Berklee Audition Tips
So how can you make the most of this audition? Berklee will see thousands of musicians attempt to stand out in the masses, and inevitably, 70% of those who audition will not be able to attend-- and for guitarists, the percentage of rejected students is even higher, around 90%. About the Audition Auditioning in Boston was a great experience for me. Apart from the actual audition, I was able to take a campus tour where I really felt like I could take in the atmosphere of Berklee, I saw a show at cafe 939 which was amazing, and I got to talk to students and alumni to get a really good perspective on what the school does for students of the past and present. The actual audition was a surprisingly relaxed process and honestly I found it enjoyable. My auditioners were more than happy to let me play a second song which was an original (though some students have reported otherwise), and they were enthusiastic about jamming with me during the short improv and call-and-response portions of the audition. You will have 2-3 judges, who may or may not play the same instrument as you-- many people have noted that in almost all cases, one of the judges is very enthusiastic while the others barely say a word, either way don't read too much into it. About the Sightreading Before you go into your audition room, you will be led into a private room where you have 15 minutes with the sightreading examples. Use this time wisely, and make sure you are focusing solely on the sighreading! Vocalists, you are in luck because there is a keyboard in the room, and 15 minutes is more than enough to learn a couple of these examples very thoroughly. You will most likely get to pick the first example you perform, so make sure you are comfortable with at least one of them. The auditioners are very lenient about making mistakes, and they will help you out a little bit if you make a few little mistakes. About the Interview I was very surprised to find out how much of a role the interview actually does play in getting accepted/getting a scholarship to Berklee. Actually, the interview is rated in the exact same way they rate your audition (an ascending 1-8 scale), and it is factored in to the final results. So yes, you could have a good audition, but bomb the interview and you would be out of luck! The interview isn't bad though, just put on a smile, look presentable, and be passionate about wanting to attend Berklee! Things to remember... 1. Play what you know, and play it well. Many students go into their Berklee audition thinking, "I am going to play the most difficult piece I can find, that will impress the judges." Actually, the judges are much more impressed by someone who has a genuine passion for the music they are playing. The point of Berklee is to teach you to master your instrument, and they don't necessarily need to hear you shred (unless that's your thing), they would much rather hear a simple song done well than a complicated song that doesn't show who you are as a person. On this same note, don't try to play a jazz tune if you don't plan on pursuing jazz throughout your music career or in your time at Berklee. Whether you want to be a pop, hip-hop, country, bluegrass, or any other kind of musician, be honest with yourself, and with your auditioners because they respect that kind of music just as much as they do jazz.2. The interview does count. Dress to impress. You don't necessarily need to wear a suit to your audition or anything, but I would highly recommend at least looking nice and clean. If anything, this shows that the audition is something you truly care about and are prepared for. I know for a fact that the interview does play a significant part in your acceptance, and even in your scholarship. You should be ready to display that you can be a very serious person if you need to be.3. Warm up before you arrive. You will only get 15 minutes in the warm-up room before your audition, and every second of that time should go towards learning the sight-reading examples. Oh, and speaking of your arrival, make sure you get there early! I recommend at least 1 hour in advance. (Come on, you don't have anything better to do at that time anyways...)4. Pay attention to the short answer questions on your application. These same questions will be asked in your interview, and some of them are not easy to answer off the cuff. As an example, one of the questions I was asked was "Name 5 good qualities you have, and how they would contribute to Berklee". It wasn't exactly easy to think of 5 qualities off the top of my head, and I am pretty sure I listed the same one using three slightly different wordings, but I think it worked out alright. And just to stress this point, because it came as a big surprise to me, the interview is rated on the same scale as your audition, and plays a big factor into your acceptance to the university (I learned this from a good friend of mine who actually works in the admissions department reviewing applications).5. If possible, apply early action. Applying early action just means you go through the exact same process a couple of months earlier. Last year, the early action deadline was November 15th, whereas the regular action deadline was January 15th. There are multiple benefits to applying early action-- first is that it displays a true eagerness to attend Berklee, which is something they do consider when admitting students; as well as this, you have a higher chance of being accepted (if you don't make it in with the early action candidates, your application will be reconsidered with the regular action candidates, similar to being on the waiting list), and finally you get your results sooner which means you can plan your arrangements for leaving home and living in Boston.6. If you have a few weeks, work on your sightreading. It's really surprising how much progress a person can make just by practicing sightreading exercises for 10-15 minutes a day. Berklee is used to prospective students who have little to no experience reading music, and you can still be accepted with terrible sightreading skills. However, you will stand out in the crowd if you can sightread-- personally, this was the point when they seemed most excited in my audition, they enjoy seeing people who will do well in the classroom portion of Berklee as well as in the practical portion.7. Don't try to learn all of the sightreading examples. I made the mistake of trying to spread out my time learning every sightreading example, not knowing which one they would ask me to do. In the end, I was only asked to sing 2 of the examples, and they actually let me pick the first one, so I would definitely say your time is better spent learning what you can with accuracy. In the end, just relax, and realize that Berklee knows by now how to recognize true potential. Your audition does not have to go perfectly by any means, and they will be able to gauge your capabilities whether you have an immaculate performance or not. They realize that those who audition are still developing music, and they don't need to hear perfection; instead, they are looking to hear and feel a genuine appreciation for music, as well as a desire to learn more about it. Best of luck on your audition, and as always, feel free to submit any other questions you may have! To return to the Berklee Experience page, click here.
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