SCHOLARSHIPS

Eligibility

• The Berklee Entering Student Talent (Berklee Writing and Composition Scholarship) scholarship is available for prospective students only.
  
  
• Please allow a six (6) month waiting period between your application for Berklee scholarships.
  
  
• Enrolled students at the college must complete a minimum of two (2) full-time semesters at which point they may be eligible to apply through the Berklee Achievement-based Scholarship (BAS) portfolio application process.
  
  
• The Berklee Writing and Composition Scholarship scholarship is not available for summer semester only.

Evaluation Periods

Please ensure that your recording and application for the scholarship arrive as close as possible to the appropriate date as indicated below. This will ensure sufficient time for an evaluation. You are advised to submit your scholarship application no less than six (6) months prior to the start of your Berklee enrollment. Applications are evaluated each semester:

Berklee Writing and Composition Scholarship Application Form
Please click here to view and print the Berklee Writing and Composition Scholarship application form.

Recording Format and General Guidelines

1. Please submit a standard format compact disc (CDR). (NOT DAT or videotape).
   
   
2. Your CDR should contain only the items specified below in the Performance Recording Preparation Guidelines. Please clearly label your CDR with your name, instrument and the name of each track. Be sure to record your technical studies on one track.
   
   
3. Your performance is our main focus of interest and your ability on your principal instrument should be featured prominently in all examples.
   
   
4. Multi-instrumentalists must choose one (1) instrument or voice as their declared principal.
   
   
5. The recording can be a home, live or studio recording. Recording quality is not a factor in our evaluation.
   
   
6. Performance on the audition recording should be recent (within the last year) and real time (no step time or recording edits). Sequences or other play-along recordings may be used for accompaniment only.
   
   
7. Composition material can also be taken into consideration. Applicants wishing to submit original compositions should follow the Composition Recording Preparation Guidelines found below.

Performance Recording Preparation Guidelines - Instrumentalists

(Winds, Piano, Strings, Electric Bass, Acoustic Bass, Guitar, Drum set, Mallets and Percussion/Hand Percussion)

1. Performance piece #1 (between 1 and 5 minutes): Choose music that you feel would compliment and reflect your technical ability and overall musicianship. Do not choose a composition of your own for this selection. Perform music written by a great composer or player in your style of expertise. Improvisation maybe included, but is not required.
   
   
2. Performance piece #2 (between 1 and 5 minutes): Choose a contrasting (different tempo, style, key) selection which may be an original composition or another piece from your repertoire. Improvisation may be included, but is not required. Submitting scores and/or lead sheets of original material is optional. If you would like to have your compositions reviewed in addition to your performance material, be sure to review the Composition Recording Preparation Guidelines found below.
   
   
3. Technical studies (between 2 and 3 minutes): Perform scales, arpeggios, rudiments (percussion), or an etude pertaining to your instrument as a demonstration of your technical skill.

Performance Recording Preparation Guidelines - Voice

1. Technical studies: Perform two scales - one step-wise and one intervallically (skipping steps), demonstrating your range and vocal technique. The accompaniment should NOT play the melody with you, but should play a chord for a starting pitch.
   
   
2. Performance pieces (between 1 and 5 minutes): Choose 2 pieces of music in contrasting tempos/grooves and styles that you feel would complement and reflect your technical ability and overall musicianship. If you chose a Classical piece for your first selection, the second song should be in a contemporary style. One of these may be a composition of your own, but not both. If you would like to have your compositions reviewed in addition to your performance material, be sure to review the Composition Recording Preparation Guidelines found below.

If possible, one of the pieces should demonstrate your improvisational skills within a specific contemporary style. For example: a scat solo, R&B embellishment or “riffs”, etc. Soloing over a standard blues form is also acceptable. If you cannot improvise, then include an additional scale as part of step (1.) that is either a pentatonic scale, minor scale, semi-tone scale or modal scale. Again, the accompaniment should not play the melody along with you.

Composition Recording Preparation Guidelines

Please note: All applicants who would like to have their original compositions reviewed MUST also submit a performance recording (follow the Performance Recording Preparation Guidelines for your performance submission).

1. Please submit your original compositions on the same standard format compact disc (CDR) you use for your performance material. Your application should contain only the Composition Recording Guidelines items specified below. Please clearly label your CDR with the names of each of your original compositions.
   
   
2. Submit a short description of how your recording was produced (e.g., live performance, MIDI-generated, analog multi-track recorded). Tell us when and where the pieces were recorded and who is performing each composition.
   
   
3. Recordings of the compositions should be recent (within the last year).
   
   
4. Compositions may be for any size ensemble and scores should reflect the needs of the ensemble. For example: A jazz standard would require a lead sheet with chord changes, possibly lyrics, style and tempo indications; a big band score would also include horn and rhythm section arrangements; a symphony would require a full orchestral score.
   
   
5. We appreciate that composers come from various music backgrounds. Therefore, you should submit compositions that will Berklee Writing and Composition Scholarship display your skills as a composer. If you write in a variety of styles and instrumentations, choose pieces that demonstrate your versatility. If you write in a single style, choose the Berklee Writing and Composition Scholarship of your works for submission.

Composition Recording Guidelines

1. Recordings of at least 3 of your original compositions. Please include the recordings of these pieces on the CDR you submit with your performance material.
   
   
2. An original score for each of the compositions included on your CDR.

Be sure to review the guidelines carefully. Incomplete scholarship applications will not be evaluated. Before mailing your scholarship packet, make sure it includes the following:

• A completed scholarship application form
• The materials as outlined on the Performance Recording Preparation Guidelines.
• Title and composer of each selection on your CDR and insert (including original selections).
• A brief description of the technical exercises on your CDR and insert.
• Your CDR and jewel case
• Your name and instrument on your CDR
• Your name and instrument on your CDR jewel case
• A score and/or lead sheet for each composition with the title and name of the composer clearly indicated.

Send your completed application to:

Berklee Entering Student Talent Scholarship
Office of Scholarships and Student Employment
Berklee College of Music
1140 Boylston Street
Boston, MA 02215-3693, USA

Contact by e-mail at scholarships@berklee.edu or by phone at (617) 747-8681.