Dr. Murphy asked:


Ok, let me start with a little background info:
I am a freshman in hich school and I’m looking to pursue a degree in music after I graduate. I play Guitar, Bass, Clarinet and some Piano. I really want to get a degree in Music Performance for Guitar, and I’d like it to be from Berklee cause it looks like the best suite for me (I researched several music programs around the U.S.). I play a lot of Blues and Metal on my guitar and I’m also profecient in Jazz. My soloing is my strong suite but I also know a great deal about rhythms and chords. I can read music decently (pretty bad at sight reading), but my strength is playing by ear which according to my band teacher I am extremely good at. I know quite a bit about music theory in general, and I am a very fast learner. Finally, my GPA is a 4.0, which I know isn’t overly important in applying for a music college, but I figured it couldn’t hurt.

Now my question:
What should I work on to improve my chances of getting into Berklee? I’d like to know what I should do to 1. Get accepted to Berklee? 2. Get a scholarship? 3. Get a presidential scholarship? (Only 7 musicians in the applying class get this so I am not putting a lot of hopes into getting one)

For specifics:
What Skills should I have?
What Scales should I know?
What Songs should I work on?

I thank you for your time and your help!

Sight Reading Music

Music Phantom asked:


The problem is, I screwed around a lot in high school and failed out of college (I went for computer science, that was a mistake) after a year. I managed to pull a 3.5 in high school but didn’t really do any extra curricular activities. After failing out, I spent a bit of time trying to figure out what to do and ended up joining the navy where I am now. I have the GI Bill, so my school will be paid for, and I plan to get some credits before I get out, but as I will be on a ship part of the time might not be able to get an associate’s degree by then. I really want to go to school for music, even being in the military I devote most of my free time to music, and have decided that I’m going to try to do it despite the fact that a lot of people tell me I’m stupid for it. I screwed up last time by doing computer science, which I thought was vaguely interesting, instead of going for something I love, which is pretty much just music. I play piano (here I have a keyboard) and I know that I can pass auditions, sight reading, and all that, but I don’t have high school recommendations and don’t really have the option to take music related classes or get involved in any sort of music performance while in the navy. My question is, after messing up as much as I did, will I have any chance of getting into a music program at a decent school?

how to sight read music

Sarah asked:


I’m auditioning for UNT’s music program this winter and I was wondering if anyone could tell me the chances of me getting in, or any advice they had. Here are some things that I would love comments and/or suggestions on:

I’m auditioning with Bach’s Prelude and Fugue # 2 in C minor. I play piano… forgot to mention that.

I haven’t chosen a Sonata yet, or a “Contrasting Piece”. I’m not really sure what that means. I’m guessing it’s an additional classical piece that’s not in the same era as the sonata or the prelude and fugue. Fill me in please! Any sonata suggestions are welcome.

I’m not very good at sight reading, and I get misleadingly nervous when I play in front of people… meaning I can have a piece down perfectly and when I want to show someone my hands just shut down on me. I don’t know how anyone could help me with that, but just putting that out there.

I started getting serious about piano my freshman year and I’m about to be a senior. I know I have potential, but I’m also aware of the many kids that will be trying out for the same thing as me that have played since childhood so it’s kind of freaking me out. I was accepted into my highschool’s Jazz I Ensemble and I’ll be taking Music Theory so I don’t know if that will help, but yeah.

I basically just need some realistic opinions on if you all think I will get in or not. Preferably from someone who went there or has experience in this kind of thing.

Thank you! Someone respond ASAP pleeease

Sarah

How to Read Music for Beginners

Tyler asked:


This fall, I am going to be a freshman at a medium sized university. I am going to be a music major (most likely concentrate on being a vocalist). I was wondering how the audtions are set up. Do I have to sight read a piece by ear? Have an accompianist? Or prepare my own material? Even though I was in choir for my high school years, voice lessons were never avaliable to me. So, I can’t sight read vocal music completely.

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Jacoby asked:


I had a quick question for guitar audtions at Berklee College of Music in Boston. When they give you the music to sight read, do they give you tabs (tabulature) or sheet music (like regular music…)?
I know both, for different instruments.
For example, I know guitar tabs, and I know regular notation for piano, french horn, etc. but not for guitar.

sight reading music