22Aug/113
Will Music colleges even look at me if I can’t read music?
Zach The Riffer asked:
I know, this is kind of a stupid question... since I should probably know how to read music anyway.... but anyway, I learn almost all of my music by ear or watching someone play. I rarely ever use tabs, the cheap sheet music. So I was wondering, I want to do something with music, maybe even educational, would a music college even consider someone who doesn't know how to read music, or do most of them require the skill of music reading? I'm also kind of worried about applying to colleges for music because of so little careers that involve a degree in music. So if anyone has a degree in music, please tell me of your opportunities......... College is this fall for me, so I'm sort of stressing, any help would be wonderful, thanks.
I know, this is kind of a stupid question... since I should probably know how to read music anyway.... but anyway, I learn almost all of my music by ear or watching someone play. I rarely ever use tabs, the cheap sheet music. So I was wondering, I want to do something with music, maybe even educational, would a music college even consider someone who doesn't know how to read music, or do most of them require the skill of music reading? I'm also kind of worried about applying to colleges for music because of so little careers that involve a degree in music. So if anyone has a degree in music, please tell me of your opportunities......... College is this fall for me, so I'm sort of stressing, any help would be wonderful, thanks.
May 1st, 2009 - 07:36
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Lots. Tons. Berklee College of Music for sure. You think John Mayer knew how to read music when he got there. I doubt it. I’m not sure what the audition process is, but rest assured you can get into a slew of schools not even being able to read the notes in the treble clef.
***Believe me, check out Berklee. There are schools like the guy below me described where you need to be an excellent ‘traditional’ musician to get in, but Berklee is not one of them. They may be requiring auditions now, but they didn’t always. That’s for sure. It’s one thing to look information up on a website. I KNOW persons who have graduated there. And considering they cater to rock and jazz guitarists, how many students do you think they would turn down, if they required incoming freshman to read. Try half their class. And Berklee loves tuition, believe me. You and I are guitarists and you and I know that “rock guitarists can’t read worth squat”. Just apply. Trust me…
Oh, and another one is LAMA. Los Angeles. No reading required. No live audition. Video audition sent to the school. Check that one out too.
One other: Musician’s Institute (of GIT). Paul Gilbert went there. I doubt he knew how to read music when he started and I’m not sure he knows now (though he might). They would also almost certainly not require you to read.
Good luck.
Check this out bro:
May 3rd, 2009 - 19:37
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Your very first music class, the very first semester (Music Theory I) will assume that you read bass and treble clef fluently and that you read the C clefs (alto and tenor) with some reason. If you’re not fluent, you will be before you finish that class or you won’t pass it. Many guitarists and vocalists are not good readers when they start. It’s to your benefit to learn some reading skills before you get there.
Your audition will require that you prepare some music. If you have exceptional talent (I assume you’re a guitarist) then the guitar studio may accept you with the understanding that you need to learn to read music quickly. A Music Education program probably won’t – music education majors have to learn to play and teach every instrument; that will require exceptional music reading ability.
Here’s an idea of what you face in terms of general music courses:
Music Theory – 4 semesters
Musicianship/sight singing/ear training – 4 semesters
Survey of Music History – 2 semesters
Form and Analysis / Counterpoint – 1-2 semesters
Arranging / Composition – 1-2 semesters
Advanced History and/or Theory – 2 semesters
Conducting – 2 semesters
Ensembles – 8 semesters
Lessons – 8 semesters
Recital/Review – 8 semesters
Methods or Pedagogy (how to teach) – 4-6 semesters
Music Literature – 2 semesters
Class Piano – 2 semesters (or pass out of the skills test)
Then some major electives depending on what you specialize in and of course all of the other gen ed courses everyone else takes. Remember, it’s not a Bachelor of Arts in Guitar Playing; it’s a Bachelor of Arts in Music (or Music Education).
If you think that looks like something you want to do then by all means – give it a shot. But don’t think getting a degree in music or music education is 4 years of just playing tunes. It’s really not.
The audition requirements for Berklee College of Music on guitar can be read here –>
Majoring in music is a serious commitment – the competition is incredibly steep. If you do well, there are plenty of jobs for musicians out in the world. If you don’t play well – all the degrees in the world are useless.
Add for Killi above: They turn down 70% of their applicants. Berklee College of Music has an acceptance rate of under 30%. They don’t care what your HS GPA or SAT scores are (unless you’re a rock) – they care whether you can play music. If you can play through that audition without reading then fine. But, it does matter what their catalog says you will take. The first class, first semester is Music Theory I — try to pass that without reading music. I took Berklee’s Music Theory I, WAY harder than any other school I’ve been to and I was playing for a living full-time at the time. Don’t be fooled – those are the best commercial musicians in the world. Do you really think they can’t read music? ☺
People that already have a degree in music have a challenging time with the Berklee theory courses. I promise, they aren’t wasting their time in there.
And, a list of people that “went there” isn’t the same as a list of people that graduated with their degree. Tell me again where John Mayer got his degree from. Now, are we as good? We can dream I guess. Bottom line – if you’re good enough to be a rock star then you don’t need Berklee – most of the grads are working musicians and not stars. Working musicians had better know how to play from the book that is tossed at them in the studio.
May 4th, 2009 - 02:57
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a community college may offer a music basics boot camp of sorts, mine did (though i didn’t need to take it) it lasts about a day, but you will learn to read music, you won’t be a fluent sight reader, that will take lots of practice. but you will be able to read.
as for what the first guy said, Berklee college of music in Boston is THE best music school, i would think that john Mayer definitely knew how to read music when he got there. if he hadn’t he wouldn’t have stood a chance.