6 things I wish I knew the day I started Berklee

Wow, wow, wow.

Now I kinda wish I'd have gone. :)

Love the line "Be one of the few that is clever enough to make money making music instead of pretending it doesn’t matter."

Not just that line, but the whole talk, man... great advice for anyone interested in music business and music education. Thanks!

Wow is right. Wow!

Derek, this is the reason why you are one of my heros. I know I sound like I am kissing your ass, but I can't help it. I think you are amazing at distilling life's essence into a few, easy-to-understand sentences. Profound and deep yet practical.

I'm going to link to this from everywhere I can. This is what all dream-pursuers need to know, not just musicians.

And yes, I am applying it to my life. All of it.

Thank you Derek.

ari

Thanks guys! I really appreciate it. :-)

This article didn't inspire me as much as show me that I am a chump:

I went to a state school to get a degree I'm probably not going to use, focused on playing in a local band that went nowhere, flirted on MySpace, and married the MySpace girl.

Now I'm a chump graduating with an "Interdisciplinary Studies" degree with nothing to show for it, except to get grouped in with all the other chumps who "run a home studio."

Derek, what's a chump to do?

Damn. I am not sure I can handle this much motivation on a Sunday morning! Awesome post dude.

Hey Derek,

I couldn't agree more about your last point. Tim Sanders wrote in Love is the Killer App about the importance of reading books, not just magazines or articles, but BOOKS. My new year's resolution was to read 24 books and I'm 15 books deep going into September. It has made a world of difference and I now consider myself somewhat of a marketing professional as opposed to someone who's just confused by the whole concept of it.

Also, every musician MUST read "How To Win Friends and Influence People" by Dale Carnegie and keep it by their bedside as a bible for how to succeed in the music business today.

That's just my opinion, and I always enjoy reading yours. Thanks so much for dedicating yourself to helping the little guys.

Take care,

Dave Booda

Don Brown : sorry I don't know anything about them being behind on payments. If you email money@cdbaby.com that will go directly to the accounting department who will be able to give you the real scoop.

Great point about teaching yourself. I can't tell you how frustrated I was getting my engineering degree in Madison. All the teacher would do in class is re-write EXACTLY what is in the textbook. Why take notes when someone has already typed it out in a much neater form in a nice hard cover book. This is why I don't take private music lessons for $40/hr, I just buy the whole book for $20.

Awesome post Derek, thanks. I had a frustrating experience at a music school a LONG time ago -- this article makes me feel 1,000 times better about the actions I took in response!!!

Part of me wants to wish that I had heard this back when I was 18. But that would be crying over spilled milk. And there's no point in crying over spilled milk. The important thing is that I am hearing this now.

Thanks Derek

Steve Shapiro!

Every passing second is another chance to turn it all around. Make music in that home studio! I wish I had one..

Fabulous list! I would add a few as well.

1. Understand context as much as possible. If Stravinsky were playing bass in a country band he would NOT be making money in music. Nor would he be if sold musical supplies or tubas. For someone else, that might apply.

2.Understand that if you can effortlessly make great money doing something else you will probably end up being able to do more serious musical work than if you cobbled together a tenuous musical context to make small money.

3. If you are not working hard at your musical craft in the most challenging way, you are failing.

4. If money causes you to degrade your music, then only do it if it is a lot of money, otherwise learn to make money in a more efficient way.

5. Listen to music that you are not up to speed with yet, you can grow into it and widen your powers.

6. Bring something NEW to the picture. Don't just imitate. (Though they say they don't, strict categorizers tend to demand a hackneyed banality with only superficial rebellion occurring occasionally.)

7.Generalities can only go so far, be intensive in dealing with specifics and minute detail that produces the result you are after.

Thanks again for your great (as usual) suggestions.

Steve

While I think being okay with making money with your music is important (it's not selling out) if you want to "make a living" ...

The ability to sell a product (a purchase of your music) is not necessarily any proof at all that you've "added value to a person's life." Neutral or otherwise.

Depending on what you call value.

Hopefully, yes, you've added value to their life - but our economy shows many purchases add no true "value" to a person's life. Hummers sell (or did); what "value" do they add?

I also think many people today pay someone to make something they're too lazy to make - whether it's music, or lunch. It's not a perfect sign they can't do it or that you have a "valuable" skill if they buy it from you.

Likewise - truly brilliant music may not sell as well as average music, Madonna v. Tom Waits; Rihanna v. Elvis Costello. So big sales don't necessarily equate to big talent; thus sales don't necessarily equate to "value".

It's a capitalist philosophy of value that creates phrases like "He paid the ultimate price" when a soldier dies; value and money should be only marginally recognized as equals.



***

Money is nothing more than neutral proof that you’re adding value to people’s lives.

Making sure you’re making money is just a way of making sure you’re doing something of value to others.

Remember that this usually comes from doing the things that most people don’t do.

For example : how much does the world pay people to play video games? Nothing, because everyone does it.

How much does the world pay people to make video games? A ton, because very few can do it, and lots of people want it.

Man...

i already knew the first 5 points. Ever. And that's great to read those advices with the constant feeling that it is sensed and pure.

And not one of my multiple philo beliefs nonsense.

Thanks for that.

But came the sixth part.

There you taught me something important, and probably solving my problem with money...

great words

great guy

Many thanks.

(EYR)

www.myspace.com/eyrmusic

Great stuff Derek. I'm still surprised how little people read, study, and embark in learning things on their own. I was told a few years back, "If you read a book a week for a year in a particular field, that is the equivalent of a Phd in that area." :)

Good work as usual, Derek. I wish I had heard this speech when I started Berklee!

Thanks very much Derek for those pearls of wisdom!! Excellent stuff. Really enjoyed reading your words.

Take care,

Robert

Again, Derek--you amaze me as one of the finest humanoids to walk this planet. I have not ever really had music lessons much less been to a school like Berklee, but I found myself wishing I could have gone just to apply these principles! Thanks for being so willing to share your gifts.

I couldn't agree about the focus more. When my family use to watch the Hockey game I'd stay upstairs and plan sketches and paintings. Today I photgraphed 231 24x30 sketch compostions I did in the 70's and 80s' in the evenings after I did my day job. I had made a plan years ago to do them then and paint them when I turned 45 or 50. Now I'm there. Money use to be no problem but when I became disabled in 1998 it cleaned me out and I was forced to start all over. I had to remember that focus and had challenges working against it and thena family that became and still is very abusive because of my disability. Now that focus means more than anything. I need to forget all of the mean things they do to me and just keep moving forward with the blinders on.

I was making great music for a while but my step son grew up to the age of college and stole all of the equipment and I had to find another way to focus so I have now created a talk - music show that will promote my peers at CDBABY and help publicity of their music. I am a well trained Broadcaster so it's funny how all of the cards get stacked in the right order for us to have a winning hand no matter what. We just have to have the right mind set. I think that's what you're getting at here. I'm focused on a mission. If something else gets taken away I will still find a way because I am focused and know what I'm doing is right.

