There aren't many summer programs for film scoring, let alone one specifically with students in mind. I can name the ones that do exist most likely on one hand. Besides that, Berklee has a long history of musical excellence so the program was great for me,since I wanted to study my specific interests over the summer while also making time to study abroad.
Alumni Spotlight: Colin Grant
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Colin Andrew Grant is New Jersey native and a recent graduate from The University of Pittsburgh where he studied both Music and Rhetoric & Communications Studies. He spends most of his time focused on music and sound design for multimedia, though he did used to play Quidditch in college.
Why did you pick this program?
What do you tell your friends who are thinking about going abroad?
Do it. Education is not just about sitting in a classroom and taking down notes. It's about experiencing the world. I applied for every scholarship I could, worked and saved up as much as I could, and it was worth it. You never know when you will be in another position to experience another culture in person.
What is one piece of advice you'd give to someone going on your program?
Make sure that you are are up to date on your music knowledge and are prepared to work hard. The film-scoring program can be a bit intensive and if you come in with the mindset that you are going to be spending most of your time on the beach, you won't be able to get the full educational experience. I found that those who worked the hardest had the most fun.
What's your favorite story to tell about your time abroad?
One time we had a chance to go to a few clubs, and clubs are very different in Spain than they are in America. They go on until very early in the morning. So we went to a few clubs. One was 60's themed, one was biker rock theme, etc. It was just really interesting to see all these different types of clubs so close to one another.
How good does your Spanish have to be?
Coming from someone who is awful at speaking Spanish, not that well. While you should definitely make an effort to learn the language and speak it, the people I interacted with were very kind. Many of the younger citizens knew English, which made things easier.