Berklee School of Music summer program-Week 1

One of our former students, Renee Masse, is taking a break from her studies at McGill to attend the Berklee School of Music summer program.　 She has shared her first week with us.　

Berklee Music-Week 1

Although the program has only been going on for a week, I feel as though I have been here for much longer. I finally feel settled in to this city, but the journey was slightly bumpy. The first day my flight was cancelled, but I was able to get a later flight. After arriving in Toronto, I had about an hour to retrieve my luggage and make my connection to Boston. Even after running to the luggage stop, my luggage was nowhere to be found. I waited about an hour and a half, but finally decided to run and catch my flight to Boston with what I had on my back…which was not much. After arriving in Boston at about 10:30pm, I spoke with the Air Canada baggage claim lady and was on my way in a taxi to my new home for the next month. I had specific instructions to retrieve the home key in a pile of mulch next to a column of my roommate’s friend’s apartment hidden under a takeout menu. Although in principle this seemed like an easy task, upon arrival I feared I would not have a place to sleep that night. The patch of mulch is about 16 metres squared and there is not a streetlamp nearby, so as the taxi is waiting for me, I climb into the mulch with the little light from my cellphone and set upon a meek search. With a little help from some random guys who probably thought I was nuts, I found the hidden keys and hoped back into the cab and arrived safely into my new apartment.

Day 2 I had to sign up at orientation and get my Berklee ID card. After forgetting my passport and having to return back home to obtain it, I was officially a Berklee Summer Student and the city was my oyster. I quickly found Boston’s main shopping street and got myself an outfit, considering I only had what I wore on the plane…which was not the best considering the weather conditions.

Day 3, still no sight of my luggage, I have my audition for my placement in the program. The audition went quite well and afterwards I had a musical and theory placement exam, which also went splendidly. I made a friend called Renee from New Jersey while I was waiting in line which was quite exciting, and that night I attended a concert by a band called The Tower of Power which was put on by Berklee, and was very entertaining.

Day 4 was Academic Orientation, but was really mostly the Faculty putting on concerts for us. It was very neat to see how talented the staff was, and who our mentors would be over the course of the Five Weeks. I also had my first Chorus practice, which was interesting; the choir director is a bit nuts and taught us the “Earth Breath” which channels the energy of the Earth into you…. Later on that evening I finally received my luggage and was thrilled to finally be able to unpack!

On Tuesday we obtained our schedules and started classes. I had a theory class (which I am actually in quite a high level for vocalists), a private lesson, a musicianship course where we develop our ear training skills, and a background vocal lab where we learn to be backup singers. That night were the auditions for the Five Week Performance Showcase, where 5 students are chosen to perform at the end of the program. I waited about 3 hours to sing 60 seconds, and I was one of the earlier people! Needless to say about 400 people auditioned, and the odds were NOT in my favour, but I am still glad I took the opportunity, and was very pleased with my audition.

Wednesday I had another musicianship class, a class called Rhythm Section Grooves, where we learn to direct the band so that people don’t think that Vocalists are ‘stupid’ and that we have some idea of what we are doing. Our assignment for next week is to prepare a swing tune, and I have chosen “Orange Colored Sky”. Afterwards I had a lab for Pop/R&B where I was very unimpressed by the lack of organization of the teacher, considering she wasted about half of class preparing photocopies. Then later that evening I had a Musical Theatre Class, we will perform 5 songs at the end of the Five Weeks, and will be having auditions for the solos next week.

Thursday I had musicianship and theory once again and then a long break until my elective: Music Business, it was quite a large class, but it appears to be very interesting, and I am looking forward to learn more throughout the weeks. Afterwards from 8-10pm I had another Choir practice, and went to bed!

Friday was nice, because I only have two classes, musicianship and ensemble, where we learnt Chain of Fools, and another song called Emotional Rollercoaster, and we will be performing two pieces at the end of the five weeks!

On Saturday, I went with some friends to the closest beach to Boston, called Revere Beach, which was America’s First Public Beach. The water was pretty cold, but we still went in, and soaked up the warm sun. There was also a sandcastle contest going on which was really impressive! I also took the ‘T’ which is Boston’s public transportation system, like the Metro.

So far, this looks like it’s going to be a very exciting experience, and I’ve already learnt lots! I’ll keep you all posted.

Miss you all,

Love,

Renée Massé