Since I've been getting lots of questions about Berklee and many are similar, I decided it would be easier to stick them all in one spot as Frequently Asked Questions. I'll be adding to the list as more questions roll in. I really appreciate your interest!

FAQs

In hours, approximately how much time do your actual studies (non-practice) take out of your average week?

This really depends on two things: your abilities coming to Berklee and your schedule.

By schedule, I mean, how many credits you are taking and of what type. Also, the teacher you get can be a concern.

I transferred in with approximately 30 General Education credits. I am also trying to graduate in 3 years, so I am not taking any less credits, just all of my work is music-related. I am also considering a dual major.

For me, I had anywhere from about 2 to 6 hours a night of non-guitar related homework. They'll assign you a randomly generated schedule based on required classes you have to take your first semeste. I recommend taking advantage of all the free time you have!

The problem with some of it is that you never know if you're actually done. Ear Training for example, (sight singing, dictation practice) could take you a max of five minutes if you're skilled in it, whereas for me it took a lot of practice to keep on par since it’s my weakest link. After the first few weeks you'll need to gauge how much work you need to do based on your own abilities.

FYI, practice is a big part of homework, and final performances can be a big part of your grade in certain classes.

What's your goal for daily guitar/instrument practice? I heard Berklee recommends 3-4 hours. Do you usually meet that goal?

This is a hard question. The first thing to remember is that not everyone is here to play an instrument at an elite level. There are pure composers, film scoring majors, production and engineering majors, etc. I know people read the stories about famous musicians like Al DiMeola locking himself in a closet for days practicing. So far, for me, there have nights where I'm lucky if I get time to even play my guitar. There are a lot of deadlines and other activities that will impinge on your available practice time. If you decide to have any kind of a social life or to explore Boston, time spent with your guitar will minimize drastically. Days before guitar labs, with homework, etc., I try to get in a solid hour of playing and practicing, though my roommate can meet this goal more than I can due to having less credits on his schedule.

I can probably get away with saying that you should be able to get in a good half-hour to an hour with your guitar per day if you are committed to it. This may be on top of ensemble class, guitar instruction class, and/or private instruction. So, there are in-class ways to pump up that number.

The reality is, around mid-terms and finals the amount of time with your guitar does go up, especially when you’re panic stricken and somehow make time to attempt passing your proficiency exams. But you won't get four hours in much; I can pretty much assure you of that. With that being said, they do teach you to practice smarter and actually don't advocate practicing for more than two hours a day. I've heard many teachers say this, because we are at the point where it's more important to focus hard on what needs to be studied rather than just getting in a goal of time spent practicing.

It's tough, but if you're very dedicated you could probably pull off two good hours a day, especially if you transfer in credits. Keep in mind that you probably won't get to bed until 3-4 a.m. many nights, depending on what other classes you're taking, if you plan to keep a band or ensemble, or have other things going.

Did you ever start to feel overwhelmed during the first semester? Looking back, is there any advice you'd give yourself to better handle your workload?

Yes. You WILL be overwhelmed at times, I can guarantee this, and my advice is to assign days of the week to getting certain assignments done. Sunday is my day where I don't go out, don't really socialize and just focus on what I need to prepare for the week.

Looking back, what would have also helped would be to gauge right away what demands the most work, and organize your schedule so you can focus on those areas. Get a tutor if you need one and do other required things to stay on top. There are even classes you can take that specialize in time management and available there are counselors if you need advice. And when finals come, just look forward to the break that follows, because those few weeks before are very stressful, especially when much of your grade is based on a final performance.

Do you feel like there are a lot of opportunities to learn from your peers?

A wholehearted "YES!" to this one! There are so many varieties of players here, all at different levels. Most of my friends play completely separate styles of music, even when they all play guitar. A friend named Mike actually just gave me a blues lesson the other day, and Ivan taught me some great Neo-classical techniques for shredding, and my roommate is great with funk. You can learn from everyone and anyone, even if they don't play guitar! It’s hard to walk around and not hear random people jamming together or talking about music or exchanging help and ideas.

Do you see a lot of your classmates dropping out? I heard a lot of people go to Berklee thinking it'll be easy and then end up dropping out.

I wouldn't call the retention rate low, but the truth is a lot of people leave because of particular issues with a few things. The grading criteria is one, with some lab, private lessons and ensemble classes giving you a grade entirely based on your final performance. Berklee’s version of theory is another, but most of all, a lot of people leave because they come to Berklee not knowing what to expect. Classes can be difficult, and time management is hard.

Many people who don't know what they want to do with their lives choose Berklee because it’s a music school, and they like music. It is expensive and it's not easy. Not for fence-sitters. No sense burning cash if you’re not committed to music. Also, for a musician, just like an athlete, the next level is often an eye-opener. Everyone is good, some are exceptional, and this can be discouraging.

Preparation is the key to success and if you’re a dedicated musician, and have done your homework, I wouldn't worry.

Is there anything that you feel is important to know that people might not think to ask?

Note: I will add to this as I think of things!

The Dorms- The dorms at Berklee can only accommodate 40% of the student population. If you are accepted for Berklee it is often difficult to get a dorm room in your first year, unless you are accepted and then take a year at another school, or accept with the intention of waiting a year to attend. Most students share apartments in Boston.

Getting Accepted: Thirty percent of all students applying lately have been getting accepted to the school. There are requirements for grade point average and musical requirements that you should familiarize yourself with on the Berklee website.

The Location: The school is right in the heart of Boston. It is a downtown location with a subway stop half a block from the dorms. The subway goes right to the airport. Buses are everywhere on the streets and malls, restaurants, hotels, music stores, coffee shops, bars…everything is right there. Fenway Park is about a mile away. The city is loaded with college kids from seemingly dozens of colleges, all within a very small radius.

Class Sizes: The average class is 10 to 12 students, with a max of around 20, usually. Classes like Intro to Music Production & Engineering are the only real lecture classes that have around one hundred students. The faculty ratio is approximately 1 to every 8 students.

If you have any questions of your own that you would like added to this list, please, don’t hesitate to ask. You can email me at mattb@modernguitars.com. I will try to get back to you as fast as possible!