What Nobody Tells You About Berklee College of Music (Q&A)

[@HarrisonKing]

Oooo baby this guy knows how to make an informative video

[@AmeerCorro]

I N F O R M A T I O N C O N T E N T

[@h5mind373]

Coincidentally, we live ten minutes away from the Berklee, Valencia, (Spain) campus. Our son had considered Berklee but came to the same conclusion as others- Without a generous scholarship, it's hard to justify the price tag. Even 10% of $200K buys a heckuva lot of private lessons, online courses- including master classes- and real-life experiences. I can't stress the last point enough. Every chance to get out and perform live should be taken. Our son uses the analogy of sports- how much theory do athletes study in a classroom versus getting out there and swinging a bat or kicking a ball? The real question is: will Berklee 'make' you a professional musician? No, that part is up to you. But they can certainly show you a thing or two.

[@centurystudiovn]

Absolutely, Ameer, your advice resonates with me, don't over idealize Berklee into something that it's not. I vividly recall my first semester in 2022, entering my initial class and feeling a sense of pride, as if I shared the same halls as legends like Quincy Jones. While I continue to take pride in being part of Berklee, I've come to realize that, fundamentally, it's still a school and what determine success is still depend on how hard we work toward it During my year here, I've observed alumni holding degrees but struggling to secure employment, even spending more student loans debt to get into MA program in hope for better employment opportunity. While there are others still pursuing undergraduate degrees who are already interning with major corporations. Success is subjective and contingent on individual efforts. Despite the undeniable advantage of having Berklee associated with our names, it's crucial to recognize that success is a personal journey, and the institution serves as a valuable resource rather than a guaranteed path to achievement.

[@ONealMusicStudio]

Location is key for a musician. After Berklee I moved to LA and been working the last 45 years. You got to go where the work is. Nobody is going to be knocking down your door in the music business. You need to network, play out and be seen. If you think work is just coming your way because you went to Berklee then that’s a huge strategical mistake. For me I made connections and got to play a lot at the school and around town. When I moved out west I knew a lot of guys from growing up out there but the Berklee alum were also a huge help in getting connected. But at the end of the day it’s about showing up on time with the right gear and attitude and being able to play your parts in any given situation to any tune or score. if you can do that you’ll always have work. You’d be surprised how many can’t.

[@peterandolph7628]

My son went to Berklee, as a guitar performance guy, and finished his degree. It allowed him to go on and finish a masters in theory at a public university. This in turn allowed him to make a pretty large base salary as a university professor and private guitar instructor WHILE being a part of the music business as a player and arranger in Nashville. My point is, yes some leave and take the risk. For most that leave the risk doesn’t work out. Haydn, Beethoven, Mozart and even Oscar Peterson etc all taught to supplement their incomes. Getting the piece of paper makes you better, and it’s a safer less risky route to your dream music job, whatever that may be.

[@tombaskett6627]

Meta-truth: You and your friends ARE an important answer to the question "Is it worth it." Your realism, talent and creativity shows the kind of people this school draws together. Here you've provided a quite "musical" approach to the fundamental questions a prospective student should ask themselves. I predict many of your viewers will come to Berklee, precisely to seek out, learn from, and join with creators such as yourself. (I doubt folks like you are plentiful everywhere, Ameer -- even if college-level music theory might be.) 🙂

[@alancano678]

I've been watching a bunch of your videos man, I finally got the confidence to apply to berklee and you really helped me with that process.

[@AmeliaPlayz]

I'm doing the online option and even though tuition costs less then on campus, it's still expensive as hell LOL. I chose the online option cause I didn't really want to go college, but I did want to study music, so this was literally perfect for me. Three years in and I've had my ups and downs with it, BUT after like 4 major changes, (I finally decided on Voice Performance cause I've always been a singer first and foremost.) I am so happy I made this decision. Berklee Online allows me to work on classwork from the comfort of my own home, allows me to work part-time to help pay for my classes AND allows me to work on the things I'm passionate about like creating content on KZbin! This sounded like a sponsor lol but it's not.

[@noahfletcher6449]

I don’t usually comment but really amazing high quality video, very helpful

[@collegewithteekay2933]

Hey Ameer! I just started my own channel documenting my experience here at Berklee as an international student!😚 Thank you for your amazing and inspirational content.

[@nicholasvillalva2218]

Berklee alum here. Berklee is not worth it long term. Thankfully I did not have to take out loans for school. But if you do, you are taking out a massive amount of debt to then have to get low paying gigs once you graduate. However socially it was a very good experience. I meet a lot of life long friends and have great memories going there. There is nothing Berklee will teach you that you can't learn on line. If you are a disciplined person, do it your studying and practicing on your own.

