Five-Week Summer Performance

July 6–August 9, 2013

• How much does it cost?
• Are there scholarships?
• Is it for me?
• What will my classes be like?
• When and how do I apply?

What's the program like?

Berklee's Five-Week Summer Performance Program, now in its 27th year, is the largest, most comprehensive summer music program available anywhere. Better known as "Five-Week," the Berklee Five-Week Summer Performance Program, with its diversity of study options, world-class Berklee faculty, visiting artists, and state-of-the-art facilities, is the premiere contemporary music summer program for young musicians. Each summer, approximately 1,000 participants from across the U.S. and around the world (70 countries) share in this unique summer experience—all instruments, all contemporary styles, and all levels of musical ability. Five-Week is your opportunity to experience the summer of a lifetime, at the world's most prestigious institution for the study of contemporary music.

For students who are also interested in enrolling at Berklee full-time, there are several benefits to attending Five-Week:

• Audition for scholarships to Berklee during the program. Roughly $3.5 million in scholarships are awarded to Five-Week students by audition during any given summer.
• Find out what it takes to succeed in music and at Berklee.
• Study with Berklee faculty.
• Learn about admission, audition, and scholarship requirements.
• Get a head start on your full-time studies.
• Get to know Boston, New England's hub of culture and academia.

At the Five-Week Program, you will be immersed in all aspects of performance. Your classes, workshops, and rehearsals will focus on this important side of your musicianship. You will play in ensembles, develop improvisational and reading skills, improve your technique in weekly private lessons, and enjoy lectures and demonstrations by well-known faculty and visiting artists.

The Five-Week program emphasizes the mastery of playing or singing performance skills in your chosen style of contemporary music: jazz, pop/rock, funk/fusion, or pop/R&B. You will learn through your individual studies and through your work with other musicians of similar training and ability. Whether you are an experienced performer or someone who has never been in front of an audience, you can improve your performance skills by attending the Five-Week program. The focus is on you and what you want to say with your music, in an environment that is pure performance.

You can choose one of the following tracks:

• Jazz - Study and perform a variety of jazz instrumental and vocal styles. The repertoire focuses on jazz standards, blues, Latin, and modal jazz compositions by a wide range of important jazz artists including John Coltrane, Miles Davis, Duke Ellington, Charlie Parker, Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughan, Wynton Marsalis, Chris Botti, Wes Montgomery, Horace Silver, Joshua Redman, and others.
• Pop/Rock - Study and perform a wide range of popular and rock music styles including alternative rock, blues, rock 'n' roll, and more. The repertoire focuses on the music of important performers including Adele, Lady Gaga, B.B. King, Led Zeppelin, Green Day, Eric Clapton, Bonnie Raitt, Aerosmith, Stevie Ray Vaughan, U2, and more.
• Funk/Fusion (instrumentalists only) - Study and perform many instrumental music styles including funk, fusion, world beat, and more. The repertoire is drawn from the music of important performers and groups such as Herbie Hancock, Joe Zawinul, the Chick Corea Elektric Band, the Pat Metheny Group, John Scofield, Medeski Martin & Wood, and others.
• Pop/R&B (vocalists only) - Study and perform a wide range of popular vocal music styles including hip-hop, rhythm and blues, soul, and Motown. The repertoire is drawn from the music of important performers such as Beyoncé, Mary J. Blige, Alicia Keys, John Legend, Aretha Franklin, Stevie Wonder, James Brown, Christina Aguilera, and others.

In all styles, ensemble performance will be driven by the specific interests of the students involved.

Drug, Alcohol, and Conduct Policy

Berklee administrators reserve the right to expel any student from the Five-Week program if he/she has engaged in unlawful behavior. Participants are prohibited from consuming or selling alcohol in any area of the college regardless of age. The unlawful use, possession, or sale of drugs or alcohol on college property or as part of college activities is strictly prohibited. Students who violate this policy may be withdrawn from the program without a refund and/or referred for prosecution.

Services for Students with Disabilities

Accommodations are available for students with physical limitations or documented learning disabilities. Services available may include academic accommodations and referrals to on-campus support, including adaptive technology and tutoring. Students should submit documentation of a disability and the need for accommodation well before the program start date. Accommodations in classroom teaching methods and testing cannot be offered unless appropriate documentation is on file with the college. The Five-Week Summer Performance Program also offers a special laboratory course on assistive music technology for blind students. The course explores digital audio workstations, notation, and Braille music. For more information on services for students with disabilities, contact the Counseling and Advising Center at 617 747-2310 or counselingcenter@berklee.edu.

Housing and Meals

Acceptance to the program does not guarantee a residence hall space. Applying for residence hall housing is a separate process. A limited number of housing applications and related information will be mailed to accepted applicants beginning in February until residence halls reach full capacity. Participants who will require on-campus housing are strongly encouraged to apply to the program by March 1, and upon receiving a housing application, should return it immediately in order to secure a space in the residence hall. Due to limited availability, residence hall space fills up quickly. To be eligible to live in a residence hall, you must be 15 years of age by the start of the program. Preference for on-campus housing will be given to students ages 15 to 17.

For questions concerning residence hall housing, call the Housing Office at 617 747-2292. If you do not secure housing in Berklee's residence halls, please contact the Office of Summer Programs at 617 747-2245 for information on alternative housing.