Berklee School of Music...

[Dstick5a]

I'm seeking some advice about Berklee School of Music in Boston. I know Vinnie and Steve Smith went there, and that Vinnie only went there for a year, but what are your guys' thoughts on the school? I've been looking into the school for some time now, but I'm not convinced it's for me. One thing is that is so f**king expesive! And who wants to be $50,000 in debt after three or four years of college?
I guess the best thing that you are probably gong to get out of that school are the connections to certain people in the industry. I suppose the private instruction is another strong point, but the upper classmen get first pick, so maybe not. And a lot of the instuctors there are Berklee graduates themselves, so what is someone who has spent their entire life in school going to teach me that i can't teach myself with a book or video (like Steve's....by the way I will be getting your video soon, sorry).
I guess what I'm wondering ... and maybe I am wrong, but what if the skills and technique that Vinnie and Weckl posses, are only attainable if you just practice and evolve in your own time by working hard and keeping attainable goals. There are probably some really great players that came out of Berklee, but those guys probably had the skills before they went there, I don't know. I recently heard a Cd by a guy named Wayne Krantz and the drummer on that Cd was a breath of fresh air to me. His last name was Danzinger. Anyway, I'm wondering what everyone's thoghts are on Berklee, pros and cons? Sorry for the long message, I emailed a couple of the instructors there but they havent' emailed me back yet and its been like two weeks and i'm tired of waiting.

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[Randal Walker]

The drummer you refer to is Zach Danziger. As to schools, I went to PIT back in 83. I do not recommend it now though. I think over Berklee would be the LA Music Academy. LAMA for short. Joe Porcaro and Ralph Humphrey left PIT and helped start this new school. It's owned by a fellow graduating student of MI.
I think with practice and the right guidance you can acheive anything, it's not necessarly going to come from Berklee. Unless all you want is to study with Gary Chafee, then I recommend you just study privetly with him.

Hope this helps abit.

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[Omnidrums]

i have been a drummer all my life and I decided to go to berklee for the first time in the fall of last year. The first year I was there I thought it was the coolest place in the world mainly because I met so many awesome people and musicians and I really had a chance to jam with people that took music seriously. I played tons of shows and gigs around boston and I even got to play a show in the berklee performance center as a second semester student in the winter. I feel that Berklee is by far one of the best places to meet some of the most incredible musicians you will ever meet and the connections you make may help you find your true calling. Also you will find "your" drum teacher there since berklee has some of the best in the world. I have studied with Mike Mangini through berklee for a year and a half and all I can tell you is that I have shedded years off my practice time since he is such a brilliant teacher.
My 3rd semester rolled around this year and I got totally burnt out 'cause the music theory classes and ear training classes bored me, so I lost interest in them rather quick. I started to re-think why I was there and realized that it wasn't for me anymore. I am about to move to Seattle to work with a band that I met through berklee and see if I can make anything out of that.

Well thats just my experience, it really depends on what you are looking for. Maybe Berklee is right for you or maybe finding an amazing teacher and studying privately and practicing your ass off is right for you. Or maybe gigging around town with your dream band is what you want. Its all preference. You could always try it for a year and leave like I did haha!! I dunno man Berklee sucks and kicks ass at the same time. The only way to tell is if you experience it for yourself.

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[qwertyuiop123]

yeah i fully understand how u can get bored with ear training. its pretty useless unless your realy into the writing side of it and even then is it realy that necessary?. But i think its great that you met all of those people through there. its just a shame that it costs so much money to meet people.

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[Dstick5a]

thats what I'm saying, isn't that what the school really about? Making the connections and networking your skills? That's just a lot of money spent on your own PR campaign.
Private lessons at Berklee is all that I'd really be interested in, I've been through the college classes on ear training and sight singing and theory. It's hard to find great teachers in the midwest though.

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