[QUOTE=Bryan Blakey]1. It's Berkl[u]EE[/u]. Berkeley is a UC school in San Francisco.

2. Whoever said Berklee is big was wrong. It's a TINY school.

3. There are small residence halls at Berklee, as well as apartments that you can rent nearby the school.

4. Berklee isn't a drumming school. If all you want to do is become a professional drummer, don't go to Berklee... you will end up dropping out and you'll be ruined. Go to a percussion school.[/QUOTE]

Berklee might be small compared to a University like North Texas State. But that's because Berklee is a music school and nothing else. If you compare Berklee to other schools who only teach music, Berklee is the biggest one in the world.

[QUOTE=Josiah]Berklee is very pricey.. considering half the classes are just normal Univeristy classses.. it's VERY pricey.[/QUOTE]

Berklee classes are not normal University classes. If you compare The Harmony classes I took at Berklee it's a whole different world that the classical theory you'd take at a normal university. Then again I tested into higher leavels of classes my first semester. I didn't have to start out relearning my modes and scales because I already studied that stuff in AP music in high school.

If you now no theory at all you may want to go to a regular university for a while and then transfer.

Up here in Canada, one of the top schools with regards to percussion and musical study in general is Humber. Humber has one of the best music programs in North America.

[url]http://www.humber.ca/[/url]

I've noticed that there's allot of guys saying "I heard from a friend," or, "I know someone who went to Berklee." There are only a few coments from people who actually attended Berklee.

I attended in 93/94 and I can definitely say I'm glad I went. And I plan to return in a year and a half to finish. I'm not a drummer though I'm a sax player. I don't know about the drum teachers, but I know that some of the best jazz educators around are the sax teachers at Berklee.

If you're serious about finding the right music school, I sugest you audition for scholarship at several top schools. While I was at Berklee I had a pretty hefty scholarship and I knew if they where willing to cover that much of my tuition I would probably get the chance to study with the best teachers. It also gave me the confidence that I had a good chance of making it in the music business. The music business is very unstable and only the best survive for any length of time. If they won't give you a decent scholarship, choose another carear.

The style of music you preffer to play will also make a big difference as to whether or not you're waisting your time. People think it's a jazz/rock school, but most of the rockers I knew there hated it. It's the hard core jazz heads that had the most fun. And we all know music is supposed to be fun.

I also seem to remember that the ones who had the most complaints about the school, and said they didn't get anything out of it, where the poorest musicians. If you get accepted and you still don't know your modes for example, you're going to be taking some pretty basic classes. At the very least, study the Jamie Abersold scale sylabus before you go, even if you're a drummer. And make sure you know the names of all the modes of the major scale. Find out what II/V7's are and how their used. Try and get the easy stuff out of the way. If you do that you won't be waisting your time. Be prepared.

Well it's official I have been accepted. I am very scared this thread scares me to the point that I want to change my mind and look elsewhere. I love Mike Portnoy and I want to be able to play multiple styles well. I am not sure if i went to berklee that I would be making enough to repay all the loans I will owe. Does anybody know about job outlook. anyways, anyone have any thoughts about my acceptance? to me it looks like a person could go there and be totally emersed into percussion or any kind of music for that matter and just take off with it if they have an open mind and dedicate their time to learning new things!

...so anybody have any advice or input???

Haha if you're that insecure that you need people on here to advise you on a huge decision like spending 30 grand a year on berklee tuition... I don't know what to tell you.

well i was just looking for some advice. I don't know if I will make it there or not it is too expensive. hey I see your a danny carey fan. where and how the hell did he get so good?

[QUOTE]where and how the hell did he get so good?[/QUOTE] You practice. No school will MAKE you better. They will only give you resources.

That being said I sent in my audition tape to PIT today.

Awesome, good luck man. Out of curiosity, how much is tuition at PIT compared to Berklee and the like?

[QUOTE=Skin Beater]Awesome, good luck man. Out of curiosity, how much is tuition at PIT compared to Berklee and the like?[/QUOTE]It is cheaper than Berklee

Im not sure the exact price.

Im looking into getting some free money right now to cut off what I have to pay.