This is a great article again. Thanks Derek.

Cheers,

John David Hart

Derek,

You are so awesome & have such great advice! I'm going through music school right now and feel that you completely understand. My fav is #5, as some teachers LOVE to preach the exact opposite of what u were saying. Although it's great to study other musicians, I 100% believe "Innovation is needed more than imitation."- you're dead on!

Thanks again for the great advice... I'll definitely be using them! woooooo hoooo~ On to link #4. ;)

-CJ

Great article! Thanks!

VERY cool, Derek! I actually gave a speech at Berklee when I was a student there, extolling the virtues of destroying your television:

http://www.berklee.edu/news/1999/convo99/op.html

I worked really hard when I was at Berklee and beyond, but if I could go back and do it again, I would work even harder.

Hope you're doing well.

Chris

Learning donna lee was a good exercize for your fingering and chops, you have to admit, you are right about, the here and now.

Derek, you are the bomb. To Keith Mitchell: The best way to keep your friends while being in the shed practicing is to invite them to your practice performances...not your regular shedding...but offer to have them over at the shed and run your "set"...without partying...just focus on putting on the best performance of your life and see how well it translates...gives you a great chance to see how well what you're working on is developing into what you perform, or not...and a chance for them to get a free intimate concert, and who knows, you might even get a free meal out of it...that's a trick I've used often...just don't eat too much...time to get back to the shed...

Good speech you got your point across

I really loved this video, its full of wisdom and knowledge and is full of valuable insights and experiences, that can only come from someone who has achieved much success through self-realizaion. Many thanks Derek.

Thanks so much for these words Derek - very helpful.

I will

Thanks so much for these words Derek - very helpful.

I will forward this on to the guys and students at UNI.

Best wishes - keep in touch.

watch this

Trevor: definitely NOT a waste of time! No! It was one of the best things I've done. It was a great environment to learn.

Two things really stick with me from reading this post and the following comments.I too, went to a great music school...did I learn...of course...do I still continue to learn...yes I think I deserve that PHD. Also being an immigrant you can't deny the power and thought to these words.... "Making sure you’re making money is just a way of making sure you’re doing something of value to others"...my fans reaction to my music is a driving force but not quite as strong as the natural one within me....

Always appreciate your thoughts and efforts!

rada

Some very wise words.

Thanks for emailing the links, Derek!

I can really relate to "You have to teach yourself", and not just because I'm a self-taught musician/songwriter but because that's what I've wound up doing in every area of life since learning the disillusioning truth that those who seek to teach you might not be the master of whatever and you discover you've been taught, if not incorrectly, mediocre at best.

Focus, hard work, and paving one's on path are the keys, and you did a great job illustrating it here.

I didn't go to college, because I thought I was going to be a rock star. Duh!

Hi Derek,

This is great stuff. I went to North Texas and worked hard to learn all I could about music. I learned all those jazz solos etc. and used them for my own music. I always felt I had to work on something new musically and not be stuck in the past. I wish I would of had your insight on the money though. I still need to work on that as my thinking was if your good enough the phone will ring. It takes much more then talent to be a success in the music

business. Your insight is very helpful to me and I appreciate you helping all us musicians find the path. Keep up the great work Derek as your an inspiration to all of us.

Derek! I have to say you are so brilliant! Man i admire you so much! It is so hard for me to accomplish my goals with all the distractions. Between working full time, being a family man, getting in my studio to make music, taking care of other necessities,like promoting my music, it is very tough! What you say is so totally true! That why i admire you so much! You are so focused and you know the way to success. Great info Derek! Thanks man! Clarence

loved reading your very clear and clever talk. Thanks for sharing! Very inspiring. Nicole

I'm a great believer in CD Baby and the indie revolution. However...

I saw a TV show once where a man says, "It's easy to make a million dollars. Take a hundred thousand and put it in the bank. Do that every year for ten years and you'll be a millionaire." Thanks, I guess.

There are a lot of real distractions that can't be ignored: feeding yourself, feeding your children are high-rankers. These suggestions are very helpful for kids who are just starting out; but time goes by, you lose money making records and going on tour and if you give your music the focus it deserves, you don't have time left to become expert in another field where you can get a "safer" job with a predictable income.

What advice do you have for those of us who have already been through the fire and barely survived?

JBall

Wow! This was amazing! I will definitely be putting to practice all this advice. I'm currently doing online college while studying music on my own. So I definitely need to keep up my determination in teaching myself and pushing ahead.

Thanks again!

Truth, inspires.

Thank you!!!

Derek Sivers is every musician's hero. You are awesome.

Thank you so much.

I went to MI in hollywood... and we all could have used a "6 things... before I started MI" talk there - actually, I did most of those things anyway and became an instructor there eventually before being a professional musician now - and I love it!! thanks derek for you insight!!!

Dear Derek, Again. You are sharing the idea that to strive to be the best is the way to be. I have felt this way from day one. I studied music at The University of Miami and always felt like it takes 4 years to learn all that stuff and 4 years in the real world to unlearn it and become a good musician. I don't mean it direspectfully, you know what I mean. You really hit home with me. In our National Enquierer fed society of today. People get away with so much and focus on glitz over substance. It's easy to become discouraged if we focus on pop culture. I call it the dumbing down of our society. My audience looks beyond that stuff, and I am grateful that you do as well.

Thanks again for great insights,

Marc Vee

Thank you for sharing your Berklee experiences with us Derek. You and your words are truely an inspiration and I am already moving forward with my work as a musician because of you.

#2 The ZEN of music, practice, don't be afraid of errors, The ZEN of music is the ZEN of you.


#5 In music the past are the roots, the music is the tree, and what you make of it, is the future.

I take classical music from 1700 as an example, It teaches me about music, what do i do with it?

I take my electronic instruments, and create my own classical tune in C minor ore wahtever key it is.

**----

Ask yourself: why are tribute bands today so populair? they just are stuck in the past,

but people love hearing those tune's

# 6 Is making money the only way of making sure you are doing something of value?

In my opinion money is bounded by time, music with value is timeless.

How would i like to be remebered when i am gone for over 268 years in the year 2268?

Has my music enough value to gain momentum in the course of time?

Ore do i want to be valued in the here and now considering a short period of about 50 years.

#6 be one of the few that stays in the shed to practice, while everyone else is -----

ah ! thats why you hear so little of me.!

Derek,

I so appreciate all of your generous and thoughtful assistance to indie musicians. I've forwarded this article on to my daughter, a music business student at NYU.

You rock, in more ways than one!

Awesome speech bro. Dead on!

I'm 66 years old and about to embark on a new phase of my musical career. Even though your talk is geared toward college students, I felt that almost every word applied to me at this stage of the game...very helpful. Thanks!

Derek,

You hit on a lot of Invaluable parallels that are great to come back to again and again!

Great Delivery too!

Respectfully,

George Winters

really good talk, I hope the students took what you said to heart! What really hit me was the first point. when you're young and full of dreams it's so easy to follow every passion, every whim, but then you're left chasing butterflies. Focus, focus, focus is something I wish I had learned the absolute importance of way early on.

