(Before I present my opinion to you I'd like to clarify that I am
not majoring in music, and so my opinion might not have as much weight as the others in this thread.)
Obviously Berklee is a popular choice, and for good reason. However, as others have mentioned, it's
very expensive and a degree from Berklee does not necessarily guarantee success in the music business (hell, a degree from anywhere doesn't
guarantee anything).
As stated above, I'm not majoring in music, but a friend of mine is...I'd like to share his experience with you if you don't mind.
My friend, Joseph, is an insanely talented jazz drummer and an all around good person. He not only knows how to drum like a madman, but he's also handsome, very charismatic, and a natural at interacting with bandmates and the audience. He's also a fairly smart kid to boot...the full package.
When Joe was shopping around for colleges he applied to Berklee--and subsequently got in--but he's not going there. I was shocked at his decision because I always thought that Berklee was the "end all be all" so to speak of music schools. When I asked him why he opted not to go to Berklee he said it was because A) it was too expensive for him and his family B) he knew the education at Berklee would be good, but he wasn't sure it was worth the cost and C) going to Berklee wouldn't exactly guarantee he'd find success in the music industry. His exact quote was more along the lines of, "...the people in Boston are probably sick of college kid bands. I want to be successful in a band setting, and I don't think living and playing in Boston (and going to Berklee) is going to help me do that." Instead he's attending a cheaper--and in his opinion equally good--college in Pennsylvania (The University of the Arts in Philadelphia), and he even got himself a scholarship.
I think this is along the lines of what other people on here have been saying...Berklee is great, but is it worth it? In the end run will it propel your career
that much further.
Another friend of mine, Julia,--a certified genius academically, as well as a gifted singer (in Joe's band coincidentally)--is going to the University of Virginia (which I mention because I noticed you're from Northern Virginia, which is also where I currently live). She's actually majoring in biomedical engineering, but she recently told me she was thinking of adding music as a second major. To me this is the way to go...she's passionate about her degree in biomedical engineering--and she knows it will help land her a good job--but she doesn't want to completely sacrifice her music passion either. From your description of yourself--straight A's, AP classes--you sound a lot like her, the only difference being she doesn't want music to be her main career goal. I wouldn't hesitate to attend an excellent school with a good reputation (like UVA) and major in something like engineering etc. and maybe minor (or double major) in music. That way you're still pursuing your musical passion while also preparing yourself for another career (just in case your music career doesn't work out).
I know I'm sounding pessimistic, but I'd prefer to call it "realistic paranoia." It's the same reason I'm majoring in journalism instead of english/creative writing. They both center around writing (which I'd consider my main passion, music being my second), but one's considered a "career" while the other is considered a "hobby" (until you publish a best-selling novel
). It's always good to have a backup plan...if you could find a good school in Virginia that could give you a satisfactory education in both music and another area of study I'd suggest doing that...you can by a hell of a lot of gear on an engineer's salary.
For now I'd just focus on getting good grades (at fifteen you're going into your sophomore year, right?) and continue practicing your bass. I know, I know, it sounds like cliché motherly advice (which I'm not really qualified to give, seeing as I only just graduated high school), but it helps.
Keep practicing, keep studying, and good luck in your future endeavors. I hope to see a follow up to this thread in 3 years when you're set to graduate.
