Auditioning for Berklee on Guitar

Jon Finn has been teaching at Berklee College of Music for more than 30 years. In this video, he discusses the process he uses to audition prospective Berklee Guitar students.
He's taught hundreds of guitarists worldwide who have gone on to successful music careers of their own. In addition, he has his own band Jon Finn Group who have released several full-length albums, and has played guitar with Boston Pops Orchestra since 1997. You can find many of his published teaching methods on Mel Bay Publishing, and Truefire Media. Check out jonfinn.com!

[@viktorbalko213]

This made applying to Berklee a lot scarier but damn it inspired me to learn more!

[@JonFinnguitar]

Another way to look at it: Do you think you'd do better or worse if you had no idea what the audition would be like? I think you'll do great if you show up prepared!

[@viktorbalko213]

@@JonFinnguitar I think I'd do worse but it wouldn't be the defining quality of whether I'll be accepted or not. I think all the things you mentioned are essential skills to have during any guitarist's time at Berklee, that will also help with the audition. Either way, I'm already in the process of learning music theory, sight reading, more complicated scales and chords on guitar, etc. and it feels great to do so, so hopefully by the time I'll start applying which should be next year, I'll have something to show for it. Also, the video is greatly helpful, thank you!

[@free_siobhan]

Planning on applying to Berklee in a few years, this video was super helpful!

[@iandavis5660]

Same bro, im really looking forward to applying!

[@oozzyknob]

Any update?

[@khomxanliam6789]

death grips listener applying to berklee is based

[@theaddictofgaming9174]

​@@khomxanliam6789im at berklee and theres tons of death grip fans

[@user-me3bb1cd5u]

Berklee is my dream school. It’s a dream school because there’s probably no way I could afford it, but that doesn’t mean I’m not going to do everything I can to try. Thanks for the video. Even if this won’t be an option for me, they’re all essential things to keep in mind when learning guitar.

[@felinae]

Exactly what I was looking for. Thanks, Jon!

[@grantkelly2751]

3:30 Man, I told them I was into punk rock and heavy metal and they asked me to do a blues improv.. i know that metal draws a lot of influences from blues but still. Went from a real dirty tone on my bridge pickup to totally clean on the neck. Totally out of my comfort zone there but maybe that’s what they were going for

[@mudfightmaster4275]

did they accepted your audition?

[@keithkkim]

Great Tips for the future fellow alumni. I shared it with my students for audition tip as well as English practice!

[@sally3611]

This is so helpful, thank you so much

[@mathusq9614]

It was insightful you hear you state that 'if you play everything perfectly, you probably don't need to be at Berklee to begin with'. I had this nagging thought concerning myself with why if someone is so good that they would be applying to a guitar school in the first place?

[@JonFinnguitar]

True enough! Thanks for watching!

[@zmanpianoman]

I Remember being taped in 1970. And being accepted. Where did the time go.

[@vaughnayork]

Auditioning in 2 hours! The video was helpful thanks!

[@jefferylusk2550]

I really like your modal rock soloing instructional video im doing it right now its really great explanation on everything opened up the modes for me really fun too. Thanks for this video also.

[@JonFinnguitar]

Hi Jeff thanks so much! That course was very much a labor of love for me,

[@joeshooe7721]

This has definitely instilled a greater amount of fear, but inspiring motivation than I had before this video! Berklee has been a dream of mine since middle school when I first heard of it when listening to a Steve Vai interview, and I am very excited to audition!!! Thank you greatly Jon!!🎸

[@JonFinnguitar]

Joey, maybe the extra fear is because you recognize your audition is more real? You've got this! Thanks for watching!

[@zaidanp7258]

Not gonna give up. Thank you Mr for telling this. I Will practice hard and someday who knows.....

[@JonFinnguitar]

Definitely stay with it!

[@MakeWeirdMusic]

Video is looking much better. Nice work

[@JonFinnguitar]

Thanks Ant!!! It was a happy accident!