Is it really worth it to go to a school just for percussion? I really want a career in drumming.. But being in a successful band is like a one-in-a-million chance, and studio drumming can be an iffy job. What other careers are there in drumming, and would it really be worth it ovr a traditional 4 year college? :(

well guys. I am really looking at L.A. Music Academy, damn it sounds good and it is about 12,000 dollars for about 40 weeks. A girl from there returned my call and I talked to her for like 40 minutes, man they have some damn good instructors and it sounds like a really cool place to go. Any body know much about the L.A. Music Academy?

i agree with philosopher. if your going to play in a band, or do anything percusion related besides session work thats already planned for you, it helps to go to a college that teaches some kind of music theory, more than just percussion.

so you can play a polyrhythm 3:7 at 160bpm's, but can you add a feel to the music your contributing to that could push you over the edge of club player to signed [I]musician[/I] in a band and not just someone who can hit things with good technique

[quote=Josiah]Haha Berklee might have dorms now. You have to rent an apt or such nearby. Either way, schools charge for using dorms. I'm also positive Berklee does not have their own cafeteria so you're on your own for food.

Most of these type schools are going to run you up a nice bill. That's why they have loans.

"I want to go to a school with frendly teachers to become a pro drummer and nothing else(no History lesson,maths or other musical instruments)."

Don't go to Berklee School of Music then. Look into places like PIT or The Collective.[/quote]
They have dorms and a cafeteria there, but yeah, the education doesn't seem too great. I went to a summer program, and it was...iffy.

id like to go to PIT but im not good enough

Now what do you actually do at these drum college's...I am considering going to college for drums..Also any good ones in NY??

I wanted to at least hit their 5-week summer program, but I missed the cut off date cuz i'm like five grand short...

I'll be auditioning at Berklee next year during the winter. On trumpet, that is. I'm sure I won't ever be doing anything professionally with drums

Berklee is one of the best places to study. They have the best facilities by far. You will get better connections there by far when compared to other schools.

I've been attending Berklee for the last 2 years. I've also looked at other schools, and most of them have nothing on it.

If anyone wants honest answers regarding Berklee shoot out a question. Don't rely on people that know friends, heard from some other person, or the rumor mill.

[quote=flyguy]Berklee is one of the best places to study. They have the best facilities by far. You will get better connections there by far when compared to other schools.[/quote]

That's obviouslly opinated and not true.

Considering you can attend schools that are IN the music capitol of the world.. and berklee is in Boston.

BIG difference. Logic would tell you that the best place to make connections in the music industry is where the music industry is located, LA.


Also the facilities comment is also very questionable. It would not be "by far" by any means. On par would be realistic.

One thing that is FACT, in the last several years pro players that have attended Berklee have had some rather nasty things to say about it in magezine interviews such as Modern Drummer.

Also FACT - Several members here have attend summer sessions and reported dissapointing results considering the price and/or reputation.


Zildjian - The Drummers Collective is located in NYC.

What are everyone's opinions about the Indiana music program?

Indiana?

Is good for...flying [Purdue], and business [Notre Dame].

Not music.

I have friends in both o' those colleges...apparently Indiana sucks anyway. There's no scene there, there's no people there, there's no nothing there. Which is why Purdue IS there --- lots of nothing to fly around in.

Well Purdue just sucks anyways, but I'm talking about the Indiana Music Program...

I've always heard it's one of the top jazz programs in the country, I just wanted an outside opinion. Plus the schools are good in a lot of stuff that you didn't mention, IU's has amazing Business and Journalism schools, and Purdue's one of the top engineering schools in the country...

Hey pessi, letting you know, Indiana (in bloomington) has one of the best music departments out there. From what I've seen online, I've been very impressed, and I plan to visit over the summer and audition there for a performance/recording arts double major

Berklee has alot of bad students, and alot of great ones, i got a full ride to their 5 week summer camp and spent some time there, it was good, i had a ****ty teacher, but he doesnt teach there, and mike mangini still teaches there, but just to be surrounded by so many good musicians was great, and inspiring, and i know many people who have gone there on full rides, nd i saw their jazz combo which was absolutely great, so people will talk alot of **** about berklee, but that isnt all justified at all, also, indiana has a great jazz/classical program. Other great schools for music are:The New School, Purchase, William Patterson, Pretty much all the conservatories(too many to name), Rutgers, as well as USC and some other california schools im not too familiar with. Also North texas i believe.

I was thinking of attending Berkelee's summer program next year but I'm kinda reconsidering now.

Didn't read the whole thread, so I don't know if this has already been asked: Is anyone with good knowledge of the subject able to post a good list of universities with above-par drumset courses?

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