Oh man, the Donna Lee example is a good one. I thought that I had to be able to play that song really fast, in order to be a good musician. It took me a while to realize that it was ok to play music that I loved and grew up with (mostly pop/commercial music), even if it only had a couple chords, and was slow!

Luckily I figured that out by the time I graduated from Berklee. That was one of the biggest things I learned at Berklee. And it was an odd place to learn that lesson, since everyone was spending a ton of time learning Donna Lee!

Thank you so much Derek. Those were the exact words I've been needing to hear. There have been way too many distractions for me lately and though it is easy to blame others, or other things for lack of motivation, sometimes you've got to take a good hard look at yourself and get back that blind enthusiasm that comes straight from the heart and do what you know is the right thing to do. I will turn off this computer right now and go work on one of those many half finished songs I have been sitting on. You are truly a gentleman and set a fine example for many to follow.

Derek,

First of all, thank you for starting CD BABY. It is the only time anybody ever helped me sell CD's. I was not lucky enough to attend Berklee. But, I did exactly as you suggest at University of California at Santa Cruz: U.C.S.C

in those days (Uncle Charlie's Summer Camp) Talk about distractions.... the babes and good green herb would be a full time job all by themselves. I lived in the practice room and carved up any tune I could find from Donna Lee on down. I created my own vocabulary and lived in the moment. When I graduated I could blow that horn!

But when it came to making money, I soon found out that demand for my moderate ability as a piano man eclipsed my first rate ability as a sax player.

I again applied the same concept. I learned every tune in the John Mehegan jazz books, every tune on the Art Tatum box set, every tune I saw on more than 2-3 records.

When I get a request for something I don't know. I find it and learn it. I try not to judge the request ("you don't really want to hear THAT?!") The most important thing in this period, was how to learn tunes in itself.

You soon see plenty of overlap in the American song book as far as chord progressions and melodies.

This is where your personal style takes over.

When you say don't get stuck in the past, I hope you don't mean ignore the greats. Jelly Roll Morton still has a lot to add to anybody's concept. It's important to find the original sources of trends in music. But don't feel you need to re-create exactly what they did. Steal the feel not the licks!!!!

ERIC

Thanks again Derek, as usual the majority of what you say is most agreeable.

Respects,

OZ

Derek,

I wasn't able to read all the responses here, so pardon me if this was mentioned already. I'm a Berklee grad from some time back. I think you missed an important point in your remarks to the incoming class. I always tell kids starting Berklee that just as important as the education they will get is the people they will meet and the friends they will make. To this day, more years after graduation than I care to mention, I still work with people I met all those years ago. Remember, a lot of having success in the music business is who you know...

I learned alot the 6 things...

Thanks for the help!

How trite! Of course a grain of truth in it. Why not just tell "them" to see if they can write a truly original melody that has some spiritual substance to it. Then see if they can write it down in notation!

Bet ya, most won't even be able to do that when they get out, if they ever do!

Katy, I went to Longy for violin. I didn't even know what Berklee was at the time. But some of my best undergrad times were some projects I did with Berklee students. If I had my life to do over that is one thing I would have probably done differently--Sting would have been the commencement speaker if I'd gone to Berklee instead. I was broke too when I started but got some scholarships, loans and a job. I had no idea how hard my program was going to be. It was insanely busy learning and I barely had time to practice violin. My advice to you if you want to work to help support yourself is get a part time day job at Harvard because you'll get great benefits. Boston is ridiculously expensive to live in but go for it. You have to live your life! You can do it!

Derek, thanks for this! My son (19, guitarist) is transferring to Berklee in January. I just forwarded this post to him. I have already told him how many great people I have met who after Berklee started great companies in the music space (a number of them still in Boston). He is pursuing his passion, and these are great lessons to help ensure his success. Your blog posts have been knocking it out of the park lately! Thanks again,

Best,
Jeff (from Myxer)

I'm going to put these point on the back of MY notebook, which I GUARANTEE will freak my girlfriend out ;-p

Thanks so much!

Your Fan,
david
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Good one Derek!
I have always told my music students they teach themselves.

Now I have to get in the shed and raise the level of my vocals, guitar, and keyboards... and ProTools.

On another note... here is a speech I typed up and plan to deliver with great enthusiasm this coming Tuesday. Hope its okay to post this. Here it is:

Some one else say it out loud...We CAN END STARVATION IN FIVE YEARS!

Someone else say it We CAN END STARVATION IN FIVE YEARS!

THANK YOU

This is exciting! Asking you and great human beings listening to step beyond comparisons beyond boundary lines in making the promise to end starvation and malnutrition throughout our planet. AND IT COSTS YOU NOTHING OR JUST A COUPLE DOLLARS A MONTH

Imagine a great human being like yourself, or President Obama, or the Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers saying these magic words:
In memory of the 25,000 children who died today... I speak up, I patronize, I vote for ending starvation throughout earth... imagine yourself saying those magic words

Ending starvation throughout earth brings the greatest celebration of all time... and you get to celebrate every step of the way!

Here are profound benefits coming from this process:

POPULATION GROWTH STABILIZES

DISCOVERING CURES FOR AIDS< MALARIA< CANCERS BECOMES EASY AS CHILDS PLAY

A new compassion emerges, a new intelligence unfolds The end of starvation makes it possible to establish human colonies outside of earth... that is exciting! CLAP CLAP CLAP

And right now the most important benefit from ending starvation... mathematically ... virtually eliminating the scary thought of nuclear bombs going off on this planet

HOLD UP EXAMPLE
Our world leaders do not know how to deal with this. EXAMPLE Outgoing International Atomic Energy Agency chief Mohamed El- Bar- a DAY said last month, QUOTE A nuclear strike is more likely to take place today than during the cold war. We have not done well over the last 25 years. If you look at our international system, it is in tatters. UnQUOTE

Recently, the U.N. Secretary General Ban Gee Moon said QUOTE The world is over-armed and peace is underfunded UNQUOTE

NOW your voice
NOW your patronizing power THAT IS once a month you write a kind letter to the businesses you patronize
and NOW your voting power

On this website thecount.org The count is the the count of children who die per day. Org is organization of great human beings stepping beyond comparisons and boundary lines in making the promise to end starvation and malnutrition throughout our planet within five years!

Join us! Here is a camera! Add your photo and just your first name. Raise your hands. We can do this right now! I thank you all for listening. Now I am going to step outside and take photos of great human beings making the promise to end starvation throughout earth.

Wow this is a fantastic talk Derek! I wish I'd been told these things when I was starting out, it would have saved a lot of time.

This is the best set of advice for young music students I've seen. I'll be sending my students to this page and I'll tell them - read this and take every bit of it on board if you've got any ambition to do something serious musically.

Derek,you have great vision,great insight and a very caring heart.
Thankyou,and god bless you.You have found your purpose in life.

Dude, amazing text. Very nice!
I am not a musician or something like that, but everything you said is totally true in most of areas.