[@mizzie837]

i just auditioned on friday for guitar! guitar isn't my main instrument but its my favorite to play. i think i messed up a bit on the improv section because im not big on improv but everything else was super easy :)

[@DazielPerezPagan]

looking forward for my audition

[@DavidBryanSmithmusic]

I start the online classes on the 27th of Sept. I'm super excited. I've wanted to go there since high school. Thanks for the info.

[@jejuislandtrekker8113]

Tell me how that’s going. I am interested in Berklee Guitar online.

[@DavidBryanSmithmusic]

@@jejuislandtrekker8113 right after I started taking classes, I found out I’ve had cancer and started chemotherapy and the chemotherapy has damaged the nerves in my hands so much that I couldn’t play for two years now I’m cancer free and I’m picking up the guitar again. I like the classes I thought they were really worth it. I would like to pick it up again.

[@jacobgervaismusic]

My audition is in 2 days and I’m a little nervous lol. Thanks for the great advice, it gave me some more confidence !

[@RonoMorph]

how did your audtition go, mate?

[@jacobgervaismusic]

@@RonoMorph It was pretty good thanks for asking! I always wish I would have done better but I believe everything happens for a reason :)

[@garvasnani]

@@jacobgervaismusic did you get in?

[@jacobgervaismusic]

@@garvasnani No my friend, unfortunately I didn’t.

[@caio4635]

@@jacobgervaismusic i'm so sorry, man...

[@paulmanuel6428]

I auditioned twice, the first time was a slightly horrifying experience and very intimidating. Second was less stressful but felt like I knew less than I did the first time. That was several years ago but I’ll be gearing up for another audition probably next year

[@feebypeels2883]

My first guitar teacher saw me picking things up quickly and suggested going to Berklee. My parents said no because it was 30k a year at the time. I became a punk rocker after that.

[@PyroShredder982]

would Glasgow Kiss by John Petrucci or Icarus Dream suite by Yngwie Malmsteen be good for prepared piece? I can already play both. I can also improvise fusion in the style of Greg Howe, Guthrie Govan etc. Think i should apply?

[@woahsarah]

I’m not a great player or reader but I definitely try my best, so hopefully with some more practice of my reading and playing I can do well in the audition and get in :)

[@JonFinnguitar]

I think it’s important to remember that every great player was once a beginner.

[@neulawrence5399]

Performance. Improvise

[@muhinjahthige2862]

thankyou so much for the information, i would really love to know how international students are auditioned, also is there a specific time for audition,or intake?????

[@richbailey8174]

This was very interesting to see. I graduated from Berklee in the last century in 1978.. :) In my last year I was a student of Al Defino. I thought your approach was great and questions fair.

[@jejuislandtrekker8113]

Are you a rock star now?

[@richbailey8174]

No....I taught for many years along with playing in various bands going through the try to be famous route until I changed careers@@jejuislandtrekker8113

[@stevendunn7928]

How would you characterize the range of skills for someone who is proficient enough to get into Berklee but raw enough to need to?

[@Gldn__yami]

I have my audition december 4th, in just over a week. Wish me luck.

[@thenetworkmystery]

Just had mine earlier today! All I can say is-you'll be fine; just as long as you've REALLY practiced your prepared piece-that carries the most weight in the audition. For me personally, I wish I would have done better at the ear training portion, it was a lot harder than I though tbh. I am not a great reader, but I thought I did okay at the sight-reading, it was mostly accurate. I thought the prepared piece and the improvising over a backing track went really well though.

[@jamesobrien9747]

Watching the video made me nervous lol! Thanks for making it. I have a question: I don’t practice scales on purpose, so would I have no chance of getting in? I use Tomo Fujita Guitar Wisdom to learn and I’ve watched allof his videos several times through over the past year and transcribed most of his solos therein. I really like that he doesn’t stress the importance of scales, I much prefer to learn phrases then analyze their harmonies after I’ve learned them. I think I’d do well at the inversions and chord theory parts but I’m really enjoying learning guitar without focusing on scales or arpeggios. Does the ‘Berklee Method’ highly stress scale and arpeggio knowledge? Thanks in advance, Jimmy

[@JonFinnguitar]

Hi Jimmy! Tomo is a very talented and knowledgeable guitarist. Also a good friend. I’m guessing that when his method suggests that you don’t focus on scales, I doubt that he means don’t learn them. You can be sure he knows his. Scales and arpeggios are fundamental building blocks in my opinion. Learning them doesn’t automatically mean your playing will sound “academic”. Not learning them is bit like deciding to become a body-builder, but never go to the gym and do exercises. It’s possible, but.... inefficient. If you go to Berklee to study guitar, you’re there to begin the process of mastery. My job as your teacher is to show you everything I know. Your job is to be open to learning it. Make sense?

