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Sort By: [Date] [Major] [Rating] Unknown  Major Salary, Salary Trend, Satisfaction, Unemployment I will try to keep this to the point. I transferred to Berklee after 4 semesters in the music school of a state Liberal Arts university. It is the single best step I have taken toward my career. If you are one of the 700 kids that come in right after high school because of the "reputation", then you have already wasted money before you even step foot in boston. NOWHERE will you be able to simply get a job because of the name of a school, so don't kid yourself. That being said, if you are really here to work (aka unlike 70% of americas college students) then this could be the best place for you to study. The main perk, in my opinion, is the ability to network with a ton of musicians in one central area, and the exposure to people who are actively working in the industry in various fields. Instrumentally speaking, most of the schools teachers are still from the old school of berklee and therefore to really get ahead you've got to be able to read and blow over jazz. There are rock, jazz, latin, metal, blues, country, bluegrass, fusion, big band, and tons of other ensembles and labs that can be taken unlike most music schools, which will focus you on either classical or jazz, with nothing inbetween. The school did start as a jazz school, and you have to be able to play jazz if you study at any other college,so i don't see why there is such a suprise when you have to be able to read charts. I guess the bottom line is that if you have something to bring to the table, and you know when you do,AND YOU ARE WILLING TO WORK HARD, then berklee could be a good place for you. Really, College is simply what you make of it. If you come to berklee and sit in your room and talk to your girlfriend all day, then you won't like it. If you come here with your goals infront and a fire behind you to work, then you will really gain something from being here, as you would at any university anywhere. The students who make it past the first year are really not as bad as they are made out to be, most people only get to meet first and second year students who are on the way out, so they get a skewed image of the student body as a whole. So i guess thats my advice... All it comes down to is you. Oh and incidentally, Mitch Haupers was one of the best ear training teachers i've ever had... Preparedness: -, Reputation: - Have a Question? Your Response/Question:     To be informed when someone replies to your comment. (private)  More →  Apr 06 2005 Male -- Class 2000   Forward  Blog it! Blog about this comment from your webpage or Blog, or MySpace account: Just copy and paste! <script src='http://www.studentsreview.com/active/shared/sr_comment.js?sckey=15968&uid=562'></script> <a href='http://www.studentsreview.com' style='font-size:8pt;'>Data Source: StudentsReview!</a> Rate this comment: Useless (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) Helpful       Save   Music - Composition/Theory  Major Salary, Salary Trend, Satisfaction, Unemployment Quite Bright First I would like to say every person I've heard complain about the Berklee College of Music has been usually quite limited on the talent side of things. Very rarley do I hear people with real talent, skills, and with the training complain about Berklee's ciricullum, teachers, or even the work assigned. Secondly, If you want to be a musician, you're going to have to do things you don't want to do. I say this because I spent three years at berklee so far, and within those three years, about two of them I took classes that were not of my interest. It wasn't until the spring of 07' where I really dove into what I was really interested in. I took harmony, ear training, traditional harmony etc. But most people don't realize that berklee is a four year program split in half. But yet students are so eager to get into their major classes tend to drop out because they're not getting what they want "now." Pish posh! Thirdly, Berklee doesn't get you hired, YOU get yourself hired. Whatever field it may be, whatever job you're applying for. Berklee doesn't garuntee jobs after college, I mean think about it. So many student bank on their institutions for a job oppurtunity after graduating. That's stupid. You shouldn't rely on other people to get yourself hired for jobs after college. When you graduate, you're a musician with a degree. Just another musician in this musician ridden world. Anyone who expects colleges to get them jobs after graduation(especially performing arts colleges) shouldn't waste their time. If you're so eager and enthusiatstic to get into the music industry then this college isn't for you. Berklee takes time, and they say 8 semesters but really it's 9 semesters. But honestly, everyone I've heard complain about this school just couldn't hack it, and you can quote me on that. Oh, by the way, who ever said that there should be a harmony class for meoldic insturments, that gave me a good laugh, really, really, good laugh. Surrounding City: A, Extracurricular Activities: D Have a Question? Your Response/Question:     To be informed when someone replies to your comment. (private)  More →  Oct 24 2007 3rd Year Male -- Class 2008    Forward  Blog it! Blog about this comment from your webpage or Blog, or MySpace account: Just copy and paste! <script src='http://www.studentsreview.com/active/shared/sr_comment.js?sckey=41796&uid=562'></script> <a href='http://www.studentsreview.com' style='font-size:8pt;'>Data Source: StudentsReview!</a> Rate this comment: Useless (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) Helpful       Save   Business - Management and Administration  Major Salary, Salary Trend, Satisfaction, Unemployment Super Brilliant I really don't get why BCM has so many negative reviews. I personally loved this school. I enjoyed 4 years of studying at this school. I am going to graduate this year. I majored in Music Business/Management and already got into a big recording company in Korea. (Universal Music Korea owned by Universal Music). You see...heres the thing. There are so many people at BCM who really shouldn't belong. The fact that BCM doesn't look at your SAT/ACT score or your academic grades, some people are just there to satisfy themself. There's a reason why more than 50% of students get dropped because they can't keep up with the work. On the other hand, there are people that are very passionate and hard workers. All of my friends got into some big coorporation. People often complain how they can't get a job after graduating from Berklee. But that's just ridiculous. You put 100% effort in and you get 100% out of it. Yes, Berklee is very expensive. But if you think about all the tech stuff that they have, which they update to brand new programs, keep up with the newest technologies, it's reasonable. I also heard that Berklee is currently negotiating, to purchase the hynes convention center. That's going to make a huge difference in the future. So if you are thinking about coming to Berklee, please don't just come to satisfy yourself because you didn't get into any other univeristy. 