The Berklee College of Music

Date: Nov 25 2004
Major: Music Education (This Major's Salary over time)
Okay here is the Deal with Berklee. The Good, the Bad, the Very Ugly. The last part of this review will be advice. Remember Take my opinions with a grain of salt, because these are just my experiences with the Berklee institution. And Regarding the question of Berklee's Reputation on a scale 1-10, 10 the highest. How Berlee's reputation has helped me on a scale of 1-10 I would give it a 1 the lowest possible.

The Good, Berklee offers a large faculty with diverse skills, has a high international student population(This can be good or bad)The institution attracts some great student musicians, and faculty. Variety of music programs. Some of the faculty care about your advancement. Can achieve an MBA From Suffolk University For Music Business majors, so this offers a possible way for A music student to Cultivate himself in a new field. Boston is a safe city with tolerant well mannered educated people. The learning center gives tutorials ,and traing on music software. The Berklee Laptop package is a good deal( I am surpised as hell about that one, to bad alumni can't get one)

The Bad-An expensive city, evan paying 900/month you will still only get a shitty studio apartment with rats,mice, and land lords who don't give a fuck about you while their laughing all the way to the bank(this is if you want Prime location, and from my experience) Berklee's reputation is so great, as an alumni I just don't understand how. Yeah Guitarist Great Pat Metheney will come to Berklee and advertise for the school, but you won't get to meet him or if your a guitar student study with him(Or have a master Class) To registar for classes and dealing with any of the administrative departments is probably the equivalent of getting a root canal while a Pit Bull's mouth is vice griped to your balls. #1 Before any administrative person will help you, they will need your money. While Berklee attracts very talented players they have more mediocre, and very bad players(I'll be honest I probably fit in the Mediocre category for musicianship such a subjective topic) But I have seen Some bad, Mediocre players improve drasticly and could perhaps be great Musicians some day( With that said the admissions policy works out for a few of the really bad players.)

The VERY BAD- THe Dorms- they rip the students off more than the shitty land lords in Boston do. The Rate for the Dorm I believe is 3,000 for a semester(probably more now) For a three month semester the rent is roughly a 1000 per month to share a small dorm room with two other people. Gee, I'm not a Rocket Scientist but I knew better that to live in the dorms. Oh Yeah along with SHITTY food. Just remember this, it's all about profit Berklee is an example of capitalism at work, and should change the name to Berklee College of Money. God, only knows how many times they have called or wrote for a donation. If you figure in the cost for your 1/2 hour private you will know your being taken for a ride. The Berklee Career center, and Alumni site is great if your looking for a one night gig, to be an intern, but not to find an entry level job in the music industry.

ADVICE- If you have talent go, but unless they give you a scholarship. And Remember this when they give you a Scholarship they want something from you, You will be a walking advertisement for the school. What I found out was that there are other state schools that offer better music programs(While a student at BErklee I took a semester at another state school and found the faculty to be more concerned and OH yeah they also gave A long private lesson at a way lower tuition rates. Think about economics before you pile up $60,000 student loans like I did. I majored in Music Business Management and still have not found a job, and have been applying to a variety of jobs not just related to the MUSIC Business. Don't want to work at McDonalds just yet. If Berklee Costed 13,000 a year for tuition it would be fair. I mean come on, how much money do the vast majority of musicians really make. If you go you should evaluate your age and dedication. I was 19, basicly straight out of High School. I think I would benefit better going at 24 years of age. Stick with your gut, don't major in Music Business Management like I did because you think finding a job will be easier after graduation. Be prepared-know how to sight read, Play Jazz Standards, Improvise, Develop your own voice or style, PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE. If i could do it all over again, I wouldn't go to Berklee(Because of the Money) I would have attended a state school for music. If I had to do Berklee all over again I would pick a major that Is unique such as Film Scoring(which is not offered at a lot of institutions) IF your independently wealthy, and job security isn't important to you, then go. Also if your a talented person who believes that going to Berklee will give you the tools to get to that next level then go. Also I know I was harsh, But at the moment Berklee hasn't worked out for me. Yeah, it was a pleasurable experience with some great courses and professors, but I still haven't been able to gain from my Berklee education a job,and any sort of economic stability(WHich is my Fault to)