[@barryfriedman7493]

Hi John- curious if you knew my brother Jeff Friedman who also taught at Berklee?

[@ryanmurtagh4065]

One thing I will add is that they did not give me my sight reading ahead of time. I was given the music and about 10 seconds later was asked to play it. It was very nerve-racking as I had heard something else but the music wasn’t as bad as was anticipated.

[@thedude4594]

What if I play 16 instruments pretty good but not great. Prob best on guitar or vocals actually

[@kaitochan8050]

Hi Jon, thanks for the video. I have a question for you. Do you have any information on international students audition process in this pandemic? Would love to know more. Thank you!

[@JonFinnguitar]

I can tell you that I'll be teaching all of my classes and lessons remotely for the Spring 2021 semester. Before the pandemic got worse, the plan was to do a "hybrid" semester where some teachers are teaching on campus. As far as auditions, I know that for the immediate future, they'll be doing auditions remotely (probably over zoom) until the pandemic subsides. Check with the Admissions dept. at Berklee. You can contact them via the berklee.edu website. Good luck!

[@philiplemarchand]

Great video, very insightful. Quick question, how did the jazz improv fit into your writing? I've read some of your works and listened to some of your works but 'The Shining' and 'Carrie' I feel are not quite jazz

[@JonFinnguitar]

That might be a different Jon Finn?

[@So-fd2go]

I have a question, how long can the prepared piece be, I mean in terms of time, is there a maximum?

[@JonFinnguitar]

Techinically there’s no “official” maximum. I can tell you that teachers are encouraged to complete each audition within 15 minutes. I’d recommend a general guideline of approx 3 minutes. In most cases, if you can’t make your case within 3 minutes, you won’t be able to make your case even if your piece is longer. Leave time for the other stuff! Good luck!

[@dylanwhitakermusic]

my auditions in 6 days, woop woop. (i'm so scared)

[@jeremytibbitts8587]

❤️❤️❤️❤️

[@soloyoyyo100]

Hi Jon! I've been playing guitar for years now, but I was always noodling around, but it wasn't feeling good so I decided to take lessons and level up my playing and understanding of the guitar. I was wondering how good do I need to be to have a chance of being accepted? Or how long would it take for me to be "well" prepared? I'm diving into music theory on the guitar but I have not a great technic at all I think. I don't know if the famous "intermediate level" where I'm stuck is enough. Also, is there an age limit of being accepted?

[@joldisyri8936]

I saw just go for it…. I got into my local private 4 year college only after 2 years of playing. I saw practice technique and scales/chords, etc 4-6 hours a day and you should be golden. Don’t forget to take breaks once a week at least. I bombed the sight reading in my audition but killed the improv and ear exercises. So consider that!

[@rhyhood9328]

What are some things that can really make a prospect stand out?

[@JonFinnguitar]

Hi Rhy! 1) Know the song you're going to play really well 2) Play in time and in tune with great tone 3) Have decent to excellent reading skills 4) Know your instrument inside out (notes, chords, scales, arpeggios etc.) 5) Be clear about what you want to get from an education at Berklee. Good luck!

[@shevanperera5665]

How big of a role does your music theory play in the audition, would my performance skills be enough to get in irrespective of my knowledge in theory ? And is there an age you must reach before applying !?

[@JonFinnguitar]

Hi Shevan! There isn’t a formula for how much your theory knowledge influences whether or not you’re accepted. Students come in with a wide variety of strengths and weaknesses. If you don’t know a lot but are able to demonstrate a willingness to learn, that’s a step in the right direction. Play the kind of music that shows you at your best.

