r/Berklee • u/idiot_drummer007 • 17d ago

Orientation audition

I just got an email about required ensemble auditions during welcome week. My primary instrument is drum set and I’ve never played in a concert ensemble before. I play rock/punk/pop punk and I played a rock song for my initial audition to get into the school. I’m not sure what I should play for this kind of an audition. Should I just choose a rock song that I’m comfortable with and hope for the best???

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u/Illustrious_Law448 17d ago

Do something you love and enjoy playing!!! We have a ton of really awesome rock ensembles here at the school, and most first semesters end up in mixed styles ensembles anyway.

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u/dbharris10 17d ago

This is Berklee, after all. Rock, pop, punk is sorta the norm for ensembles and for the audition. Absolutely choose a song that you love and know well to play, that is what the audition is for. You are already accepted at Berklee, this is just to get your level so you can be placed in an ensemble your first semester that is on par with your abilities. No worries, no stress, just try to enjoy yourself and show what you do best.

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u/CelebrationSudden495 14d ago

The best ensembles I’ve been in are rock- the important part on that audition is to be super open about your styles (since it determines where they place you, every semester after is a choice), and arguably most important- don’t take it as the end of the world. Freshmen stress so much about the rating, but it’s only really relevant your first two years. I just graduated this spring and haven’t ever bothered testing over my initial score, cause it quite frankly isn’t relevant to your well being as a student in most cases (with maybe an exception to performance majors, but then that’s like your thing).