[@DaneBjornson]

That edit at 4:30 was so satisfying, into the spinny chair like that. Good stuff Ameer :D

[@AmeerCorro]

tyyy Dane :)

[@scratchcrafter]

Hello Ameer, I stumbled upon your videos. I'm a Berklee Grad class of '03 you hit some key points for sure! If there were things I could do differently I would! I know that the price definitely has gone up, in fact when I went, it was $29k a year and my parents couldn't even afford to place me there, but sacrificed for me and I'm grateful daily as I have now been in the professional music industry for 20 years. I actually graduated with a Film Scoring degree and that's only because it was smoke in mirrors at that time with no actual research or counseling in mind. If I could go back, I'd probably do the music business degree. The funny thing is, I ended up working for a Violin company and have an agent now that gives me performance gigs weekly and if it weren't for Berklee's name on my degree, I'm not sure if I'd have the opportunity so all in all, I'm glad I went and finished! I too lived in 270, 150, and Hemmenway and all was true lol yuck!!!

[@DV-mq5fv]

I went to Berklee some years ago and graduated. It was a a great education. Knowing people there including faculty, sadly, it is becoming woke. Many of us are very sad about it.

[@boomerdell]

Great video, Ameer! I hope more people find it and watch it. I am a lot older than you and your peers -- and probably most people who will watch this video -- but I do have something unexpected in common with you: I am also an undergraduate student at Berklee. To be clear, I am enrolled as an undergrad through the Berklee Online program. I began my own personal music-learning journey just a few years ago, so this is a whole new chapter for me (and very much connected with your point about being a lifelong learner). I am a lawyer, a husband, and a Dad, so my non-student life is rather full. It's a little nutty that someone like me decided to embark on the quest to earn an undergraduate degree in a subject area with no relevance or applicability to my already decades-long career. But here's the thing: I freaking love it. I really do. I love, love, LOVE it! I am passionate about learning and growing as a relatively new musician (primary instruments are guitar and voice, also just began learning a little piano/keyboard), the work is hard and rewarding, and even in the online learning world -- Berklee was one of the first to develop an online education platform and it's REALLY good! -- I am meeting interesting people, both classmates and professors, who are so talented and creative. I honestly believe your conclusions about going to Berklee and getting a degree from Berklee are not only accurate for Berklee, but also reasonably applicable to just about any education path, particularly university programs. Yes, each person is different and two people can take the exact same path yet have very different experiences and outcomes, absolutely. However, it's fair to say that each person can find ways to use it to help get them further along both professionally and personally. I live near Boston so I do plan to get to campus, even take a few courses there, to get more plugged into the community. I don't mind for one second being one of the only people in my age group taking classes there -- watching and learning from and interacting with musicians and artists is so good for the soul, regardless of age or background. It's genuinely fun! I'll finish with this: I've found the instructors who deliver the courses in the online platform (they are the same ones who teach the on-campus classes, too) to be absolutely wonderful. They are superbly knowledgeable, attentive, helpful, and responsive. I consider myself very, very lucky to be a Berklee student!

[@AmeerCorro]

Wow! Thank you so much for sharing your story, I know that this will be so helpful for other people watching. And thanks so much for being here! Your passion for lifelong learning inspires me to keep doing the same :)

[@boomerdell]

@@AmeerCorro -- I can already tell that it's YOU who will be inspiring others throughout your years. It's great to see how much energy you put towards your own aspirations, and your willingness to share it with others. Bravo!

[@h5mind373]

Good for you! Congrats on embarking on a new adventure!

[@jlmoses16]

I attended Berklee back in the early '90's. Some things have obviously changed. Back then, an entire 4 years cost less than 1 year does now. Also, the Commonwealth Ave. dorms were unquestionably the place to be back then.

[@happyjack71]

Another great video! Your videos are great resources. I appreciate how genuine and honest you are in your videos. I also appreciate your great talent for video production. Berklee should consider hiring you for creating video content or to be a part of their video department if they haven't already.

[@brucetowell3432]

I was 2 months shy of my 23rd birthday when I attended my first semester, and for the same reasons you chose to live off campus, I did as well. But it was a blunder for me I wished I had lived in the dorm, and made friends . Life in my apartment on Boylston Street, was let's just say not too inspiring for a college student living in the big city for the first time away from home. I came from a small town and was in for big city shock;-) Had I stayed in the dorm for my first year, I would have given myself a fighting chance. thanks for the video.