[@shevanperera5665]

@@JonFinnguitar Thanks a lot !

[@madenchristian]

Hi there, it's a good video. Just want to ask, what scholarships are accepted at Berklee College of Music?

[@JonFinnguitar]

Hi Madeson thanks for writing! I’m glad you enjoyed the video. Regrettably I don’t know very much at all about what scholarships are available. I can tell you that Berklee’s Admission department has quite a few folks that do know and can help you. Try Berklee’s website Berklee.edu

[@madenchristian]

Thanks.....

[@cheeseboy075]

i want to audition one day, can i do it with little to no formal guitar training 👀 we’ll see

[@JonFinnguitar]

I hope you do the audition. I'd say it's possible to get accepted without any formal training. But why would you? If there are things you can learn before going to Berklee, wouldn't it make sense to to get that together at a significantly lower cost? You can learn a ton just by surfing KZbin. You go to Berklee to learn things in ways the Internet or your local music store can't provide.

[@PyroShredder982]

Gahh just had my audition and just idk. It could’ve gone well or bad I don’t really know. I played an Andy Timmons song for my prepared piece and it was ok. Some mistakes. I knew most of the scales and chords they asked me to play. Improv was easy. Also did pretty well on the call and response. But not great on the sight reading. I got through the first two examples with a few mistakes. I barely got through the third. I told them I’d only been reading for two months. Not really sure how I did.

[@JonFinnguitar]

I’m pretty sure they’ll let you now pretty soon. If you don’t get in, you can re-audition. It’s not uncommon to audition more than once.

[@PyroShredder982]

@@JonFinnguitar does this sound like a bad audition to you though?

[@JonFinnguitar]

@@PyroShredder982 I'm sorry I can't possibly tell you if it was or not. I wasn't in the room. I wouldn't worry about it too much. Usually if you don't get in, it'll be because you're not ready. Trust me, you don't want to spend that kind of money for schooling you're not ready for. All the best!

[@PyroShredder982]

@@JonFinnguitar just got the acceptance today around 5pm. thanks for the help, Jon

[@suhy9861]

i wonder how Ichika Nito, Manuel Gardner Fernandes, and Tim Henson would do lol, what do you think Jon? i think they would hop in as teachers almost instantly at this point in how well they play and understand music theory

[@TheCkhutton12]

Oh the hubris.

[@JonFinnguitar]

I must confess I don't know any of these players. You could be right. But gigging/touring/recording and teaching on the side is a VERY different thing than teaching guitar at a music college. Being a great player is certainly a requirement, but there's more to it. Thanks for watching!

[@American-Dragon]

Tha guitar is sweet

[@abeersahai]

what guitar is that it sounds fantastic

[@JonFinnguitar]

Thanks! its a stock Ibanez AZ 2204 glad you like it!

[@steelfalcon472]

Does playing "Smoke on the water", "Free Bird", and "Wonder Wall" automatically get you expelled?

[@JonFinnguitar]

Well, no. Not right away. We have due process for that. First, we have a series of hearings, then a judge decides.

[@yamraaj4529]

♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️

[@jeromestavrosyeo]

Strange that we haven't heard of Finn but only Fujita....

[@JonFinnguitar]

Tomo is a great guy and a great player! I’ve known him for many years.

[@blooeagle5118]

I've recently come to the realization that music is what I want to do. The stigma of the "starving artist" isn't necessarily true anymore, and having music running deeply in my family, I'd love a shot at Berklee after I've sorted myself out a little bit better

[@user-nf7pr8ls4i]

I am 25. Is this still a good idea to apply for a second degree in music?

[@ailynarellano2869]

Hey I’m 24, 25 this January and I’m applying- it’s never too late! I do it because I don’t wanna regret at least not giving it a try🙌🏽 sending blessings

[@AzSamad]

It can be! I started my degree at Berklee when I was 24 years old and graduated at 26. I already had my first degree in music before that.

[@JonFinnguitar]

I agree. It’s certainly expensive. I think it depends on what you want to do going forward.

