Berklee online? IIB? Cliff Engel Correspondance?

mightypog · #1 08-26-2010, 12:04 PM

Within days of spending $1,200 to start my first quarter of Berklee's online bass performance certificate program. I have thoroughly checked it out, and I'm quite impressed with the level of interactivity, the curriculum, etc., although some of it will be pretty basic stuff. You can take the whole five-quarter course for only $900 a quarter if you don't want the certificate, but I bet it will help me sell myself as an instructor, either at a music school/store or privately.

$1,200 is a lot of dough, though, especially since that's per quarter and it's five quarters. Each quarter is 12 weeks so it's $100 a week and each week has way more in it than I'd get from a $60 lesson of the kind available around here (great teachers here in Seattle, btw, but no one has the experience that Berklee teachers do). So in all fairness, it seems like a fair deal. Just expensive.

There are other options. International Institute of Bass has online stuff, though not interactive. Staggeringly cheap ($25 a quarter) and then there is Cliff Engel's online interactive one-on-one lessons.

If you have tried any of these options, would you give me feedback?

Crazyeelboy · #2 08-26-2010, 03:22 PM

I'm doing the theory program with Berklee online and am really happy with it. They do move fast, though, so it is a challenge to keep up.

I initially was going to do the bass program, but they advisor helped me realize that the theory program was more of what I was looking for.

It is expensive, but if you take it seriously it is worth it.

Mike Dimin · #3 08-26-2010, 03:26 PM

You should consider Adam Nitti's Music Dojo program

N.F.A. · #4 08-26-2010, 03:28 PM

Cliff Engel and his IIB stuff is great value for the money. You will get a ton of material from both programs. Cliff will also schedule time to chat online if you need help or have questions. Music Dojo stuff is pretty good too.

mightypog · #5 08-26-2010, 04:38 PM

I checked out the site; lots of broken links so I couldn't tour it very well but I did sign up for a free week to start next week. Anyone who's taken it-how much feedback can you get? Do you send in mP3s like you do at Berklee? Is it awesome? It is way, way less expensive and I think if I told prospective students/employers that I had a year or so studying at Music Dojo it would carry some weight.

sedgwick1489 · #6 08-27-2010, 07:18 AM

I have done both Berklee on line and Cliff Engel's lessons so I feel qualified to comment. They are really different animals. 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. The lessons all contain demonstration videos of all lesson material by the Berklee instructors. 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!

As for Cliff, I guarantee you will get WAY more than your $25.00 worth. Cliff is a top notch instructor, very organized, and his course content is excellent. He provides great mp3 play-a-longs and is happy to listen to anything you want to record and submit for feedback. He also has a weekly chat where you can interact with other students. The difference with Berklee is it's up to you to take the initiative to learn the material as submissions are not mandatory and you can't listen to other students submissions (if they choose to do so). You will get a ton or material though all of excellent content.

I hope this helps, gotta run to catch a flight, reply back if I can help further.

All the best

sedgwick1489 · #7 08-27-2010, 10:25 AM

....in my previous post I short changed Cliff a bit and that was not my intention, got whistle bit with catching my flight!

I did want to emphasize the quality of Cliff's material. Cliff has a wealth of very mature material especially in regards to improvisation. Cliff will provide you with a ton of material each week (way more than a weeks worth) that will keep you busy for months. Each week builds on the subsequent week. Berklee will give you a concept each week with pretty specific guidelines on how to work the material and an assignment to submit. Mastering the lesson in one week is reasonable to do. It kind of depends on how you want to learn or how you learn best. I've found both formats great, but different. I still work some of Cliff's material to this day. My favorite part of Berklee was having to record and submit each week. I think that really helped fine tune a lot of things for me with technique, creativity, etc.

You can't go wrong with either content wise.

Crazyeelboy · #8 08-27-2010, 10:30 AM

Sedgwick1489 - which Berklee course(s) did you take?

sedgwick1489 · #9 08-27-2010, 10:32 AM

Basic Improvisation (taught by Jim Odgren) and Bass Performance 101 (taught by Danny Morris & Rich Appleman)

mightypog · #10 08-27-2010, 12:41 PM

sedgwick, thanks. That was the single best post I've seen on this entire site on the two. Thanks so much for taking the time.

sedgwick1489 · #11 08-27-2010, 06:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mightypog

sedgwick, thanks. That was the single best post I've seen on this entire site on the two. Thanks so much for taking the time.

You're very welcome. Let me know if you want more information on either or both - I'm happy to help. Good luck!

BTW - I see you're Seattle based - I'm in Richland, WA! Do you ever gig in the Tri-Cities?

mightypog · #12 08-28-2010, 10:24 AM

We do! I play for a band called Too Slim and the Taildraggers and we play in Richland sometimes, at a bar the name of which escapes me.

Another questions occurred to me.

Berklee is quite expensive but you found it was worth the money? I see you took two classes.

Thanks!

sedgwick1489 · #13 08-28-2010, 05:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mightypog

Berklee is quite expensive but you found it was worth the money? I see you took two classes.

You are correct - Berklee on-line is expensive, but I have found it to be worth it. I make sure I devote the time to it each week to get the most out of it. It's like most things - you'll get out of it what you put into it. If you do sign up, add me as a contact and we can keep in touch.