Remember, as an entering student, you have already proven yourself to be a musician of remarkable talent. The purpose of the placement audition is to assess your current skill level relative to the curriculum. This assessment will help the college place you into an appropriate ensemble and private lesson that will best support your educational needs, along with students of similar ability. You will audition with faculty members from your instrumental department and the Ensemble Department. While auditions differ by department, you are typically asked to perform with accompaniment as well as sight-read, improvise, and play or sing a short piece from your repertoire. Auditions will last about 15 minutes.
More information is below to help you prepare for your audition; each instrumental department has provided preparation materials.
Spring 2022 placement auditions will take place during New Student Orientation between 9:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. on Wednesday, January 12. Your assigned audition date, time, and location will be sent to your Berklee email address on January 5.
Students may perform any music for their assessment, including original songs and classical music.
Vocalists may accompany themselves on acoustic guitar or piano (this is recommended only if you are highly proficient on your accompanying instrument). Alternatively, vocalists may use a backing track that has been downloaded and does not require internet access.
This page is updated to include links to the audition packet for each instrument. This includes the sheet music for musical examples you will be asked to perform during your audition. Download and print the packet for your instrument.
Preparation Materials
Download information about what you will be asked to perform during your audition.
Berklee uses your responses to the virtual ESPA to ensure accurate placement in your core music courses of harmony, arranging, and ear training. You cannot pass or fail the assessment, and no grade will be assigned to the results. It is simply an assessment to ensure that you are placed in classes with other students of similar music theory knowledge.
Your responses to the last section of the ESPA are to determine if you need to take Introduction to Music Technology (MTEC-111) or a higher-level course. If you successfully test out of MTEC-111, you will earn credit by exam (CBX) and may be placed in a course such as MTEC-213 Producing Music with Ableton Live or MTEC-214 Producing Music with Logic Pro.
All non-native English speakers are required to take the English proficiency exam, which is administered during orientation week.
The English proficiency exam is not required for native English speakers.
Traditional Harmony and Counterpoint Exam (optional)
This exam offers you the opportunity to receive credit for Traditional Harmony (CM-211 and CM-212), provided that you demonstrate strong comprehension of the subject matter. Before taking the Traditional Harmony and Counterpoint exam, you need to pick up an outline of test materials from the Professional Writing Center.
If you successfully test out of Traditional Harmony and Counterpoint and you are registered for either CM-211 or CP-211, then you will need to drop the course from your schedule by the add/drop deadline. Most students complete this credit by exam in their second semester on campus or later.
For answers to questions about the Traditional Harmony and Counterpoint exam, contact the Composition Department (login required).
Mathematics Placement Exam (optional)
The Mathematics Placement Exam is an online assessment for undergraduate students. Students in certain majors will be required to achieve a score of 75 percent or higher on the Mathematics Placement Exam or enroll in LMSC-130 Concepts of Mathematics in order to take required courses for their major.