[@Shiznizz]

Wow! Great video, well argumented and honest. And gotta love those smooth transitions. 😉

[@ONealMusicStudio]

It was a lot less expensive when I graduated back in the early 80s. For me it was worth the experience to play every day and make connections. But what keeps you employed as I have been for over 45 years its about having a total package of skills that allow me to handle any situation, along with the right gear and attitude. I just spent a few years touring with the Motown group The Miracles and that was a totally different setting than doing tv or movie soundtracks. But the skill sets required are the same. Berklee teaches you some of that but a lot comes down to the individual and self responsibility. Nobody comes knocking your door down to work in this business. You need to carve out your own space through networking and nailing the gigs when you do get them. The top session players in LA aren’t just good players, they possess a set of skills beyond just the music where contractors and producers know they can depend on them to show up and get the job done in a cost effective manner. There are probably hundreds of more accomplished players than even some of the biggest names. But they’ve burnt their bridges along the way and are now relegated to teaching, playing bars or making KZbin videos to earn a living. So show up on time with your gear and play whatever is put in front of you in a tasteful manner, don’t be an ass and you’ll work. You’d be surprised how many otherwise great players can’t do these things.

[@acousticbutler]

Spent two years in a 270 building it was the nice building compared to 150 back then. But I will have to say that the elevator used to randomly stop between floors. At least we didn’t have rats Your last question… very astute analysis. Don’t knock the degree as outside of the music industry having that degree is still beneficial when looking for employment. But most importantly it is the connections and networking that you do with the phenomenal musicians you rub elbows with. Not to mention the music business people that can keep you on track and make you profitable. The Internet is changing the game but the people that you know allow you better opportunities. Now you’re making top-notch videos. You may have a fallback. I look forward to your first Adam Neely esk video

[@imranazimviolinist]

This is extremely helpful & makes me understand Berklee more. Thanks bro!

[@AmeerCorro]

Glad it helped!

[@cassondranorman]

So informative! I don't plan on attending in person, but I've heard great things about the online program and the WHOLE bachelors is $66k and I can keep working full time as a massage therapist while persuing my dream of becoming an opera singer 🥰

[@hahn1in]

Everyone else: Oh yeah Berklee’s easy to get into Father Ameer: WeLL iF yOu OpEn ThE DoOr Love this vid, glad you posted it ❤

[@bealestdrums]

I’m quite impressed with your video. I’m a professional drummer in Memphis, TN. I went to university of memphis for music school. For fundamentals, you get what you put in it. But…I’ve known plenty of players here that went to Berklee that I absolutely could burn their ass. I played with bb king, Bobby blue bland, and had a Grammy nomination with little Milton. I’m the last of the second generation blues musicians. That being said, I’ve been at this for 46 years. Learn styles authentically and learn them well, also try to make connections. Time and place are so paramount. Being lucky is paramount. But good work young man. I’m wondering if digital creation might be your true forte.

[@iyakle001]

Yoo man! Thanks for the heads-up 🙌🏾

[@georgearanibar2866]

I plan to apply to berklee soon and am really nervous I play guitar and idk I say I have a lot under my belt I've been playing for 4 years consistently won 2 place talent show at my school 3rd place the year after got this award for performance in a county event and played in the department of education and so my guitar teacher*literally my life saver* says I got it and I want to believe him but I've also been preparing like hell mainly practicing constantly and trying to truly feel ready and yea my dream was to always be a successful guitarist and so idrk how else to proceed I've felt very stuck right now and have asked my teacher for some help I've graduated a bit ago and haven't been able to talk much to my teacher but still can when I can but yea I've been watching your channel for a good while and it has really helped me prepare myself mainly mentally with this whole thing

[@h5mind373]

Two sources that really helped my son move from "very good" amateur to professional musician- first is 'The Music Lesson' by Victor Wooten, award winning bassist, and the second is Rick Beato's courses (shameless plug). Rick taught college-level music theory for years, and his course is based on that. My son is going through it as we speak. Theory, exercises, ear training, etc. Picture a spiral that keeps growing, forever. That's music education. Remember to have fun!

[@Anonymous-o6t6p]

My big question is how do you make enough money to keep going there? Do you work one or two jobs?

[@sachinkarande6033]

Extremely beautiful to learn guitar in Berkeley course of guitar for two years once a week for two years how did two years got over.but in worth🎉❤

[@lucy856]

I love you so much ❤️ keep making good content❤😊

[@AmeerCorro]

Thanks Lucy!