Congratulations and thank you for sharing your experience.

Derek. You are a smart man. Your words here ring very true. I attended Berklee in 1978-79, a guitar major (there were 1000 of us!). I met some incredible musicians there, both staff and student. The greatest ones were the ones not afraid to learn very well... "inside of the box" ...then to have the guts to go outside of it.

Derek, this BIG. Mind-blowing advice for business people and musicians from all stages of success. Thank you so much!!

Merci pour avoir partagé cette pensé qui ma touché. J'ai 45 ans je joue de la guitare sérieusement depuis 2 ans, 20 ans sans passion.

Je te souhaites beaucoup de succes dans ta vie.

Salutations de la Suisse.

Mauro

Hey, j'ai 18 ans et je vais tenter d'entrer à Berklee cette année.

Votre discours me sera vraiment utile, merci! Ça me permettra peut-être de ne pas arriver en newbie complet là bas (si j'y arrive).

Auriez vous des conseils à donner pour l'entretient? Ça m'aiderait beaucoup à moins stresser le jour J ^^'...

Merci pour le discours en tout cas!

Grandes dicas!

You inspired me to write my own riff on this idea :) http://www.rosshill.com.au/article/university-commencement/

I'm starting at berklee in the fall, thanks for the valuable info.

Derek,

This video is actually how I learned who you were. It was a while ago when I watched it. I will definitely show it to my band and hopefully it will inspire them to be more professional. especially the saying that: "When you're not practicing, someone else is."

Thanks for the recommendation.

If there is anything which annoyed me about BerkLee, it was how little quality teaching there was.
There were plenty of instructors who could play, but were also completely ungifted at imparting a shred of their skill. The worst teachers had agendas which were all student presentations. Now I had to deal with people who didn't want to teach, couldn't teach and, often couldn't separate the essence of music from the chaff of reality.
But those few instructors, who did teach and could teach, changed my life.

Wow. I just finished my first week of Berklee with similar ideas about pacing, but you have just enhanced my ideas. I am going to do my best to read this post (or listen to it) every day before class. Thank you so much for the great advice.

You are... stakhanovite? :)
Where is Life ? people ? the joy of losing time and going the wrong direction.

Many "succesfull" things came out from wrong directions, from lazyness or confusion.

>

>

Why do you care so much about success and businnes ? What's the good point of being above average ? Or at least, why would you ever like to be above average ? How can it improve your life ? How is it involved with happyness living a joyfull life ?

I think you become "above average" doing what you like. If you discover yourself (often confusion is needed as part of the process) you can well understand what you want to do, and do it with passion. That works: passion works. don't follow money or "success", they'll just bring you to madness or infinite dissatisfaction.

I don't find it very virtuous to wish to be above average.

Life is not game with points and bonuses, with higher and lower levels. Life is a trip in which you grow and appreciate different things during your growth, and University is an important period of it.

Focusing on accademic success, on speed, you just waste one of the most beautiful period of your life.

Aren't you confusing the value of a person with the economic value of a product ?

And then there is the Oscar Wilde advice ... or rather how he lived his life.

Go to every party you can. Look lazy. Look awesome. Work like a madman, but don't let anyone know it was hard, you're a god, it was effortless. You did it while at a party!

It's much more fun that way.
That is sprezzatura!">sive.rs/sprezzatura">sprezzatura! Another fine subject. — Derek

awesome free information..which is not free anywhere else...points 1 and 3 are experienced by me..and I can bet all the points are absolutely necesary

This is great advice that transcends music and Berklee. I'm going to pass this on to my cello and hockey playing son.

Our grandson brought this talk to our attention. It was a very informative talk.
We are impressed that Zach found this
inspiring. He loved the analogy aspect.
We are glad that he was able to see and hear
this talk at an early stage of him attending Berklee.

Thank you Derek for sharing this awesome speech.
And also i thank that person who showed me sive.rs

Thanks a lot

It was highly informative and yet moving!

Great list, definitely agree with many of your points. Especially regarding innovation over imitation.

Relevant through-out a career in music.

это самые мудрые и точные рекомендации. Спасибо, Дерек, ты очень кратко и метко выразил мои собственные мысли!

Great article, sir! Really inspiring.

Thank you so much for your advice!
My name is Kailee, and I'm also from Chicago. (Actually, the suburbs). I'm 17, and for about two years, I've set my heart on Berklee. I've told everyone that I'm either going to Berklee, or getting a job as a waitress and playing guitar on a street corner. I've read countless articles giving advice about Berklee and none were remotely as insightful as yours. (:

Well, that woke me up out of my funk!

This talk is invaluable. You said many truths that I need to hear regularly and your delivery was impeccable. This is just what I needed to hear at the end of the first day at a new job, when there are many national distractions. Thank you, Derek!

Thank you! Very inspirational! :)

Some people can't even tie their shoe or shit in a toilet correctly at Berklee.. so they need the low classes.. just to feed them more money to build a building that looks like a transformer in Spain so they can get more money to build a nuclear device to take over the world and make everyone learn standards in 12 different keys while listening to the next Berklee grammy pop hit.

Hello,

Just got accepted and recieved a scholarship! Your words will be very useful to me! Thank you

One word... this is amazing :) thank you!

I'm so glad you sent an email reminding me of this wonderful talk you gave at Berklee! Now that I'm teaching there, and most of my students are first-year students, I'm going to make sure they read this post as I'm sure it will be super helpful. I know that I wish I had had this advice twenty years ago when I was a first-year college student studying music. Thanks again for sharing your wisdom, and I wish you all the best!

I've said it before and I will say it again, thank you for speaking. Every time I read something you've written or listen to a talk you've done I instantly smile. I can truly say that you are one of a small group of people that inspire me everyday to be and do more. I appreciate everything you do. Couldn't hold it in, just had to tell you. Thanks again!

Wow, i'm speechless really. I really want to enter Berklee, it's one of my dreams since childhood. I've done research on every opinion based on Berklee, but so far this one is the best. I really feel like I can do this, it gives me courage and strength to know I can make it just like many others have, mostly one of my idols which is a graduate from Berklee "Juan Luis Guerra". Derek...thank you, those simple pieces of advise will do me so much :')

Man you should have shared the video first. :P

Hi, Mr. Derek

You gave me such a good advice. I want to be music composer and producer. I really want to go to Berklee College, I don't play classical instrument, but I play mongolian horse head fiddle and keys. When I was in high school I played violin. I can read musical notes. I currently compose and produce electronic music. Also I'm attending Los Angeles Film School (LARS) for recording artist A.A degree. I want to go to Berklee or Harvard music college. Can you help me to go to Berklee? Your speech gave me sight that I don't want to stuck in the past. Thank you hope you have my email.
Thanks! Sorry I can't help you go to Berklee. Just apply! — Derek

Mr. Derek, I just want to personally let you know that this is Very inspirational to me.
I needed to hear exactly this. For the past 3 months, I have not been practicing my Alto Saxophone nearly as much as I should have been. I was distracted with things that were not relevant to my future success. I am in enrolled at Berklee School of Music for the Spring 2013 semester and will be on campus on January 15th. I do not know if I am ready to isolate and work work work work work... but if I want to be successful... that is exactly what I will have to do. Right now I'm viewing this whole process as the Ras Al Ghul - Batman scene... When I go to Berklee, aside from Family and my girlfriend, I will have to isolate myself and go through harsh training, musical training that is. For the past 6 years, more or less, my talent alone has carried me with my writing and playing abilities. I'm starting to tell , and see in this developing world, that Talent will only Get You So Far. Hard work is also required.

