Tips for Getting Accepted to Berklee
My biggest tip for getting into Berklee is attending one of their summer music programs before you apply to their school.
Berklee has 20 different summer music programs! However, the most popular one is their Five-Week Performance Program.
At this festival of incredible music, you will join musicians from over 70 countries and work first-hand with Berklee faculty.
Berklee keeps tabs on those who attend their summer music programs, and if the teachers at Berklee’s programs like you, your chances for getting accepted skyrocket.
Similar Schools to the Berklee College of Music
A school similar to the Berklee College of Music would be a college embracing popular music, music business, music production, or have some other tangible factor that would make it stand out as a premiere college for contemporary music.
One school that comes to mind is Belmont University’s Mike Curb College of Entertainment and Business. This program is among the best in the country for those looking into popular music as well as music business.
A comparable jazz school to Berklee would be the New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music.
Is Berklee Right for Me?
Difficult question, but that depends on what you like.
If you are a classical musician, you may or may not like Berklee. Most classical musicians choose to attend a conservatory with a more classical element to it, like Juilliard, Cleveland Institute, Eastman, etc.
That said, if you are into jazz, popular music, music business, or just about anything that is in the mainstream, commercial, and contemporary realms of music, Berklee could be the very best place for you.
The location is difficult to beat – Boston is a cultural epicenter for so many different rock groups, jazz bands, classical choirs, ensembles, symphonies, etc.
There are also plenty of opportunities to perform in and out of Berklee while going to this school.
I consider Berklee among the very best music schools in the entire world, and certainly number one for popular music, music production, and related styles.
Featured Image by euthman via Flickr Creative Commons