Placement Auditions and Private Instruction

Placement Auditions

Entering students will take placement auditions during their orientation. This audition will help Berklee place you into ensembles and private instruction with other students of similar ability. All students are required to participate in a placement audition.

To prepare for your orientation audition, choose the audition materials that match your principal instrument.

Auditions are held by faculty members in your instrumental department and the Ensemble Department during registration. Included in your registration materials is an audition packet, which contains music and instructions for the placement audition process.

While auditions differ among departments, usually you are asked to perform with accompaniment, and the audition includes sight-reading, improvisation, and playing or singing a short piece from your repertoire. Auditions usually last about 15 minutes.

It is important to remember that you are required to bring your instrument to your audition, unless you are a pianist or a drummer. An accompanist will be provided for Voice Department auditions, but vocalists must bring lead sheets or a sing-along tape of a prepared piece.

Private Instruction

Private lessons are weekly, 50 minute, one-on-one sessions with an instructor on your principal instrument. Depending on your instrument, private lessons may involve scales, arpeggios, chord progressions, repertoire, stylistic interpretations, and so on.