I know I am not at heart an incredibly hard worker which may have or may not have been why I've gave myself June through December as a period to just relax and not worry about anything in the world. That was most likely the wrong decision however I cannot change that. But I also do not by any means believe I messed up any future I have. I am willing to work my rear end off the moment I set fourth on Berklees campus. Everything is on the line then.



Mr.Derek, thank you for your inspirational article and speech. I have made this promise to my mom that passed away 4 years ago that I Will get my name in lights for her to see, I am making the same promise to you now. It will happen. And when it does, you will be one of the main people I thank.

Thanks a heap Derek.
This is probably one of the most useful and inspiring pieces of writing on the internet for me. I'm one year into studying Jazz and this has really changed my focus and discipline completely. I've been keeping this as my homepage on the internet and read parts of it most days. Just another big thanks for highlighting the way forward for myself and many others.
All the best
Art

Amazing piece Derek! Thanks so much for sharing.
I'm going to Berklee next year (five week program) and I'm so excited. This will help me get even more out of these five weeks than I thought!
Thanks for the inspiration.

I'm leaving for my first semester at Berklee this week! I read this post so often. Love the first rule. Thank you for this. Much love. X. RSJ

do or do not, there is no try... on my way

Hello, I came across your article while reading about berklee! I am currently 17 and am graduating this year! I'm am going to attend berklee for voice and songwriting! I really like and agree with what you have written! My goal is to become a Acoustic Rock/ Blues Rock artist! And I am willing to do everything to make sure that I don't fall by the wayside as many others who have fought for the same dream! I would love to hear any more thought you have on the situation or any tips that you could give me as to what I need to do to make my music career a success! Thank you for your time, Josh
I think these are all of my tips, but feel free to email me with any specific questions. — Derek

Thank you for having useful information offered.

Your comments go way beyond Berklee and music. I'm not into music and am probably the only person who regularly drives 1000 miles without turning on the radio, but I always try to push the envelope. Yesterday, I started playing squash, even though I've been an AARP member for years. I currently have a job, requiring 50% international travel, so that someone else is paying me to see the world. Yesterday I was in a biolab in Western Australia, learning how to use equipment to do things that the vendor couldn't imagine.

I didn't think that Berklee was the school it portrayed itself as in the media, advertising, or in orientation. I was fiercely determined and focused; I made it into the Rainbow Band (top jazz band) on baritone saxophone and was accepted to cross-perform at NEC with their ensembles. Berklee's teachers were lax. They were lazy. They missed lessons - expensive private lessons - that they never made up. Then they never filed permanent grades. I know of half a dozen other students who had to chase down grades post-graduation that their teachers just didn't turn in. I graduated six years ago and I'm still dealing with chasing down private lesson grades and conducting 2 grades that none of my teachers felt was important enough to turn in. Not every teacher was like that, and I did have MANY experiences at the school that I wouldn't exchange for the world, especially my friends and the repertoire I now have in my brain. However, for tens and tens of thousands of dollars, a school needs to perform at a MUCH higher level than Berklee is performing at currently. My friends who went to state music schools have been able to get much further ahead in their careers than my friends at Berklee because they now have more money to finance on their careers than those of us paying $400-800 / month (I currently pay $850 / month to cover my Berklee bills) and that's important. It's important when you first start out to be able to put money into yourself, advertising, start-up costs, etc. It's not just about coming from a fancy place or unwavering determination, focus, desire. You have to take off the rose-colored glasses and go, "Oh, no. This is totally fake. And it's run by a revolving door of staff and musicians." That is key. And a lot of teenagers and young 20-somethings don't have the life experience to recognize a duck and call it a duck. That's my opinion from my experience at Berklee, and I am not alone in that experience or opinion, but I respect everyone's right to hold true to their own experiences and opinions. -Jo Elless.
Thanks for the feedback, Jo. That really helps. Back when I went to Berklee (1987-1990) it was only $2500/semester! It'd be hard to justify the current costs. — Derek

Thank-you. I needed this encouragement. I don't attend Berklee but I want to do a music program and I felt like dropping out this year. Your post was wise, insightful, and witty. I definiteley agree that school is like a library, you have to teach yourself! God bless you!

Hi, I auditioned for Berklee and really believe this is the school for me! Everything you've said is so true, and its not only useful there but throughout life! Thanks :)

Dear Derek,
I'm writing to you as a mother of a confused teenager who wants to study contemporary music ( performance, composition,arangement, song writing,etc.) living in a very limited European country such as Portugal. I've been searching for the best for my boy and Berklee seems to be a very good possibility. As financial resources are scarse, I was thinking of enrolling my 16 years old teen in the Berklee Summer course for music technology to be held in Valencia, Spain in order to find out more about his talent, his wishes and to get to know more about Berklee itself without investing too much money since Valencia is one-day's drive from Portugal. But I would like to get an expert opinion. Do you think it's good idea? He's been studying music ( violin) since he's 4 years old and he knows piano and guitar too, and music reading and harmony. Sorry for this desperate ask for help from a curious but musically ignorant mother. Thank in advance. Best regards
Yes, the summer course is a great program, if you can afford it. Great introduction to the immersive environment of music school. — Derek

I fondly remember the first 40-hour week I spent in some lab at Berklee working on a single arrangement of a single song, just because I knew I was "onto something good" and just wanted to see where it could go. On some level, I understood then part of what you're saying here... but I'm still jealous of the incoming class that got to hear this whole speech straight from you! :)

Dear sir. Berklee has always been my dream. Im 16 currently in 11th grade. Im from India. Im a vocalist and have been trained in western vocals since a few years now. Sometimes i think, after im done graduating from college, then what? What job oppurtunities do you think we have after graduating from a music college? I'd obviously like to make it big. What chances do you think we have of getting a big break thereafter?

WOW! what you told really opened my eyes! You are amazing. I will surely apply it all the time.
Thanks a lot Derek.

Hi Derek, I just comment to let you know that how much this article influenced me during my master learning. I'm a computer-majored student, which maybe the most likely group of people to get distracted by computer. During my three years of master learning I took your words as the guidence to help me stay focused and stay locked in the shed. With such immersion I was able to learn so many things that beyond my expectation. Thank you very much.

I am a Berklee alum, and must applaud you on your notes and observations!
Loved the place, and would emerge at 1 am after a night of figuring out transcriptions of the great jazz pianists. I totally identify!

