<p>Hello. DS is a highly motivated, talented “non-traditional” musician – completely self- taught scratch dj turntablist/electronic music producer who uses Maschine, Logic-Pro, etc. He seems to have a lot of talent for improvisation, scratching, and electronic beat composition, but just uses a keyboard as one of many tools in making beats, etc. Question: can he audition at Berklee? Website info seems to suggest applicants need to be able to play an instrument proficiently and read music as part of the audition. I’m trying to help him figure out where his non-traditional, electronic music would fit in? Thanks for any insights!!</p>
<p>I think people might be better able to answer that question if you specify which program or major your DS is interested in.</p>
<p>Columbia College Chicago’s program in Contemporary, Urban and Popular Music might be of interest to him. [Program:</a> Music, BA - Columbia College Chicago - Acalog ACMS?](<a href=“Program: Music, BA - Columbia College Chicago - Acalog ACMS™”>Program: Music, BA - Columbia College Chicago - Acalog ACMS™)</p>
<p>He is interested in both their production and music business programs. But my question has to do with their audition requirement which requires auditioning with a principal instrument. Can turntables and electronic equipment be principal instruments?</p>
<p>I second a look at Columbia College in Chicago. When Berklee would come to visit my son’s performing arts high school to recruit and audition students, the admissions officer stressed that everyone had to take part in an instrumental and/or vocal audition. In response to one question, she said that a turntable was not considered an instrument for purposes of the audition.</p>
<p>phone call to admissions today – was told electronic music and turntables are not acceptable for audition – only traditional instruments, too bad. Thanks for the suggestions – he’s looking to some good strong additions to NYU on the east coast for music production/music business…</p>
<p>mshapiro, do you mean you talked to Columbia College admissions? Have you or your son tried speaking with Berklee admissions, too? I wouldn’t just go by what their website says regarding auditions. After all, they have a turntable ensemble (check out the video on the internet) and at least one turntable class.</p>
<p>Spoke to Berklee admissions. They said he would need to audition in a “traditional” instrument or voice. It’s interesting because turntables and electronic music are very much a part of their curriculum, but evidently not respected at the audition level?!</p>