[@sky_lesloth8207]

very insightful thank you

[@shahmeerahmed2496]

u can buy a lamborgini instead

[@dev2846]

Music business is the main major I've been looking into but 200K is still such an unjustifiable price, such a good place to meet people though 😭

[@lyons.sama06]

I man thanks for the video it really helped me, i’m an italian 17 years old boy with the dream of becoming a famous musician like many other, but in Italy we have a very closed minded circuit speaking of music. And speaking of the money that i could have to spend to attend berklee i don’t know if it could be better to study in italy and than go outside the country to work, or just try to study abroad and make something from that. any advice?

[@peterdentremont7296]

I was there 2 years in 91-93 and if someone asked me I would suggest get an apt and rehearsal space near campus. All the profs give lessons outside of Berklee so sign up and for theory just buy the books honestly I tested out of all required theory on arrival so yea don’t need a prof for that. The most I got out of Berklee was the students. I learned more from fellow students than I ever did in class. Now I’m Canadian as well so as an international that probably wouldn’t be an option but yea tuition wasn’t worth it. Now especially with easy access to great home recording equipement and things like the kemper. Also back in my day we wrote everything score and arrangement projects by hand and that sucked just cause after a full day of writing by hand your hand cramps up and you get lazy and slash the drums and with computers you can write stuff and make changes easily and just print at the end.

[@jlmoses16]

91-93, same years I was there.

[@thenecessitarian]

No. It isn't. You're all welcome. I did two years. Still paying off my shit. I play music in my spare time and for private events for money once in a while. All of my classmates actually graduated and got degrees. They owe almost four times as much and will pay ten times as much back with interest and almost none of em do music at all. It's a Great place with great faculty and great students to form relationships with but the money you will owe forever and always is not worth the experience. I should elaborate. I've got one loan left but I've been paying it for over ten years and I now owe more than when I borrowed. And that's one loan left on a six figure salary. There's no reason to go to Berklee. And really there's no reason to go to college for a goddamn arts/music degree. A few of my classmates would disagree with this but it's pure copium. College is for credentials for specific career tracks with a barrier of entry through credentials. Think doctor or nurse. I wish someone changed my mind about going before I ever went.

[@ArmitagedBand]

If I deeply want to go to Berklee, but likely can't afford it (yet I don't meet financial need standards) what do you suggest I do? I want to go for the opportunities I could get, specifically bandmates, along with learning theory and things like that. I am a metal guitarist and vocalist, and I can't find anyone in the city I'm in, and I think Berklee has outstanding musicians that if I went, I think I could form a good band.

[@coffeemaplays4787]

Thanks man!!

[@jescadu7004]

As of March 2014, Walmart had an acceptance rate of 2.6% for 600 jobs, which was twice as selective as Harvard's (soy de afuera de Estados unidos y ese dato me damucha risa)

[@megaklomegah7252]

I love your content And I'll like to ask you some personal questions

[@Hotwire_]

Please give tips on how to get scholarships. Currently a student at SAE institute and tuition is relatively inexpensive compared to berkley. Would like to know how to properly attain scholarships for future education.

[@jacobhotaling8959]

lol if i could fathom paying that kind of money for a degree that dose not have a good ROI if I could probibly get in as the amplifier technician to work on all the sound gear but hell i dont need a degree from there for that i have a 2 year from a community collage that cost like 1 semester or 2 there

[@influ_xis]

If I don’t want to be a performer should I still take Business Management ?

[@lanabrusnikina]

What a charisma ! I love ur style ❤

[@flutronics]

Thank you

[@peterandolph7628]

Is it worth it? It’s like any music college, if you major in songwriting, probably not. If you major in instrumental performance then probably so. At any university it’s the same. A gender studies degree is useless in the real world, while an accounting degree is not. All of these degrees cost the same, but the workload is night and day in terms of time and difficulty.

[@jambajoby32]

Ooh great video! What about worth it: mp&e?

[@khalilwilliams5779]

as a fellow Berklee student, may I ask what course you took, mentioned @6:13 ?

[@Tamko_Music]

Thank you.

[@tunesbyakash]

can you take music business as a minor subject if you are majoring in cwp?

[@whichwrld]

Does Berklee college of music teaches electronic music. It is suitable for totally beginners

[@megaklomegah7252]

How do I ask you privately?

[@rafimusicx]

yayyyyy

[@megaklomegah7252]

Hello sir

[@FCocomilano2019]

cool

[@yaweemusic5413]

you're Nice guy FR!

[@vicious_machine]

So... basically no. LOL. But...maybe.

[@shamelessdab2.088]

Don’t tell me u wasting a scholarship on a BS 💩 MAJOR LIKE MUSIC THEORY????😅😅😅

[@JeffBerlin-mt1rn]

College should be a place of higher learning, not a place where basic musical information is taught.