Information about Family Weekend 2008 is not yet posted. Feel free to read last year's information below to get a sense of what the weekend is like.

Hosted by the Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs/Dean of Students, the Parent Office, and the Berklee Parents' Association

Dear Parents:

We have a wonderful weekend of events scheduled for the annual Berklee Family Weekend, Friday, October 5–Saturday, October 6, 2007. Activities are hosted on and close to campus for you and your family to enjoy. There will be seminars, classes, and open jams and rehearsals, as well as student performances throughout the weekend. You will be able to meet some of the faculty and staff responsible for providing world-class music education and career guidance to your sons and daughters. Two of the highlights are the Saturday afternoon Jazz Lunch, at which President Brown will speak, and the Friday evening Singers Showcase concert, presenting some of the college's best vocalists and instrumentalists. We hope you are able to participate in as many of the activities as possible. If you can come, please reply by September 24, 2007 I hope you can join us for this memorable weekend!

Sincerely,


Angela F. F. Davis
Director of the Office of Student Affairs and Parent Services

P.S. Though we call it Family Weekend, friends are also invited!

Friday, October 5, 2007

9:00 a.m.
Registration and Student Life/Facilities Tours
David Friend Recital Hall, 921 Boylston Street
A light breakfast will be served and tours of the college will be led by student ambassadors. Each tour is expected to take approximately one-and-a-half hours; the last tour will depart at 11:00 a.m.

12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Lunch
150 Massachusetts Avenue Dining Hall
Enjoy some local dining in our own Berklee Dining Hall, located at 150 Massachusetts Avenue. Lunch is our treat, so come to the cafeteria and check out our terrific ARAMARK food services from noon through 2:00 p.m.

Photo by Phil Farnsworth

2:00 p.m.
Berklee Students in Africa
David Friend Recital Hall, 921 Boylston Street
In May of 2007, eight music therapy students brought the expertise they acquired at Berklee to Africa. Along with faculty member Karen Wacks, the students worked with children at two Kenyan orphanages, where many of the children had lost parents to AIDS or were themselves infected. There, the students taught the children to play instruments, sang and danced with them, and encouraged them to express themselves. The trip was organized in partnership with the nonprofit organization Musicians for World Harmony, a group created by former Ugandan refugee Samite Mulondo. In January of 2006, Berklee student Amanda Maestro-Scherer traveled to these same orphanages with Mulondo's group, and her experience was the beginning of a greater relationship between Berklee and Musicians for World Harmony.

3:00 p.m.
Singers Showcase Open Rehearsal
Berklee Performance Center, 136 Mass Avenue
Come check out what a live rehearsal is like for the student performers as they prepare for this year's Singers Showcase. This is always one of the most popular concerts on campus and is produced just like a professional program out in the "real world." Directed by Professor Ken Zambello, the students will get ready for their big Berklee Performance Center show and provide you with a chance to get a behind-the-scenes perspective of real-world education at Berklee.

4:00 p.m.
Break
Visit our information desk in the lobby of the Uchida Building at 921 Boylston Street. Gather maps and information on sightseeing opportunities and places of interest.

7:15 p.m.
Singers Showcase
Berklee Performance Center, 136 Mass Avenue
A special tribute to our student vocalists and all-student band. Tickets will be available at the Berklee Performance Center Box Office.

Photo by Phil Farnsworth

Saturday, October 6, 2007

9:00 a.m. to 11:45 a.m.
Saturday Seminars
Take a class! We are offering "ear training 101 for parents," jam sessions (don't forget to bring your instrument!), a drum circle, even a chance to hear about careers in music and internships for your sons and daughters. These seminars are designed to speak to parents and provide an opportunity for you to develop a better understanding of your son's or daughter's life at Berklee. We will give you an assigned "class schedule" for attending Saturday should you choose to participate in any of the offerings. Your individual schedule and seminar locations will be available for pick-up Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at 921 Boylston Street, and beginning at 8:30 a.m. Saturday morning.

You may choose up to three seminars to attend, and each of the seminars will begin on the hour, 9:00 a.m, 10:00 a.m., 11:00 a.m., and run for 45 minutes each, giving you 15 minutes to get to your next class (or head over to the jazz lunch with President Brown).

12:00 p.m.
Jazz Lunch
The Constitution Ballroom
Sheraton Boston Hotel, Back Bay
Lunch will be hosted by the Berklee Parents' Association. Remarks on the state of the college will be given by President Roger H. Brown. Tickets are $35 for adults, $25 for children under 12. They are nonrefundable, and those purchased after September 24 are subject to a $10 late fee. Seating is extremely limited; please book ahead.

8:00 p.m.
Ice Cats Hockey Game
Walter Brown Arena, Boston University (located on Babcock Street)
$5.00 admission; tickets can be purchased during Family Weekend
Yes, Berklee has it's own ice hockey team! The steady media coverage—including segments on NPR's Only a Game and NESN, and a piece in the Boston Globe—has undoubtedly helped the team's cause and bolstered its image. Indeed, it was the Globe article that caught the attention of retired Boston Bruin John "Pie" McKenzie, prompting him to volunteer to coach the team, which didn't have any formal leadership at the time. Come and bring the whole family!

Photo by Phil Farnsworth

Boston Duck Tours and Discount Show Tickets
A fun-filled day in Boston belongs to you. We would like to recommend that if you have never taken a Duck Tour, you do so! It is tons of fun. We have contacted the Boston Duck Tours and they recommend that you book your tickets ahead of time for this afternoon. Tickets will go on sale starting 8:45 a.m. on Monday. October 1, 2007, and may be purchased for October 6. Simply go to bostonducktours.com October 1 to make your selection. Rates and other information are available on their website. The Duck Tours leave from the Prudential Center, which is conveniently located near our lunch location in the Sheraton Hotel.

You can also plan to see a show while you are in Boston. By visiting artsboston.org you can purchase discount tickets for shows that are in town. What a great way to spend Saturday evening! Or come to the Berklee ice hockey game, which is tentatively slated for that evening, as well.

Also make some time to enjoy local attractions such as the Freedom Trail tour, shopping, a picnic in the Boston Public Gardens, harbor cruises, the Museum of Science, the Museum of Fine Arts, a walk along the Charles River, a trip to Harvard Square, or dinner in Chinatown or the North End.

Accommodations

Public Transportation in Boston

We also want to make you aware of the MBTA's Day/Week LinkPass as the transportation solution for friends and family visiting students. These passes are available in two denominations: One Day Pass—$9.00 or Seven Day Pass—$15.00 (valid for 7 consecutive days from the date and time of purchase). These passes are valid for unlimited travel on all subways, local buses, inner harbor ferries, and the Commuter Rail Zone 1A. For additional information about passes, contact William Kingkade at 617 222-4545 or wkingkade@mbta.com. Visit the MBTA website for travel questions, schedules, and information.