by Matt Baamonde.

When there are Red Sox uniforms and caps everywhere on the street, people singing at traffic lights and in the hallways, and when Steve Mouse makes a dramatic re-introduction, you can be sure you’ve returned to the Berklee College of Music for a new year.

For me, coming back was as natural as coming back home after going to the store. Before you know it, you are right back in the groove.

Seeing so many fresh new faces and noticing all the subtle changes on campus has really been a pleasant experience. It’s funny to watch all the new music students running around, talking about their first weeks with mixed feelings of intimidation, excitement, and humbleness, and visualizing myself in their place not more than a year ago.

What’s great about being a returning student is the subconscious preparation that takes place for the semester. You know what to expect and can schedule accordingly, which makes the transition so much smoother and less intimidating.

My classes have been starting slowly, but promise a lot of work in the near future. I can feel the pressure building as we edge towards mid-terms.

I’m taking Traditional Counterpoint (which is the counterpart to Traditional Harmony, which I took last semester). I’m taking this with the same teacher, Scott Fessler, who can make a subject that is almost mathematical and dreary, entertaining and fun. On Tuesdays I have Harmony 4 (again with Daniel Ian Smith), Effects Lab with Chris Buono (so much fun!), and Art History 2 with Henry Tate (amazing classes), that repeats on Wednesday. That is followed by the necessary evil of Ear Training 3 (which I’m doing much, much better at thanks to Paul Stiller, my teacher from last semester). ET3 and 4 are only repeated twice a week now, for me Wednesday and Friday. Next I have my private instruction with Chris Buono, who is also my Effects Lab teacher and profusely recommended by my roommate. On Thursdays I have my Rock Guitar Lab with Mike Ihde. (\m/) This class seems to still be developing and I’ll cover it in next month’s column along with my Groove Writing class. Finally, Friday mornings I’m taking Arranging 2 with Jeri Sykes, which is focused on arranging a score for a horn section.

Since returning has been comparatively effortless for me, I wanted to get a fresh perspective from an entering student who had contacted me before her trip up. I thought it would give a stronger sense of what it’s like to experience all this change. I also wanted to give a female perspective, as well.

Jessica Mellot is a first semester Berklee student and a trained vocalist and performer, including musical and theater works. I recently interviewed Jessica about her initial Berklee experience.

Matt: Jessica, please introduce yourself.

Jessica: Hi! I’m Jessica Mellott and I am a first semester student at Berklee College of Music. I plan on being a Vocal Performance major. You can check out my music at www.jessicamellott.com and www.myspace.com/jessicamellott.

Berklee is an amazing place for musicians of all kinds. They have so many different majors and support all kinds of music that the school meets all needs you may have. If you are interested in having a career in music, you definitely should consider Berklee! I hope to see you there!

Matt: What were your expectations before coming to Berklee?

Jessica: My expectations were that Berklee would be a place where there would be musicians from all over the world, coming together to create all sorts of music. I expected there to be all sorts of creative projects going on.

Matt: How did those expectations compare with the reality of Berklee?

Jessica: My expectations were fulfilled! I have met so many amazing musicians from practically every part of the world who are all so talented. I have really enjoyed learning about everyone and their aspirations. One thing about Berklee is that a lot of people don’t know what they want to major in. That’s okay! There are so many different majors here and every one of them gives students great opportunities to learn. There is even a “Professional Music” major where you can basically pick which classes you want to take. So, if you were interested in both music performance and music business, you could take classes in both of these fields.

Matt: What were a few challenges, difficulties, and unexpected hardships you experienced before and during the first weeks of school?

Jessica: Well, getting all of my stuff packed was hard! I brought a lot of clothes. It was also hard to move things in, as I am staying in the dorm rooms here. All of the first semester students are told to move in at the same time, so everyone is trying to move in at once, and because this is a city school, there is really nowhere to park your car. My family and I actually parked a few blocks away, and my mom waited with my things while my dad and I walked back and forth and carried everything in! So definitely keep in mind that you will likely be moving in without a parking spot close by.

Also, while I have been loving Berklee and all that it has to offer, it was a little hard to adjust because I am so close to my family. I am also from a suburban area so getting used to a big city has been interesting, even though I absolutely love it here! Boston is beautiful, and it is great to be able to walk from one place to another without having to drive.

Matt: What were some positive surprises for you after arriving at Berklee?

Jessica: I am in one of the dorms here and it is very nice! I was surprised by how large it was compared to most college dorm rooms. I was disappointed though, because there is no cable! So if you bring a TV, make sure to bring a DVD player. If you buy an antenna, you may get 2-4 TV stations if you are lucky.

Matt: What is your impression of the Berklee campus?

Jessica: Berklee is a city campus in the heart of Boston’s Back Bay area, so the school’s buildings are spread out and mixed in with other buildings. They are on different streets, but the main buildings are within a few blocks of each other. It is very easy to find your way to each building, once you know where they are.

Finding your way around inside the buildings can be a bit of a challenge, though! There is an area underneath the 150 Mass Avenue building that is connected to the 130 and 136 buildings…even people that are not first semester students still get lost in there. There are just so many hallways back there!

Matt: What have you found there is to do at Berklee?

Jessica: There are so many things to do here at Berklee and in Boston in general….so much to see! The stores on nearby Newbury Street are a great place to go shopping, and the Prudential Center Mall on Boylston Street is another area to hang out. Also, everyone goes to the Starbucks across the street from the 150 Mass building. And for school supplies, the Berklee Bookstore is great, and also the CVS, Walgreens, and Staples. For people interested in getting a bank account, there is a Bank of America across the street from the 150 Mass building that is very convenient, and there are Bank of America ATMs all over the place in Boston.

Matt: School-wise, what were some things that happened that you did not expect?

Jessica: I didn’t realize that I would not get to pick any of my classes for the first semester. Everything is based off of your “ensemble ratings,” which you get after you come to the school and audition. They also give you a placement test, which determines the Harmony, Writing Skills, and Ear Training classes you will be put in. Also, if you are planning on auditioning for school showcases and other events, be sure to come prepared with several song selections. There are a lot of auditions that happen in the first few weeks of school. As an entering student, it can be hard to find out about these shows, so if you are interested make sure to look on the bulletin boards posted around campus and in your instrument’s department.

Thanks to Jessica for her perspectives and best wishes for a great year at Berklee!

Next semester I’ll be following up with more teacher reviews!

Before I go, I would like to again mention the interview with Michael Fath that I did last spring. It came out last month, and I encourage all young musicians, and especially guitarists, to read this very candid information being provided by a 40+ year veteran of the music scene. He talks frankly about the difficulties of a career in music, even for the exceptionally talented, while still giving hope to those creative and determined enough to push through the many obstacles that a music industry, where the guitar is not as revered as it once was, can hold. In my opinion, this should be required reading for any aspiring musician. I asked the questions, but the answers held me spellbound, and had me alternately frightened and hopeful throughout. I also ended up more focused, more aware of what I am getting myself into, and more determined than ever to succeed in the music industry.

You can find that interview on Modern Guitars here!

Till next month…

Matt