Jacob,
I'll second what Mark said. It's all about having as many options as possible. Perhaps you could consider going to college in a town where there is an active music scene. Kind of a best of both worlds kind of thing. Best of luck to you.
Boston
Moderators: rickenbrother, ajish4
It may well be a good thing for you. On the other hand, it may not. Thinking back, as a rock/prog rock bassist, the whole Berklee jazz thing drove me up a wall. Some absolutely monster musicians there for sure, incredible technical virtuosos on their instruments, but not a whole lot of listenable music came out of any of them. The most awful cacophony would be played in the classes, everybody just soloing whatever they felt like, sounding for all the world like a drawer of silverware falling down a flight of stairs. But every one of them could pull some musical theory ‘rule’ out of their back pocket that justified the musical maelstrom. Still sounded like utter **** though, they couldn’t write an actual ‘song’ if their life depended on it. But they were happy, they all had their heads in the clouds. Until they got to the Arranging class and they had to actually try to play a Black Sabbath song that I arranged for 2 Saxes, 1 Trumpet, piano, acoustic guitar and clarinet. The results were hysterical. So I took pity on them and the next time gave them my arrangement of YES’ ‘Heart of the Sunrise’, with the bass part transposed for the clarinet. They hated me.
The only redeeming feature about Berklee was my bass lesson, which was excellent. My instructor was Neil Stubenhaus who has gone on to be quite the session player out in LA I think. Anyway, overall the experience had its good points, but it sure wasn’t all it was cracked up to be.
Although that was many years ago, the reason I haul out that trip down memory lane was that at the time, I was thinking along the same lines as you are now. I was all psyched to go to Berklee because that’s where it was happening, man! Well, for some people it was. For others it was a complete waste of time and money.
I think Paul has made some very good observations in his post this morning. Well worth reading again. Particularly the stuff about the landscape ‘inside’ your head.
As far as Boston goes, I have to agree with everything that has been said so far. I’ve lived in Mass all my life and yes, it IS expensive. Driving in Boston is a pain. There are some great musicians around to play with, but you will get paid virtually nothing, and the club owners know they’ve got you by the b*lls, which makes it that much more insulting.
On the other hand, Boston is a great cultural city. Rich in history and diverse in its cultures and ethnicities (and resulting musical variety) and along with neighboring Cambridge it has one of the largest college student populations in the country. Student life is pretty amazing, you’ll meet people from everywhere and there is alot to do, a whole lot of music going on, arts, films pretty much every discipline is represented somewhere.
From your own admission, your academic grades are weak, which will be a factor to some degree in getting into Berklee. But at the same time, they will be a factor anywhere, so you’re sort of limited education-wise no matter what you decide to do. So you might as well go full bore on the music thing until something else comes along and derails it. Just try to figure out if that means music school, or going on the road with a band, or something else. You do seem like you have the desire and the enthusiasm of youth, so make good use of that to propel you on your way.
Good luck. Think about what you really want to do, ask around, think some more and then do something about it. Keep us posted.
The only redeeming feature about Berklee was my bass lesson, which was excellent. My instructor was Neil Stubenhaus who has gone on to be quite the session player out in LA I think. Anyway, overall the experience had its good points, but it sure wasn’t all it was cracked up to be.
Although that was many years ago, the reason I haul out that trip down memory lane was that at the time, I was thinking along the same lines as you are now. I was all psyched to go to Berklee because that’s where it was happening, man! Well, for some people it was. For others it was a complete waste of time and money.
I think Paul has made some very good observations in his post this morning. Well worth reading again. Particularly the stuff about the landscape ‘inside’ your head.
As far as Boston goes, I have to agree with everything that has been said so far. I’ve lived in Mass all my life and yes, it IS expensive. Driving in Boston is a pain. There are some great musicians around to play with, but you will get paid virtually nothing, and the club owners know they’ve got you by the b*lls, which makes it that much more insulting.
On the other hand, Boston is a great cultural city. Rich in history and diverse in its cultures and ethnicities (and resulting musical variety) and along with neighboring Cambridge it has one of the largest college student populations in the country. Student life is pretty amazing, you’ll meet people from everywhere and there is alot to do, a whole lot of music going on, arts, films pretty much every discipline is represented somewhere.
From your own admission, your academic grades are weak, which will be a factor to some degree in getting into Berklee. But at the same time, they will be a factor anywhere, so you’re sort of limited education-wise no matter what you decide to do. So you might as well go full bore on the music thing until something else comes along and derails it. Just try to figure out if that means music school, or going on the road with a band, or something else. You do seem like you have the desire and the enthusiasm of youth, so make good use of that to propel you on your way.
Good luck. Think about what you really want to do, ask around, think some more and then do something about it. Keep us posted.
If I was a kid and had dreams of making it in music, I'd pick Austin Texas. Nice college town with a reasonable cost of living and a hot music scene. Those sorts or dreams are long gone for me with a mortgage and kids. Music for 99.9999% of those trying is just a hobby and most people would be more happy if they realized and went with that! I'm playing more now that I ever did 25 years ago and I'm not making a dime. It's a rare individual that cam mix business and pleasure.
Question: If music (or fishing or bowling or racing, etc.) is your business, where does one go to get away from the office to relax? Me, I hang out with the guys and play bass to recharge.
Question: If music (or fishing or bowling or racing, etc.) is your business, where does one go to get away from the office to relax? Me, I hang out with the guys and play bass to recharge.
