berklee graduates or students please read!!!!

Moved to General Instruction.

 

"Formal instruction" is private lessons of some sort.

 

When you enter Berklee they audition you to see what level you are currently playing at. Then you are assigned to classes based on that (i.e. you play with others at your level) and your course of study is adjusted to make sure you get whatever remedial instruction that's needed.

I have studied with two Berklee professors who (perhaps cynically) tell me that ANYONE can get in if they have the $$$. Obviously if you can't read a note or get through a major scale then you probably have no business applying to a music college

I'd just call 'em up and ask to talk to someone who can answer your concerns.

 

I think my view would be that - if you don't know why you need it - then you don't need it!

 

Dude,

I was accepted to Berklee for this 2001 fall semseter for playing my guitar, and I have only had a year and a half with a private instructor (ive been playing it for like 8 years prior though, but still never had much "formal") before that. They didn't even audition me before they accepted me (well other than for scolarship money on the World Scholarship Tour), but otherwise it is severely easy to get in. The only problem with Berklee is that it is expensive as balls (note that I wasnt able to afford it), it is next to impossible to get college provided housing (another reason I am not there), and like 50% (dont hold me to that one-- I am pretty much saying "a buttload") dont make it past their first semester. Im not totally accurate, but that is basically what I found out last year. Otherwise it is an amazing school, I learned alot even frm just auditioning with the two old dudes in the scholarship tour.

Have fun,
CrazyCajun

 

It's not just private lessons. You have a core of classes that you have to get through including: Harmony (Jazz and Traditional), Ear Training, Arranging, and notation. The notation class is a joke. Study the text for a week and you can test out of it.
Also your class requirements change depending on your major. If you're a performance major you'd be taking ear training the entire time you're there and you'd have to take a few more ensembles and labs. Hope this helps.

Jon