Aspire: Five-Week Music Performance Intensive is the world's most comprehensive summer music performance program. From one-on-one instruction with Berklee’s renowned faculty to a rigorous curriculum offering college credit, this immersive program will enhance your instrumental or vocal performance mastery. Learn how to groove in a band, develop improvisational and reading skills, and improve your technique in weekly private lessons. You will also have the chance to explore areas of the music industry such as songwriting, music production, music business, music therapy, and more through elective coursework.
Notable Alumni
Meghan Trainor, Charlie Puth, and Betty Who are among the many Aspire alumni who have gone on to have successful music careers. Read more about our notable alumni.
The intensive is meant to replicate a true Berklee College of Music undergraduate experience. You will select one principal instrument (voice included) to study during the program. Your instructors are Berklee's world-class faculty and visiting artists, supporting you through a combination of private instruction, instrumental/vocal labs, ensembles, theory in performance, musicianship training, and electives. While classes are designed to challenge and expand your musical skill set, your course load will be appropriate for your abilities.
Students who do well in their core classes will receive three college credits upon completion of the program.
Each participant's schedule is entirely customized to their interests and abilities. The schedule below serves as an example of the expected course load along with the breadth of additional opportunities throughout the intensive.
Monday
Activities
10:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.
Mandatory Elective
12:00 p.m.–1:00 p.m.
Survey of Instrumental/Vocal Styles
1:00 p.m.–2:00 p.m.
Faculty Artist Clinic*
3:00 p.m.–5:00 p.m.
Visiting Artist: Performance Perspectives Master Class
7:00 p.m.–9:00 p.m.
Open Mic*
9:00 p.m.–10:00 p.m.
Homework in the Dorm Lounge *
Tuesday
Activities
9:00 a.m.–10:30 a.m.
Music Theory
12:00 p.m.–1:00 p.m.
Musicianship
1:00 p.m.–2:00 p.m.
Faculty Artist Clinic*
3:00 p.m.–4:00 p.m.
Musicianship Teacher Office Hour*
4:00 p.m.–6:00 p.m.
Additional Elective*
7:00 p.m.–9:00 p.m.
Tuesday Night Jams*
9:00 p.m.–10:00 p.m.
Study Group at Cafe 939*
Wednesday
Activities
11:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.
Musicianship
12:00 p.m.–1:00 p.m.
Live at 160 Caf Show*
2:00 p.m.–3:00 p.m.
Reading Lab
4:00 p.m.–6:00 p.m.
Ensemble
8:00 p.m.–10:00 p.m.
Movie Night in the Residence Halls*
Thursday
Activities
9:00 a.m.–10:30 a.m.
Music Theory
12:00 p.m.–1:00 p.m.
Musicianship
1:00 p.m.–2:00 p.m.
Performing Songwriter Sidewalk Series*
2:00 p.m.–3:00 p.m.
Theory Teacher Office Hour*
4:00 p.m.–5:00 p.m.
Styles Lab
7:00 p.m.–9:00 p.m.
Thursday Night Jams*
Friday
Activities
9:30 a.m.–10:00 a.m.
Private Lesson
11:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.
Musicianship
12:00 p.m.–1:00 p.m.
Live at 160 Caf Show*
2:00 p.m.–3:00 p.m.
Instrument or Vocal Lab
3:00 p.m.–4:00 p.m.
Practice Room Session*
Saturday
Activities
10:00 a.m.–11:00 a.m.
Yoga for Musicians*
12:00 p.m.–4:00 p.m.
Extra Ensemble Rehearsal*
10:00 p.m.–11:00 p.m.
Caf Show*
Sunday
Activities
1:35 p.m.–5:30 p.m.
Red Sox Game at Fenway Park*
6:00 p.m.–7:00 p.m.
Practice Room Session*
7:00 p.m.–8:00 p.m.
Homework in the Media Center*
*These activities are optional to attend.
What are the performance opportunities?
At Aspire, performance opportunities are available to you almost every day. Recurring performance opportunities include the following:
Monday evening open mics in Cafe 939
Tuesday evening jam sessions in David Friend Recital Hall
Wednesday and Friday afternoon open mics in the Berklee Dining Hall
Thursday afternoon open mics at the Berklee Bookstore
Thursday evening jam sessions in Oliver Colvin Recital Hall
In addition, the final week of the program hosts over 200 ensemble performances. You will participate in at least one performance, though you may perform in multiple shows if you take more than one ensemble. You have the option to audition for additional ensembles on the first Sunday of the program.
What are the requirements to attend?
All students 15 and older with six months of playing or singing experience are welcome to attend. Most students who attend this program are of high school or college age.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security requires that any participating student who is not a U.S. citizen apply for an F-1 student visa. Students may not attend the program with a B-1 visa, B-2 visa, or ESTA visa waiver. Please visit our International Students page for more information.
Please note: This program has limited capacity. Submission of registration materials alone does not guarantee participation in the program. You will secure your spot by paying in full. When the program capacity has been reached, registrants who have not paid in full will be placed on a waitlist.
Students may choose an electronic digital instrument (EDI) as their principal instrument. Develop as an electronic musician while taking full advantage of the program’s core music curriculum and opportunities.
Many students who enrolled in last year's remote summer programs have enrolled for next summer's on-campus experience. Here they tell us what brought them back.
This year's Five-Week program features visiting artists Jacob Collier, Esperanza Spalding, Victor Wooten, and Terri Lyne Carrington, Christian McBride, Gerald Clayton, Kris Davis, and Linda May Han Oh.
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