Is Berklee The College For Me?

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Funk$tar

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Jun 8, 2013
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#1
I am currently an 18 year old Freshmen at the University Of Utah! I have been playing bass guitar since 12 and have no experience being in a band or performing live at all, but I know I've been blessed with the talent to play bass. I've been dreaming to go to a great music school since I was 12, but when it was time to pick and audition for a music school I felt maybe I should get my General Requirements done for the first 2 years of college and prepare myself more on bass. I plan on auditioning and transferring to Berklee my 3rd year of college and just want to know if you guys think that would be a "great" idea? I am not in The University Of Utah's music program, but probably will be next year, it's just a little too expensive for right now. Or I even thought I would enroll in Berklee's online music school to get prepared for auditioning! I currently am learning how to sight read because I mostly learn everything by ear, but so far it's going great. I know you guys probably hear this ALL the time, but music is definitely my life and I don't know if I'd be here right now if it weren't for it. My 4 strings have kept me sane throughout all the ups and downs I've experienced and I honestly cannot imagine a life without my bass. God blessed me with the talent and I pray each and everyday asking him to bless me with the opportunity to show it to the world. I've worked WAY hard, I mean if this is what God wants for me then this is for me, but if he has plans for me to do something else then I couldn't be more than happy doing what he has planned for me. I just want to be happy in life and feel playing bass guitar brings me towards that happiness I never thought I would have. It also brings me closer to God and that's something I cannot explain in words how good it feels.
I appreciate your guy's time and I am open to anything, but either way I am going to give music a try and if it doesn't work out I'll know God has something else in store for me.
Thanks and God Bless You All!
 
#2
Sounds like you've a plan already in place. You said you're getting your General Requirements out of the way for your first two years. I think it's a good plan but sometimes doubt and second thoughts will creep up on you. Just stick to your original plan, see it through to fruition and by year three you'll be ready to matriculate to Berklee. Lots of success with your sight reading too. As Captain Picard would say, your course is laid in, engage.
 
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#3
Clark Dark said:
Sounds like you've a plan already in place. You said you're getting your General Requirements out of the way for your first two years. I think it's a good plan but sometimes doubt and second thoughts will creep up on you. Just stick to your original plan, see it through to fruition and by year three you'll be ready to matriculate to Berklee. Lots of success with your sight reading too. As Captain Picard would say, your course is laid in, engage.
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Wow thanks man, I appreciate it!
I've just really been thinking hard about my future and making sure I have a Plan B if Plan A fails.
I'm going to keep doing what I'm doing!
Your post just made my day too, I was expecting someone to discourage me with their negative advice like, "Major in something else," or "Your wasting your time kid."
So thank you very much!
God Bless and keep jamming'! :thumbsup:
 
#4
I'm not in the Berklee bass department (or any other department) by any means, and don't know what their actual practices and policies are. I have known a number of people who have gone there. I wouldn't dismiss the desire to go there and study music, but I would raise a reality check. So far as I know, it's a prestigious school, which as far as I know means it would be difficult to get into and the audition process is not just a formality. So it raises an immediate red flag when you say you've never played in public or with a band. That was not the case for any of the Berklee people I ever met: they all had done high school jazz bands and chorus or had extracurricular bands of their own. One kid, a drummer, played a regular Sunday evening blues jam with his dad on guitar and miscellaneous other people coming by to sit in. I don't think a place like Berklee is where you go to learn how to play with a group; it's where people who have experience in groups go to get to the next level. Dreams are great but you can't get where you want to go on a dream alone, it has to motivate you to actually do the things that need to get done.

All of that is not to be negative, but to urge you to take a serious look at how you intend to get from point A to point B. If music really is your life, and you're not just saying that because it sounds good, then you either need to start working with music groups NOW or start developing yourself as a solo artist a la Michael Manring (who, actually, also started playing in groups before going solo). Otherwise I don't think you'll be a serious transfer candidate in two years (really next year, since that's when you'd need to apply as a transfer applicant).
 
#6
Given what you have said, I think for now you will benfit most from getting weekly lessons from a really good private teacher. They will teach you the fundemental things required for the potential audition (and life as a musician) such as sight reading, ear training, scales, basic theory, time feel. He or she can also give you practical advice on finding jamming and performance oppertunities. You need to start playing with other people ASAP, although it doesn't need to fancy gigs. A simple beginners jazz combo or garageband will help you grow greatly at this stage. Best of luck with your journey!
 
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#8
Hi Funk$tar..wonderful to read about your enthusiasm and inquiry regarding (BBD) the Berklee Bass Department. We can certainly teach you and give you experiences that will forward your musical growth and help you to discover the tools to become a working bass player. In terms of playing music in ensemble settings, we have all levels of ensembles, mixed with players from around the world. It's an exciting program called rhythm section ensemble. If you can get involved in your local community, that would be a solid footing to set in place helping you discover ensemble performance skills. The Berklee Online course Bass Performance 101 would give you an all around preview of bass techniques used in performance, check that one out. There is also a course through Berklee Online called Music Fundamentals that can aid you in reading and theory preparation. best to you! I feel your energy. Come visit us sometime, we're always jammin' in the BBD!!!
Danny Morris bass faculty since 1988
 
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#9
If you've never played in a band, you really should find one asap. There's nothing like having to learn the music and perform it with others that will open up your ears, uplift your self confidence, and improve your musicianship. A good foundation for would be a blues band as that will help your ears and will give you a good foundation for jazz.
Learn every note on your fretboard and improve your reading skills. Maybe take online lessons via Skype from one of the better known instructors from suggestions here on TB.
 
#11
Hi Funk$tar, You mentioned that you have no experience playing in a band. I think that should be on your priority list. (1) get a good bass teacher, learn the neck, all your scales and arpeggios, learn and work on your sight reading skills (2) listen to a lot of different styles of music. Try singing the bass notes as you listen. (3) Get in a group and play and learn about how you function with the drummer, with the keys, with the guitar, etc etc. Good Luck.
 
#12
Hey Funk$tar--

It blows me away that you haven't been in a band yet--you're a great player! I'd get that band/ensemble experience ASAP for a whole lot of reasons, but mostly because it is super fun.

Having heard you play online, you're obviously a skilled musician and have tons of talent--so now all you need is to gain experience and build on that foundation (which it sounds like you're already doing). Berklee would be a great place to continue that journey, and with a little work, I have no doubt you would get in and do well. Best of luck!
 

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