Berkelee's online programs

[wumusic]

Greetings TBers.

I was wondering if any of you have taken courses for any of Berkelee's online certification programs. Specifically, how was the online classroom experience for you? Did you get everything you wanted out of the course / certification program? Did you have any issues with online instruction? What did course of study did you take? Would you recommend it to others seeking instruction and / or certification? Any general thoughts, opinions, observations about the online programs?

Thanks in advance.

[bassix67]

Allaboutjazz.com might is a better place to ask this question. You'll have a broader range of people to answer you.

[wumusic]

Originally Posted by bassix67

Allaboutjazz.com might is a better place to ask this question. You'll have a broader range of people to answer you.

Thank you for the reply and suggestion.

[Minus]

I have taken five courses from Berklee on-line over the past year. One of the big benefits of Berklee is being required to post your weekly assignments and being able to listen to your fellow classmates recordings every week. Although you don't see your fellow classmate's grades, you do see their feedback from the instructor. Thus you not only learn from your instructor feedback, but from your classmates also. What you see in the syllabus is really a scratch of the surface, but every weekly lesson is paced perfectly to be able to be completed by weeks end. The Berklee instructors are top dogs and very helpful to answer questions and provide feedback even beyond the scope of the lesson. They are very skilled to boil a concept down to the nuts and bolts that click a-ha. The lessons all contain demonstration videos of all lesson material by the Berklee instructors and lots of play along which you'll use to submit most of the lesson assignments. Also, what may seem like an "easy" lesson on the surface takes on a whole new meaning once you record it and listen back. Since you have to post it, it kinda forces you to really master it - recordings don't lie ya know! Berklee is expensive, but I love their on-line learning environment. It's like anything else in that you'll get out of it what you put into it. I've been very dedicated, working all the homework, and optional material, thus I've gotten a lot out of it. Let me know if you'd like more details.

[wumusic]

Thanks for your response. This was helpful!

[Edu Fettermann]

Originally Posted by Minus

I have taken five courses from Berklee on-line over the past year. One of the big benefits of Berklee is being required to post your weekly assignments and being able to listen to your fellow classmates recordings every week. Although you don't see your fellow classmate's grades, you do see their feedback from the instructor. Thus you not only learn from your instructor feedback, but from your classmates also. What you see in the syllabus is really a scratch of the surface, but every weekly lesson is paced perfectly to be able to be completed by weeks end. The Berklee instructors are top dogs and very helpful to answer questions and provide feedback even beyond the scope of the lesson. They are very skilled to boil a concept down to the nuts and bolts that click a-ha. The lessons all contain demonstration videos of all lesson material by the Berklee instructors and lots of play along which you'll use to submit most of the lesson assignments. Also, what may seem like an "easy" lesson on the surface takes on a whole new meaning once you record it and listen back. Since you have to post it, it kinda forces you to really master it - recordings don't lie ya know! Berklee is expensive, but I love their on-line learning environment. It's like anything else in that you'll get out of it what you put into it. I've been very dedicated, working all the homework, and optional material, thus I've gotten a lot out of it. Let me know if you'd like more details.

It's a shame that my english skills don't allow me to ask you some stuff I'd like to know... Still, did you notice a development of your skills after these courses? Is it worth the investment?

[oniman7]

My band is all fantasizing about making a living as a touring band (don't have to be a house hold name... we'd just like to make some music, make some money, and maybe travel a bit). Anyways, we've all basically decided that we're finishing school and might take college online if required. I don't want anyone to think this is what I'm riding on, but if it happened, are these online classes flexible enough that someone travel and playing a lot would be able to finish them in their spare time?

[Minus]

Still, did you notice a development of your skills after these courses? Is it worth the investment?

- yes, I feel without a doubt I have aquired new skills and have improved as a player.

Are these online classes flexible enough that someone travel and playing a lot would be able to finish them in their spare time?

yes, it just takes self discipline. For the first 8 months of my Berklee classes I was traveling out of town on Monday & traveling back on Friday. I took my laptop, a travel bass, and a Tascam bass trainer with me every week and worked on the material every night in the hotel room. I would record and post my assignments, which were due on Saturday, either Friday evening when I got home or on Saturday morning. If you have discipline and an internet connection, you can succeed.

[Crazyeelboy]

I did the Theory certificate program and was very happy with it. It is expensive, but the online format fit my needs well. There are a few of things to keep in mind.

These are serious programs and they involve a time and effort commitment. If you are going to do the certificate program, you are signing up for a commitment for no less than nine months, so make sure you can fit this into your lifestyle.

Make sure you do the right course - I originally thought of the bass course, but it turns out that I was really looking for theory instruction (the advisor helped me on that).

The courses are compact and really an introduction to concepts, so you will need to continue on your own to truly master things.

Distance learning is not the same as in person, so there is a trade-off.

The courses are expensive and the certificate is not itself a valuable credential.

In sum, the theory program was great for me (I am so glad I did the theory program rather than a specific instrument program) as it really did radically upgrade my understanding of music generally.

[wumusic]

Originally Posted by Crazyeelboy

The courses are expensive and the certificate is not itself a valuable credential.

Thank you for your thoughts and feedback. Can you provide an example of how the certificate is not a valuable credential?

Thanks!

[Crazyeelboy]

Sure. Nobody is likely to take your BerklleeMusic certificate into account when considering you for a gig.