there’s any chance that it may ultimately influence the studio assignment, I’m willing to do it.
Don’t have any advice on Berklee. I think it is worth trying to talk with someone who has been through the studio assignment to get more confidence in the “trust the system” route. IU does the same and I would tell anyone going into the voice that it will work out…since we have seen that. They really make an effort to make it work. It is not a cold, heartless process. So getting some feedback would help I’m sure.
You may still want to visit Berklee and have your son play for the one teacher as he may be able to suggest other good teachers (for your S particular level/style) or shed light on the process. The teacher would probably be part of the process in the fall. It’s always nice to have a relationship with a big dog at the school. I can’t say it will help but I doubt it would hurt. He could also maybe get a suggestion or two from the dept chair for other sample lessons. If he walks away feeling the teachers care and will get him in the right place that may help.
Edit: IU is sometimes called the factory. If you want to go to a factory or mill, you DO need to be able to advocate for yourself. An ability to “network” is also important. If that makes a student uncomfortable at the tender age of 18, there are probably better alternatives. BUT I really don’t know Berklee so that would have to be your call!
I agree and I admit to having reservations about Berklee for my son because that’s not his strength and he’ll be a young freshman, not yet 18 when school starts. My preference is for a smaller program with a strong mentor… but I realize that’s mom talking. My son has a different perspective, which I also respect a great deal. He believes his playing will get him where he wants to be, but only when his playing is good enough to legitimately get him there. He’s fiercely competitive, and nutty focused when it matters to him. So, maybe Berklee will work out exactly the way he wants it to. I don’t know.
@ScreenName48105 First semester students at Berklee do not get to choose their private lesson instructor. Their entire schedule is done by Berklee during orientation week after placement exams and auditions. In the 2nd semester students do choose their schedule but it is based on seniority. Does this help? I wouldn’t bother going out for a private lesson.
@ScreenName48105 I don’t know the specifics about Berklee, but my son knows many Berklee undergraduates who all gone on to do quite well. I even knew a very autistic young man who I feared would struggle at Berklee, who went on to have four wonderful college years. I live in the Boston area and so Berklee is well known. Many of my son’s teachers and mentors in HS were connected to Berklee in some way. My son did Berklee’s 5 week. Here is my take on Berklee. It is a large institution and like any large institution one has to learn how to navigate it. That means one can not just go there and coast trusting that somebody is going to advocate for you. If you don’t show up for class nobody is going to bang on your dorm room to find out why, as they might in a smaller school. Your student needs to be able to stay on top of things. He/She needs to be always on the look out for emails about opportunities, sign ups, administrative notices etc…
The top students at Berklee are some of the best in the world. Berklee attracts an international population and so the best students are as good as the top Jazz students at any conservatory. Depending on where your student is in his development at a musician and his personality that can either be discouraging or motivating. If he is willing to push himself to jam and play with those students he will definitely get better. But if he is intimidated then that can be something that will shut him down. In the Jazz world relationships matter a lot. So even if your son does not necessarily have the teacher he wants the first year he might have opportunities to take a master class with him or jam with students who are studying with him or play in an ensemble coached by him. So forming a relationship with that teacher could end up being very important. That being said most Berklee faculty have other jobs…they might teach at another institution, teach privately, gig, do studio work etc…So their time is not necessarily always devoted to students. That being said most teachers will give a private lesson at any time. So there is no reason to fly out just for this lesson. Your son could come early to Boston and probably get a private lesson before starting.
I hope all works out with your son and his decision. Boston is a fun place to be a musician but it also has it’s challenges.
@ScreenName48105 just sent you a private message. I have a parent group but I am not allowed to post it on CC. One thing I really liked about my son’s first semester is that Berklee did a really good job at engaging the students and getting them to participate in events. They assign your student a peer group and a peer advisor who checks in with them periodically. They get together, explore Boston together and even take a required Freshmen class together. My son had no problems meeting friends and was jamming with some of them almost immediately. Most everyone was very friendly and my son fell right into his groove pretty quickly.
Thanks for all the feedback. @rockinmomab, really appreciate the link. I know jazz is a tough career but I have to say that I really love the camaraderie – yesterday, a college professor at a school that had expressed interest in my son but where he chose not to apply, sent word through another teacher with pointers on how my son should prepare for a lesson with this teacher. The college prof had previously studied with this teacher. I’m not sure how the “grapevine” works but it’s definitely out there. So, my son asked me to buy him a plane ticket and I did.
My son isn’t shy about his playing and will play at every opportunity, so I’m not worried about him making friends or keeping up with peers. He’s just not great about “official” stuff that require registering, submissions, etc. With college applications, for instance, left on his own, I’m pretty sure he would have had his audition repertoire solid but none of the actual applications submitted on time. I’m sure college will be a great maturing experience for him (and I’m pretty happy that I don’t have to be a daily witness!)
Haha! I think we all wonder how they will manage when they are on their own but they do find their way! I was worried about the same thing as I certainly handled a lot for my son. He has managed to do a great job and will call me from time to time for help! My son had never even done one load of laundry before he left home lol! Being at school has certainly matured him!!!
Funny…I used to joke that my son would leave his head on the kitchen table if it detached. I can’t tell the number of times when he was in high school when I would get a call in the middle of the day saying, “I forgot my Bass can you bring it.” How does one forget a Bass!!! I understand leaving with out a violin or even a cello, but a bass?
Now that boy is about to graduate from college and I have to say he has definitely matured. He still has his moments. He missed the bus and got to his MSM audition late. But some of that also had to do with the fact that he was not really motivated to go to MSM. When he is motivated I can assure you he makes a point of meeting deadlines and making it to places on time.
My son has a different perspective, which I also respect a great deal. He believes his playing will get him where he wants to be, but only when his playing is good enough to legitimately get him there. He’s fiercely competitive, and nutty focused when it matters to him. So, maybe Berklee will work out exactly the way he wants it to. I don’t know.
I’m sure college will be a great maturing experience for him (and I’m pretty happy that I don’t have to be a daily witness!)