[@Iyndsey]

i’d love to apply in the future but i do not feel confident in my skill set rn :/

[@sasha1192]

same, honestly. i love music more than anything but i’ve never really had the chance to really solidify my skills on any one instrument so i feel like i could never get past the audition :/

[@Iyndsey]

@@sasha1192 yeah i completely get that. i love what i do & i try to be kind to myself but there’s always that feeling of not knowing if you’ll ever make it where you want to be

[@American-Dragon]

Have you ever had someone audition that was such a good player you told them you really could'nt help them?

[@JonFinnguitar]

It’s a great question. No I haven’t. Players who are strong enough to be functioning at the pro level understand that you’re always learning and growing. They understand there’s always something new to learn. I suspect that some who doesn’t feel like they could benefit from a school like Berklee probably wouldn’t audition in the first place.

[@American-Dragon]

@@JonFinnguitar too true! So much to learn. You keep squeezing and the fretboard, drum head, flute, what have you never runs out of music juice.

[@neb8167]

ez

[@matt_the_man9831]

Now that there's KZbin, what's the value of music schools?

[@JonFinnguitar]

KZbin is a valuable resource. But there’s nothing that replace sitting in a room, one one one with world-class players who’s listening closely to you and giving feedback. KZbin can’t do that. Its broadcast only. Best of luck!

[@matt_the_man9831]

OK.. Maybe for the one on one coaching there's value but people can also get that outside of school with private teachers. I don't even know your school, this is a general statement. I just saw too many delusional young people getting massively in debts for only few years of schooling to after find themselves never making money out of music. The professional musicians that I personally know are for the most part self learners and didn't need school.

[@JonFinnguitar]

Well, speaking for myself only, I can tell you that I’m very aware of how much money students spend to study with me. I do my best to make sure they get the kind of instruction worthy of that level of investment. I dare say that what I teach, you won’t get in a music store or on KZbin. Having said that, it’s really about what the student does with the information. Not the information itself

[@ryanryan6207]

You have to be nuts to go to Berklee. A four year degree is around $200,000? And the average income of Berklee graduates is $34,000? Crazy. I would love to have received that much hands on guitar training but this is clearly only for rich people.

[@JonFinnguitar]

No question it’s expensive. But there are scholarships available for those of us who can’t afford it. The admissions Dept can help you with that if you connect with them.

[@ryanryan6207]

@@JonFinnguitar it’s not a matter of affordability. It a matter of economics. For a job that pays $34,000/year, it shouldn’t cost more than $30,000 total.

[@JonFinnguitar]

@@ryanryan6207You make good and valid point, although I don’t know where you got that statistic. But if your plan is to go to Berklee, then earn 34k a year, you’re right. Clearly not worth it. My job is to train my students to function at their maximum potential on guitar.

[@ryanryan6207]

@@JonFinnguitar I googled average salary of Berklee graduates and multiple sites say that (or around that). I just hope that potential students don’t fall for the marketing hype all colleges advertise. It is easy to list the few people who made it big while ignoring the average graduate. People get the impression spending 4 years at Berklee they will be the next John Mayer. Life doesn’t work like that. Even with financial help, most will not be able to pay their student loans. Only people who can pay up front and are willing to never recoup that money will be better off. The vast majority of the others will be drowned in debt. Nobody connected to Berklee is mentions that in any video I’ve seen.

[@JonFinnguitar]

Two last thoughts I would like to add to this thread. After these, I don’t wish to discuss this matter any further. 1) Googling doesn’t mean you actually understand it. I’m quite skeptical of the data you provide because it flies in the face of what I’ve seen being in the trenches as Berklee faculty for more than 30 years. 2) The video I made does not represent Berklee as an institution in any way. I made the video simply to offer tips on how to improve your audition. Thank you for you input! All the best!

[@danmillward7358]

can you just play straight blues...really not a fan of that fusion stuff it sounds to me that fusion is like yeah i understand the chord tones of advanced jazz theory

[@JonFinnguitar]

I think you should play what you do best!

[@sammistarlight8659]

im gonna email you for some lessons in sight reading