Jazz summer, Berklee

[Macher]

Hello,

i am a 22 year old university student from Montreal. I am thinking about studying again this summer. The reason why i want to study is that I dont want to do the same stuff i did past summers; cruise ships, restaurant gigs, hotel gigs, etc... I want to get to the highest level of playing before i obtain my bachelor next year.

I read about the Berklee 5 week program, but it looks like it is for 15 years old kids... anyone has been there??

Any other thaughts about serious summer programs, or stuff i could do this summer to learn!?! I dont mind travelling, i think i can get some money to study, but i don't have time (and money) to waste in a school that is not the best!

thanks

Jérôme

[Stan Haskins]

IN the 90s, Berklee's summer program was very much geared towards 15 year olds and people who were hoping to study music at the undergrad level. I remember most of the sought-after teachers not being available during the summer months (not because they were teaching at the summer program )

Of course, lots of things have changed since the last time I was there, so you should do some more research.

[jsbarber]

Although I don't see a thread focused on this, I seem to recall mention that Lynn Seaton (our jazz guru in the ask a pro section) does a summer jazz bass school. That would be worth checking out. You might either PM him or start a thread...

Jim

ps. Masher - I'm sure there's more to you than what's in your profile (hint, hint)

[Macher]

Thanks guys

i'll email Lynn Seaton and try to find more info about other camps but htey have to be worth the money.... Montreal is quite a place to be and i can take lessons here with masters.

PS. jsbarber i did update my profile

[Macher]

If anyone else has thoughts about this. I am still looking for infos..

[Ed Fuqua]

Well there's masters and there's masters. Unless you're going to be studying with Dave Young or Don Thompson.

Berklee is extremely adept at turning out players that have the skill sets to play "cruise ships, restaurant gigs, hotel gigs, etc", so what is it, specifically, that you want to do? "Highest level of playing" doesn't really speak to what it is you want to do in any but the most general way.

Since this is posted in jazz technique, I will go out on a limb and assume you want to play jazz. If that's so, save your money and move to NYC.

[Macher]

Yep, jazz is my art. But i play a lot of other stuff too and i believe that the better you get in everything the better you get in jazz. To me its all music. Most of people have to play other styles of music to survive... and my first goal is to be able to pay my bills with music.

Thanks for your info about Berklee and i was thinking about moving to NYC.

[ritzy123]

I worked in the summer programs and I was a bassist at Berklee. You can expect some youngings at the 5-week program. There is a BassLines program but it only a week long I think. If your still interested just reply and I can go into better detail. I do agree with some of the negative posts but depending where your at and what your looking for, one of the two programs may be good for you. PS for the 5-week APPLY EARLY!