Hello! Thank you so much for writing this! As it just so happens, I am going to audtion for Berklee and it has been my intention for a year now to test out of maybe one or two semesters of some Berklee classes, like Ear Training, Harmony, etc. I noticed that you successsfully made this happen. My audition is in a little more than a month. I am serious about testing out because if I can graduate in less than four years then I want to. How can I learn what you learned about arranging and harmony in a few days as well? I've been studying with books from my library, but is there a way that I can find out the content that is being taught in Berklee classes for free? If its not for free I still want to know. Thank You so much! Any tips on how you tested out would be helpful!

Hello! Thank you so much for writing this! As it just so happens, I am going to audtion for Berklee and it has been my intention for a year now to test out of maybe one or two semesters of some Berklee classes, like Ear Training, Harmony, etc. I noticed that you successsfully made this happen. My audition is in a little more than a month. I am serious about testing out because if I can graduate in less than four years then I want to. How can I learn what you learned about arranging and harmony in a few days as well? I've been studying with books from my library, but is there a way that I can find out the content that is being taught in Berklee classes for free? If its not for free I still want to know. Thank You so much! Any tips on how you tested out would be helpful!
You should contact the Berklee book store and buy the books used in those classes. If you know the contents of the book, you can pass the test. — Derek

While I agree that Berklee is certainly a library of rather specific knowledge (relating mostly to jazz and pop), I would say it was ultimately an overpriced scam. Like you said, you can get an entire semester of learning in one "real" lesson with a pro. That's ridiculous and goes to show you how irrelevant the intro classes are at Berklee. From the moment I started at Berklee it was clear this was not an art school. It has nothing to with creative inspiration. It's a musical gym. A gym where the jocks succeed and the artists fail. If playing chromatic scales at 1,000 bpm is music to you, or shredding "for-the-sake-of-it" polyrhythmic fills, then by all means join the competition that is Berklee. If you think music can transcend skill and evoke actual emotion I recommend looking into yourself for that inspiration.

Awesome! Not a Berklee student (maybe someday??) but this is inspiring to musicians and artists anywhere. Thank you for sharing.

Hey my name is Arnie I live in California but I'm in Boston today I just completed my audition and interview it was very successful.
I just read this entire article and you changed my life and opened my eyes. I really wanted to say thank you so much I feel very prepared for my future now and I can't wait till school starts. That is the best advice I have ever heard in my life thank you I really appreciate it.
☺ Thank you! — Derek

Good energy, Derek! Well done!

Wow!Thats amazing...but being from india my parents are kind of orthodox about this career in music thing and want me to have a career in commerce field,i tried explaining it to them but they always shut me down that i will not earn any money and will have no future in this field. *sigh* i wish there was some oher way of explaining it to them!

Working harder than everyone else around you at a music university doesn't always bring the kind of value that will inspire other people to give you money. For most, music study leads to real financial grief or a late start in another career. The problem begins earlier; K-12 schools, with their standard class periods, conspire against focus and dedication. It's very, very difficult to make up for that in four years, even if you're lucky enough not to have to work while at university. The music universities don't care about what happens after graduation. I still think Derek's advice is great; it works in other careers, too.

I'm sending this to my son, Nick, 18, and just accepted into Berklee for guitar. I think he will identify with it. Thank you

Wow! Very insightful! Now I have a whole new perspective on Berklee. I got in for the spring semester starting January 2015 and I'm glad I read this now it gives me time to prepare and focus on what I'll have to do in Berklee to archive my goal! I will put these tips to good use! Thank you for sharing your experience with all of us it's a true blessing!!

Wow, this is amazing!!!!!! My eyes have been opened and I couldn't be more grateful.

Shoot, I accidentally pressed enter and sent just 'Hey Derek'… I have a couple questions. So I'm headed to Berklee in the Fall and I've heard that there are not a lot of performing opportunities for singers or any musician. Is that true? Or can you get opportunities if you go out and find them yourself? I was also wondering if you have any tips about staying motivated or how to not be lazy. I love my music more than anything, and I hate to admit it, but I am very lazy when it comes to music. I don't have any musical friends around me to make me feel like I need to be pushed (although I know that's not a very good reason) I just don't know how to not be lazy. It may be the focus thing, because I do find myself on my phone, computer etc. often when I should be practicing. Are there some wise words of admire that you could possibly tell me? Thanks so much!!

Hi, I'm in engineering, but this text made me reflect so much about my own universe. I made it my homepage so that every time I open up the browser, I take a look at it. Thank you. Really thank you,
Teo.

blow away expectation. yo cool. That's the coolest saying that I ever heard.

I really loved reading this. I found this page off of google. I searched "successful artist who graduated from berklee" Ive been studying music and producing for a while. I have some questions for you. I would be honored to talk to you. Please email me @ t.mrs.right@gmail.com

Man, I loved this post! You touched on so many awesome points that not only apply to studying a craft, but life in general. Thanks for sharing!

Words to live by - this is awesome and applies to life all over...I wish you were my lecturer at Uni!

Gregor
Vietnam

I am starting at Berklee in less than 2months and your words really touched me.
Thank you for taking the time to share your experience and help someone, like me, partake of it and have the platform to launch beyond these "ideals" that society places on us. Can't wait to explore and absorb far beyond what is given!
All the best

Thank you Derek. That was brilliant. My twelve year old daughter Sarah says she wants to go to Berkley some day. She plays violin picks up the keyboard and teaches herself. She learned how to read music (that's about where I quit) and she has always had a lovely singing voice. Yet she is shy. I know she is an A student and she has a creative soul but she is only twelve and I'm not the kind to live through my kids. They belong to themselves. I can tell you that, although they mean the best, guidance counselors can be overwhelmed. What you just did for me, means a lot no matter what Sarah decides to do with her future. Might just make a trip to Boston from Fall River today ti get a feel for the place on this blustery day. Invaluable stuff. Thanks again.

Bullshit! Couched in millennial entrepreneur- speak, this lecture is nothing more than a slick presentation of the superficial "success is the measure of value" republican mantra. Charlie Parker and Shania Twain presented as artists of equal merit???
'Nuff said.

Dear Derek, thank you for the tips! I am from Europe and I am starting my Berklee adventure this summer, feeling lucky to have found your article before I sink in this environment of distractions and new culture that I will surely be tempted to explore. So this advice of yours - to keep focus, I value the most! Thank you so much!

I read this every time I need to remember why I should be working hard. Thank you. You don't know how much this has helped.

