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Distinctions between the music programs at Boston Conservatory at Berklee and Berklee College of Music Compiled by Nancy Zeltsman Admission to BCB’s music program and/or BCM require separate applications and auditions. It is recommended you begin with this overview: https://www.berklee.edu/berklee-boston-conservatory/distinguishing-between-music-programs- berklee-college-music-and-boston Musicians who are unsure whether to apply to one school or the other – or both – may find these additional comparisons helpful. Conservatory guidelines in blue; College in red. 1) At the graduate level The Conservatory offers a wider range of graduate performance programs. The College offers a masters degree in jazz and innovative music business-focused programs. All are listed at this link: https://www.berklee.edu/graduate/graduate-degree-programs 2) At the undergraduate level Both offer degrees in music performance. At the Conservatory, it is assumed the focus of a percussionist, for example, will be performance, and s/he would become a “Percussion major.” At the College, every entering student declares a principal instrument. By the end of their second semester, they declare a major (https://www.berklee.edu/majors). A student might, for instance, be a “Marimba principal” with a double major in Performance and Music Therapy. (Note: Dual majors require five years of study, or ten semesters.) So, it may be important to consider how central performing is within your personal goals – and the kind of performing opportunities that interest you. (See section 7.) 3) Core coursework As one might expect of a traditional conservatory, at the Conservatory, music history is taught from the perspective of the Western European classical music tradition. At the College, courses include an overview of the latter, and comprehensively survey jazz and popular musical styles as well. At the Conservatory, theory courses are taught from the perspective of classical musical harmony. Ear training (solfége) courses use “fixed Do.” At the College, theory courses are taught more from the perspective of jazz and popular music harmony. Ear training (solfége) courses use “movable Do.” Core course requirements from each institution are distinct. It’s possible to transfer from one school to the other (mid-degree-program), but not with ease. 2 4) Integrated course offerings All students (at either institution) have space in their degree program requirements to take elective courses. The merger greatly expanded opportunities to cross-register between institutions. Here is a link to all available classes: https://www.berklee.edu/registrar/collegeconservatory-integrated-course-offerings In addition to taking electives at the College, there are 10 minors / courses of study offered to Conservatory students through the College: https://www.berklee.edu/minors • psychology • acoustics and electronics, • visual culture and new media studies • instrument repair • American roots music • English: creative writing • history • English literature • philosophy • English spoken word 5) “Classical music” There are serious, classically oriented music students at both schools. (A committee of classical College faculty are currently compiling a list of classical offerings to increase College student awareness of these.) 6) “Contemporary music” One interesting thing that arose in early discussions about the merger is the use of the term “contemporary music.” Each institution considers “contemporary music” among its core specialties. But each means something different by it! At the Conservatory, the term refers to modern and recent compositions, most of which are “through-composed” (i.e. fully notated) in the tradition of classical music, by established and up-and-coming composers of our day. A majority of Conservatory students are, or become, skilled in performing music in this genre. At the College, the term refers to contemporary popular and vernacular music – from rock and pop to World music styles to hip-hop to turntable and certainly including the roots and riches of the musical art form of jazz. The Conservatory offers a graduate-level “Classical Contemporary Music Program” (with the word “classical” added, post-merger, for clarification). Students enrolled in that focus almost entirely on performing modern and recent compositions – most often in chamber music settings and as soloists. More is explained here: https://www.berklee.edu/news/berklee-now/what-contemporary-music 7) Performing ensembles and opportunities (partial lists) Boston Conservatory Orchestra, Boston Conservatory Wind Ensemble, Boston Conservatory Percussion Ensemble; Boston Conservatory Brass Ensemble, Boston Conservatory; opera, theater and dance productions; chamber music concerts; composer concerts; conductor’s orchestra; master classes with visiting artists, performance seminars with BCB faculty; studio recitals, student recitals The Symphonic Winds Ensemble, Film Scoring Studio Orchestra; Berklee Percussion Ensemble, marimba ensembles; ensemble opportunities in a variety of styles including jazz, rock, country, funk, Latin etc. (mostly for drum set and vibraphone). Berklee students may audition to perform in Conservatory ensembles. 3 8) Length of study / financial aid The Conservatory offers only traditional Fall and Spring semesters, consisting of 15 weeks each. The College offers an additional Summer semester (called “12 Week”). While two weeks shorter, it counts as a full semester. Some students take advantage of that in order to graduate in fewer years. The College also allows some courses to be taken online, to reduce costs. In 2018-19, President Roger Brown announced a new scholarship initiative to add current students to being able to complete their degrees: https://www.berklee.edu/berklee- today/spring-2019/brown-announces-thrive-scholarship 9) Assistantships / jobs on campus We don’t have any teaching assistantships in Percussion at the Conservatory. (All students’ lessons are taught by faculty.) There may be some teaching assistantships for graduate students in Music Theory and Music History. There are work study positions opportunities on campus such as concert services (setting up chairs for rehearsals and concerts; this is in the same building as percussion practice rooms, and therefore a popular job for percussionists!), audio/visual recording, and other offices around campus. 10) Written vs. non-written music Both schools believe in the value of performers being able to improvise. This is not etched in stone anywhere but, generally, the style taught at the Conservatory might be characterized as “free improvisation,” while the style most often taught at the College improvisation is steeped in jazz and popular music harmonies. What led to the merger? For a decade or more leading up to the merger, discussions between academic leaders of traditional music conservatories and performing arts institutions began to turn to the question of whether their curriculums and offerings were keeping pace responsibly with societal shifts in how the performing arts are practiced, presented and received. “The combined institution creates in one stroke the most comprehensive training ground for performing arts and related careers in the country, if not the world.” – Richard Ortner (1948-2019) Boston Conservatory President, 1998-2017 Roger Brown (current President of Berklee) and Richard Ortner recognized that the two school’s strengths are complementary. They saw the merger as an opportunity to invest collective energy and resources. Together, the two institutions can offer in-depth study across the entire spectrum of the performing arts, ranging from traditional classical works to entirely new creations that combine every style of music with dance, theater, and technology. .

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