No matter where you go - there you are.
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atomic_punk
- Senior Member
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Early on in my life, I was playing music to eat and keep a roof over my head (which is usually why most musicians are so damn skinny), I had 3 projects going at a time and played 5 nights a week. It is a lot less enjoyable when you NEED to work as opposed to doing something for the love of it. You end up playing a lot of stuff you don't enjoy for a paycheck, and I don't miss it a bit. I enjoy playing more now than I ever have and can't get enough of it.
"They make great f***'n basses". - Lemmy, NAMM 2009
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sabbath_of_bass
- Intermediate Member
- Posts: 699
- Joined: Tue Jun 21, 2005 4:16 pm
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About the Authority thing. Yeah, I do have some problems with it. Ill admit to it some what. But with the teachers bs comment. I hate busy work. Don't give me something just to baby set me. Id rather take notes all day then take a test at the end of the day and be done with it. When you make me do the same thing over and over again I get sick of it and just wont do it. Why should I do countless work sheets over something I understood the 1st time. Thats my main thing. I feel like your wasting my time and insulting me. Thats why I seem to be boarder line failing all the time but when it comes to the final at the end of the year I end up making a B on it and never studied anything.
Oh and I'm 17 by the way.
Iv felt like I was going no where for a long time now. Musically as well as all around. I think for the past 2 years of high school iv felt like iv been doing the same thing over and over again. Your probably right about the magical thinking. I come from a little town. I dislike the people because its a red neck cultured thing. Which I can not stand (no offense). There's little to do in town for someone under 18 or 21. There actually is a decent music scene to the north. 30 minutes or so its close. But its not really my scene I don't believe. Allot of metal and h/c stuff I believe. Going to Boston would be like a new start around people that are at least some what like me. I think id really enjoy that.
Ill most likely be living in a dorm. I'll have to, like you said I cant afford college and price of living up there.
I dig some jazz and what not. I mean, Im kind of a Rock/prog guy but there is allot of groove (maybe even funk) in what I play. I also play allot of R&B and things like that. So I mean I do like a wide variety of music. I do agree a bunch of people soloing sounds like shat no matter how you get down to it. I don't care if its correct and dandy in theory. At the end of the day its all about the song and how it sounds. Chip did a good job at teaching me that while all the crazy stuff is fun that the groove and the song is what really matters. Reasons why I want to study Production and Song Writing. As well as different bass styles so I get a different taste of music and I have allot of different ways to throw into my style and to know how to play.
Im excited about the culture too. Iv always been interested in such things. Different religions mainly. But i think it'd be neat to experience all the different cultures.
Texas isn't a place I want to go really. Its bad enough here, I don't think I would enjoy it there.
Steve, that kind of playing is what Im trying to avoid with the production and such. I think I would really enjoy being a producer and doing my own bass thing on the side. I think id enjoy production much more then graphic design or something.
Thanks for all your help guys. Talking it out and giving me more ideas, Its really helping. Thanks.
Oh and I'm 17 by the way.
Iv felt like I was going no where for a long time now. Musically as well as all around. I think for the past 2 years of high school iv felt like iv been doing the same thing over and over again. Your probably right about the magical thinking. I come from a little town. I dislike the people because its a red neck cultured thing. Which I can not stand (no offense). There's little to do in town for someone under 18 or 21. There actually is a decent music scene to the north. 30 minutes or so its close. But its not really my scene I don't believe. Allot of metal and h/c stuff I believe. Going to Boston would be like a new start around people that are at least some what like me. I think id really enjoy that.
Ill most likely be living in a dorm. I'll have to, like you said I cant afford college and price of living up there.
I dig some jazz and what not. I mean, Im kind of a Rock/prog guy but there is allot of groove (maybe even funk) in what I play. I also play allot of R&B and things like that. So I mean I do like a wide variety of music. I do agree a bunch of people soloing sounds like shat no matter how you get down to it. I don't care if its correct and dandy in theory. At the end of the day its all about the song and how it sounds. Chip did a good job at teaching me that while all the crazy stuff is fun that the groove and the song is what really matters. Reasons why I want to study Production and Song Writing. As well as different bass styles so I get a different taste of music and I have allot of different ways to throw into my style and to know how to play.
Im excited about the culture too. Iv always been interested in such things. Different religions mainly. But i think it'd be neat to experience all the different cultures.
Texas isn't a place I want to go really. Its bad enough here, I don't think I would enjoy it there.
Steve, that kind of playing is what Im trying to avoid with the production and such. I think I would really enjoy being a producer and doing my own bass thing on the side. I think id enjoy production much more then graphic design or something.
Thanks for all your help guys. Talking it out and giving me more ideas, Its really helping. Thanks.
Jacob - here is the costs of Berklee:
http://www.berklee.edu/pdf/tuition/tuition.pdf
Just so you know. I do not intend to influence one way or the other.
http://www.berklee.edu/pdf/tuition/tuition.pdf
Just so you know. I do not intend to influence one way or the other.
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sabbath_of_bass
- Intermediate Member
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- Joined: Tue Jun 21, 2005 4:16 pm
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You could always sell a kidney! 
Here is Five Towns College Tuition:
http://www.ftc.edu/Administration/admin_bursar.php
BTW, all they show is chicks in all the pics!! Great ratio!
Here is Five Towns College Tuition:
http://www.ftc.edu/Administration/admin_bursar.php
BTW, all they show is chicks in all the pics!! Great ratio!
