Escuela de Música Contemporánea (EMC)—Argentina
Escuela de Música Contemporánea (EMC) was founded in 1997 in downtown Buenos Aires, Argentina. Combining theory with practical experience, the EMC’s main purpose is to prepare students for careers in contemporary music in such a way that they will make a significant contribution to society and the musical scene in the region.
Diploma Programs
- Professional music
- Composition and arranging
- Performance
- Music production
EMC has been collaborating with and hosting programs by Berklee College of Music and its faculty from the time of its inception. The institution has held a credit transfer agreement since 2013 that allows students to begin their studies at EMC prior to finishing their degrees at Berklee. EMC has been hosting Berklee auditions and interviews in Argentina on a yearly basis since 2011.
EMC counts 35 faculty members who are among the finest performers on the local scene. Several are Berklee alumni, and some others are former EMC students. Jazz, blues, rock, pop, Latin American, and Argentinean popular music are the main styles on which instruction focuses. Currently, EMC has almost 500 students, with a high percentage of international students, mostly from South and Central America.
EMC is also one of the founding members of the Asociación Latinoamericana de Escuelas de Música (ALAEMUS) and presents annual summits, and its goals are to promote collaboration among Latin American institutions, students, and teachers, as well as promote the exchange of educational material and publications.
EMC students who wish to transfer to Berklee are required to go through Berklee's official undergraduate admissions process. Students accepted to Berklee will receive transfer credit for courses taken at EMC in accordance with an agreement between the two schools.
Generally, students must receive a grade of B (3.00/4.00) or higher on core music and performance courses, and a grade of C (2.00/4.00) or higher on all liberal arts or general elective courses. As part of the admissions process, transfer students will be asked to submit an official transcript showing all courses specified as completed with a satisfactory grade before transfer credit will be granted.
See more information about the Berklee core music courses.
Liberal Arts and General Electives
Students transferring to the Bachelor of Music degree program at Berklee College of Music must earn a minimum of 39 credits in liberal arts and may utilize six additional liberal arts credits (two courses) as general elective credit. Students in the professional diploma program at Berklee may utilize up to 12 liberal arts credits (four courses) as general elective credit.
See more information about liberal arts courses at Berklee.
Performance Courses
- Ensembles: EMC transfer students may receive up to six transfer credits for ensembles.
- Principal Instrument: Principal instrument courses (private lessons) taken at EMC will not transfer directly. Students must participate in and pass a minimum of four semesters of principal instrument instruction at Berklee. All transferring students are required to take a Berklee instrumental/vocal proficiency placement examination upon arrival and may receive advanced placement in principal instrument courses. Any credit resulting from advanced placement in the principal instrument will be awarded when all other requirements for graduation have been completed.
Potential transfer credits in ensembles: six credits