99% you are going to dropout and waste your money. But if you are sure this is what you want to do, and you are very passionate, I strongly recommend this school. Education Quality: A, Education Quality: A Have a Question? Your Response/Question:     To be informed when someone replies to your comment. (private)  More →  Feb 15 2008 4th Year Male -- Class 2008    Forward  Blog it! Blog about this comment from your webpage or Blog, or MySpace account: Just copy and paste! <script src='http://www.studentsreview.com/active/shared/sr_comment.js?sckey=44418&uid=562'></script> <a href='http://www.studentsreview.com' style='font-size:8pt;'>Data Source: StudentsReview!</a> Rate this comment: Useless (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) Helpful       Save   Unknown  Major Salary, Salary Trend, Satisfaction, Unemployment Quite Bright Berklee as an experience will reflect your inner state. If you look to make it an incredible experience worth every penny? it can be just that. Any school can be a good or bad experience. If you have a driving passion in your heart that you must go there.... I hope it is because you feel that you want to learn the language of music..and grow...period. You may or may not land a great job afterwords...thats up to you and your work. I attended with full knowledge that the piece of paper wasn't what I was going for. If it was a big money job I was after..I would have chosen something like Bio Chem or a science major at MIT I am still quite satisfied with my choice and respect myself for following my gutt. I personally met a handful of super inspiring people that made a complete difference in the course of my life. Meeting someone and having that person purposefully or inadvertantly help you set your path or reset it even by a few degrees can be tremendously meaningful over the longer course of a lifetime. Socially my experience at Berklee was life changing. I met the most beautiful inspiring people I've ever come across in my life.I met teachers and students from all over the globe! Will you? If you look,If your ready,If you need that.If you risk and try and face your fears... Yes You will find some of what you need there or somewhere else. its just so eassy to do it at Berklee because there are sok many oppurtunitys to be immersed in what you love. So whats negative about it?... Well...you will also find teachers who are not in the right place...maybe even shouldnt be teaching. But theres an easy way out of that. Drop any class that you feel the teacher isnt interested or inspired. Even if you are a young freshman.If yoou dont think a teacher is very good....get out the first week and take another teasscher teaching teh same course! its ok to do that its college! I highly recomend the following teachers as being especially inspiring,kind to me. i found these people to be exceptional examples of what i would like to grow towards being in terms of a human being. Mitch Haupers,Henry Tate,Ronald Goldman,Darell Lowry,Ken Taft,Walter Beasely,Rick Peckham (what a guitar player!!!!!)Roberta Radley,George Garzone(mostly just hearing him play) Charlie Sorrento, Ken Brass, These teachers love music and are good at what they do. Its just like everything else...there are people who are fairly happy and doing what they love...and there are people who just go to work and arent very happy to be teaching students. You will find super inspring spiritual real people living there lives and choosing teaching as a part of it. I found the counseling center to be especially helpful. I cannot express how much Berklee as a group of people has done for me. I grew up their even though i went at a later age...25,26.. yes I think it was expensive....yes I am paying alot of money still and the interest hasn't even been paid off yet after 4 years.I am not rich financially but Im getting that that is something i can adjust as i go forward with life, Yes money is a good thing to have unless you want to take from other people ...somebody always pays whether you do or not...thats a fact... If you have to go...need to go...almost feel called to go. Maybe you need to follow your instincts,apply for the loans...move to mass for a year or so if you have to to get better aid...do what you can...make calls,visit,...do it if you really need too do it. For those who really feel they need to learn music irregardless of whether they get rich doing it or not i think its worth it.Might also want to look into Umass Lowell as they have an incredible program as well from what ive heard. YOu wont get the world class jazz musicians but you'll get good hands on and lots of attention from what I hear. i chose the debt and berklee. im ok with it and would do the same again. It is worth it and I believe I will get it all back exponentially in the future. I'm a teacher who gets to meet great people every day,I get to share and do what I love every day!! I am in a band, I own a house, am happily married and will have my Berklee education for the rest of my life.What will I be doing In Ten years? I dont know yet. Just one day at a time. And I can tell you...as of today I feel like this....I went, Im paying for it with money to spare...and today was a very good day. I practiced alot, worked on Rhythms and timing, thought about some new ideas and have lots to look forward too! Still working towards that big goal of being an incredibly proficient alive soulful musician and bringing that out into the world. SO maybe that will be you fast forwarded in a few years?...COuld be. Maybe youll be touring Europe..could be... maybe youll be writing some miserable review and blaming everyone else but yourself.....could be...but i hope not. Only joy when I think about that decision and those times in my life. But I am not you so dont let anybody make such a big choice for you. The struggle may be exactly what you need to go through deciding..deciding..deciding....its ok. I went in thinking that I knew I could teach guitar even before went in and if thats what i needed to do afterwords...so be it. $40 an hour isn't something to scoff at.Nor is working in a field that I love as a teacher. Well I am doing that and thankful for the oppurtunity to do so. I make music,I write and theres plenty more to do!My schedule is pretty loose I get to joke at work,l play music, meet people, sing.Might go for an M.A soon. Starting Job: Guitar Teacher, Preparedness: C, Reputation: C Have a Question? Your Response/Question:     To be informed when someone replies to your comment. (private) May 21 2005 Alumnus Male -- Class 2000   Forward  Blog it! Blog about this comment from your webpage or Blog, or MySpace account: Just copy and paste! <script src='http://www.studentsreview.com/active/shared/sr_comment.js?sckey=16890&uid=562'></script> <a href='http://www.studentsreview.com' style='font-size:8pt;'>Data Source: StudentsReview!</a> Rate this comment: Useless (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) Helpful       Save      Prev    Select Page:  1  2  3  4  5  6  7 ... 8    Next

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