Hi Derek,
I totally disagree with your article, especially with your first point.
You cited the example of how Bruce Wayne went to a remote location and didn't return until he became a master. And don't we all know how that turned out for him? You basically taught kids to cut themselves off from everything and focus? You want the freshmen to be the Batman. In other words, do you want them to live a life without happiness because they are so focussed towards one single goal? College is a place for kids to make mistakes and learn from them, to make connections that will be there for them when needed (and if you say they are not needed, you need to get out of your utopia or whatever parallel world you are living in). In a nutshell, please don't mislead the children because some of them might be foolish enough to actually heed your advice. You will be focussed, you will achieve your goal. But did you reach your life's ultimate goal, that is to be happy? Who do you talk to when you need advice or when you want to talk to? Do you go back to the mirror in your dorm room and talk to that? Cause if you do, sorry to say sir, you haven't reached your life's ultimate goal. Going back to batman, bruce wayne could never crack a smile. Since I am feeling nerdy, he could never be what Tony Stark was. As simple as that.
Oh, and btw, I saw someone brag about having 3 degrees at a young age of 29. I have 3 degrees at the age of 23 and can be considered as one of the smartest 2% of world's population (research-based, not my words). I achieved all of this with being, wait for it, a bit casual.

Do you have any advice or good reading you could recommend to my 15 year old son. He has played the slide trombone and upright 3/4 bass in school band. His favorite instrument is his Fender P-bass right now. A friend of ours graduated from Keene State College in NH and has been teaching him songs and scales etc. for about a year. My son has had the opportunity to play cover tunes with our friends band in some local clubs. He has also played with musicians of blues, jazz, and classic rock covers from ages 16 to 75. He has no fear of performing in front of people. He has a 3.5 GPA in high school, honor roll status. He is into wrestling and track and field. He is very motivated and plays every day. His dream is to go to Berklee when he graduates in 2018. Any advice to help him would be great. I know very little about the world of Rock music. Thank you.

Oh my goodness thank you soooo much for posting this...you don't know how badly I needed to see this article. I am still waiting for my acceptance into the college (I find out in 8 days) but if and when I do get accepted I will make sure to go to the school with everything you have stated in mind. God bless you!

You are just amazing and this information has helped me so much to understand so many valuable things.

THANK YOU.

Love Stephanie

Oh. My. God.

This essay absolutely hit the spot. I've been spending the last 45 minutes in online forums watching people duke it out over whether Berklee is a waste of money or not. You're just pointing out to me what's obvious: It's all about what the student does with what they're taught. If you think you will coast through any prestigious college to a guaranteed job, you will almost certainly stay mediocre.

Thanks for giving me a reality check. I'm going to print this out and put it in my practice space. Whether I end up at a "real" music school or not doesn't matter; this is good advice no matter what.

I am a rising junior in high school. I took AP Music Theory this past year, and got an A in the class, but a 1 on the test. That class was the first time I'd gotten a taste in studying music or music theory, so it's not extremely surprising to me that my test score was so low. The class has made me want to major in composition or conducting, but after seeing my test score, I'm not so certain it's a good idea anymore. What are your honest thoughts on this? Are there any tips you can give me to improve my musical knowledge?
Sorry I'm the wrong person to ask. Ask the teacher of AP Music Theory to start. — Derek

Wow- I know this is a bit dated but my daughter is seriously considering Berklee (2016). Great advice and expectation setting guidance. I hope she follows your advice. She is an amazing songwriter and vocalist and trained in guitar and piano.

I play flute and piano and I really want to go to Berklee, but I've never been trained and I want to take lesson but my mom can't afford it right now. I'm a junior in high school and I've been playing since 5th grade, but I feel like I'm not good enough and I need to get more proficient on my instrument. Any advice? Thanks.

This post is so inspirational, and it really left me thinking about my current condition. Ive always wanted to attend this school, and even though i doubt my parents would allow me to study in the field of music, I think getting into Berklee would change their minds. My problem is meeting the requirements. Do i have to know a musical instrument to get in? it feels like you have to be a pro to get into this school but i wanna be a pro getting out of it. i know music is my life and i wanna be someone in this world. i wanna be recognized for my devotion to music, which is probably asking for a lot. but i dont care, im never gonna give up on it. i just wish time (and money) allowed me to pursue this dream. anyway, i will try to apply these tips to my life because i believe in every inch of words you wrote.

Thank you so much.

Hey Derek,

Wow! Thank you so much for sharing this! My favorite way of learning is doing research myself and analyzing as much stuff as possible about subjects that interest me, then consider listening to others perspectives, without putting mine down. You just inspired me to dig deeper into my passion of writing music, playing music, being differnt in a good way, concentrating on one goal without being distracted. I know now, With what you told me, that i can go to this school and learn as much as i want as long as i put all my heart and mind to it, and not be destracted by what others say or do. Thank you so much, and i look forward to joining this college. I would like and email please, i got some questions. :))

-Quentin

Hey man you can't imagine how much this article has helped me and I'm not even in Berklee! Haha well... Not yet anyway ;) but honestly, I could sit here and tell you my whole story but I think you'd rather not be bored and just hear that this was amazingly inspirational, you may have just changed my life for the better so thanks. A lot.

Wow, this is the favorite thing I've ever read. I'm a first semester freshman at a public New Jersey college studying music industry, and this just inspired so much.
Stay rad :)

Thanks a lot.
That's it really. From the deepest part of my bass clef (lol), I didn't even know if it was possible to take exams before they are due. I will push on harder and harder. Thanks a lot Derek Sivers. :)

Hi Derek

I'll be attending Berklee on January but my family can only pay for one semester. What are your thoughts on this? I'll look for scholarships but I'm still not very virtuous so i think it will be hard.

I'd be very glad to hear your thoughts.

My best,
Diego
Get everything you can out of it in one semester, then move to NYC or LA and throw yourself into the middle of the music world. — Derek

I'm going to do my best not to be that donkey you mentioned on Tim's podcast. :)

Thank you

My son is attending the summer program this year and this is some phenomenal advice. I will FORCE him to read every last word. Thank you!

wow! just love the speach im 11 and want to be a songwriter i was planing what colledge i wanted to go to and u helped me alot im really thankful you are the best thx for your help

Hi, I'm in the process of getting my application to Berklee and I'm transferring from Howard University. I believe in everything you said and I'll remind myself to do the same. I have no time for distractions. Thank you!

Holy shit.

Thank you for telling me that can I do more, have more than my fair share of shit together and do whatever the fuck I want.

I can even have a lot of fun while I do this. :D

Dude: What you just said, is abosulutely amazing!
Next year I'll attend Berklee, I'm just looking for something to be a better musician, before I start my classes. Thnks a lot for sharing your experience there!!

www.youtube.com/watch?v=h2xPtDyai5s

This was very motivating to read for me at a time of great uncertainty in my life. And while nothing will ever be certain we must learn with passion and only then innovation may procure! Prioritize your hours, shoo away distraction, healthy body healthy mind. Know what you love and nike the sh&t out of it! Never be the guy that stopped digging just an inch away from gold.

