<p>My guitar player son had the same choice this year: Berklee or Belmont (also Commercial Music). He was flattered to receive personal phone calls from several of the guitar folks at Belmont, but is going to Berklee, he says, because of the Master Class opportunities, and the diversity. Also, as a parent, I’m supposed to want him to pursue rigorous academics, as part of some “Plan B,” but I’m actually happy that Berklee isn’t very demanding outside of the music curriculum, because I’m tired of chasing and nagging the kid to get his work done. In the 10 years he’s been in music, I’ve never once had to remind him to practice or prepare for anything. </p>
<p>He liked Belmont, though, and knows someone who did a year at Berklee and was still welcomed at Belmont her second year (and graduated and is still in Nashville).</p>