Hi, thanks a lot for this even though it's been eight years since you wrote this. I am currently 17 and will be going to a music school in German in 2017

Hello, my name is Manuel, i'm 17 years old and I'm from Argentina. Men, Your speech really touched me. My dream it's to be a music producer of electronic music. In my country there's not such a culture of electronic music, so i want to move to USA. I think I can do that with the help of Berklee, go there, study and get a job there with some lucky and with some work. I also play drums since I was 8 years old, I'll make the audition with my drum set.
Well, the thing is that I'm really nervous and a little bit scary about my future, my dreams and my life in Berklee. Of course I need an scholarship to go there, without that it's impossible to me to go. I'm doing english classes, drum classes, production classes and also doing some practice. Well, i just wanted to share my thoughts to you, I read almost every post about Berklee, but this is my first reply. Thanks for reading and thanks for your words Derek! Manu

Probably a dumb question, but when you say lock yourself away and practice, surely you mean you gotta get out of the shed and perform too? What's the point in being the best musician in your bedroom?
You don't stay locked up forever. — Derek

Amazing article.

I don't understand 5 but the rest is great. I've spent three years in university and I've done the wrong things. My goal is start a startup and add value to the lives of people upon graduation. I have two years left and I will make the best of them.

Thank you so much for this. It is fantastic!! You have motivated me to do more, stretch some more and try new things. It is Friday evening and I just decided to read some Early to Rise articles and lo and behold I have got so many ideas to launch out/ free lance from what you have written. I will share this with as many persons in my network as I can.
I hope I will be able to find more of your writings. You have a lot to share that can help others. Blessings!!!

Ina

Dude, thank you. Holy crap, I so needed this today. I think I'll print it and read it from time to time when I'm getting discouraged or burned out. THANK YOU SO MUCH.

I'm definitely a shed-type learner. It's how I learn the material. But external things pull me away too much. You're right--whatever the heck happens over the next few years can likely be summed up in a few minutes after it's all said and done. If it needs my attention that much, it'll likely BURST into my shed. Thank you for helping me direct my energy where it really needs to go.

I agree with the person that talked about you being concise and driving crap home in a way I can't ignore. Peace out, and take it easy...NOT! That's one of those closing social comments that people usually don't think about. But after this article, it doesn't apply to me anymore. Take care is more like it.

As a distressed student attending Berklee Online, debating if whether or not I made the right choice, this has been a refreshing insight during a difficult time. I'm one year into my degree program and 3 out of 4 levels into theory, frustraded that I may not be truly understanding all of the concepts and I resounded most with your point that no one will "teach" me anything and I should really learn about these concepts myself. I'm striving to understand what's being shown to us and I really just need to go forth on my own to figure things out. I appreciated your words, they truly mean a lot.

Thanks,derek

Hello Derek, I want to produce music. Berklee seems to be the perfect fit but I'd prefer to attend starting at an advanced placement. This will be a financially less stressful approach for my family and I. Do you reccommend any good books or reads that will put me ahead of the game?

Ive always been absolutely terrified that if I have too much fire, I might burn out before I accomplish anything.
Somehow though, this calmed me down.
You have calmed down someone who is passionate but terrified and lost and not knowing how to go about this passion.
A little anyway.

Thanks <3

Great article, but I must say it must be taken in context with regards to age and one's current life situation. For example, I am a 47 year old male who has played guitar and sang for decades in pop and wedding bands and really enjoyed my time as a working musician. Ultimately, this did not prove to pay all of the bills or create personal satisfaction and growth and I found myself wanting more. In short, I went back to college in 2010, graduated with my BA in Liberal Arts in 2015 (while all the while playing in a pop rock wedding band, which I still do) trying to sustain a marriage, and pay bills including a mortgage. Because I don't have a child yet (although I will probably become an older parent soon), I was able to start an MA in Music Therapy in the Fall of 2016 with a prospective graduation date of June 2019. My situation is definitely unusual for someone in my age group, and some have said that I am not being realistic with my career choice and that I am 'bucking the system' by choosing music-oriented college program at my age. However, things are going pretty well, and I still gig, practice regularly, and plan on sending out songs to publishers as well as working full-time as a board certified MT in a few more years. To sum it all up and make a point: Although your article was insightful and fairly accurate in what it takes to 'make it' and stand out in today's music business, I do not think completely disconnecting is something that is possible for someone my age and in my situation. That is not to say that I do not work hard at school, because I do and I have earned a really good GPA through old-fashioned hard work and taking my education seriously. However, I am 47 and not 22, and so I have to be realistic as to how much I can 'tune out' and escape. As much as the idea of diving into playing guitar all day long and learning songs for music therapy is exceptionally appealing, it is not completely realistic, as I have a wife, a life and responsibilities that are reality and are to be expected (and handled) for someone my age. I actually go to Boston once a year to get my voice checked (as I have had several vocal surgeries) and I visited Berklee several times and talked with people involved in both their performance, songwriting and MT programs. I considered attending but found the Philadelphia schools (where I live) to be just as good and more convenient to my situation, since I play regularly in a very good wedding band which also has the benefit of keeping up my guitar chops while also helping to pay school and life bills. While I admire your advice and agree that all young students should follow it, it really is advice for what I like to refer to as the "under 30 crowd,"i.e. for young people who have no real responsibilities and can afford to indulge and pursue music careers (like I myself once did 20 + years ago) with essentially no restrictions. In other words, if you are an 18-20 year old college freshman at an institution such as Berklee and you want to succeed, I completely agree you must absolutely "eat it, live it and breathe it," but for someone my age, this approach must be at least modified. I think the fact that I am even heading towards a second degree in MT at nearly 50 yrs. old is pretty significant in itself, and I actually adhere to many of the suggestions and advice you discuss, but modified to realistically fit my current lifestyle. As tempting as it is, If I were to completely 'disconnect' as you suggest, most likely I would loose my marriage, my house, and most of my status as a responsible adult, at least by other peers who are in my age category. At the least, if were to just escape to Berklee as as a MT therapy student and drop everything else, many eyebrows would surely be raised. However, your article is great overall and I would say anyone under 30 who does not have children and is thinking about attending Berklee would have no excuse not to follow your advice, especially in such a competitive and unforgiving business as music. Anyway, I enjoyed your article and bookmarked it, but I wanted to make a point that your approach can and does require modifications, depending on age, life situation and individual goals, all the great things we are currently learning in our many psychology classes. Because I chose to pursue a music-oriented degree at my age, flexibility is the key, and that is all I am trying to say and the main point I am trying to make. Thanks. JK

Wow

I am 17 and even though this is 9 years after I believe that this applies to me today as I look to apply to Berklee. I love how you talk about teaching yourself. I am a drummer and a songwriter/ singer and I taught myself from drum lessons and YouTube and spend hours on end in my basement either watching film on drummers or practicing. You inspired me 😊

Hi, I am the first Bassist to graduate from Berklee '75 with a Bachelors Degree then I was teaching in the bass department for 5 years '75-'80. At one point in time while living in Boston I became one of the Top 5 most in demand working Bassists in Boston. I was getting 6 calls a day for gigs. I was so busy I was giving gigs away to John Scofield, Mike Stern, Steve Smith, Abe Laboriel, Chip Jackson. I did all of this and more from'70-'80 just ten years. The 5 ways you listed to be a success are on the money. I have written a book about my whole life in detail while going to Berklee and living in Boston. I'm hoping that Berklee Publications will print the book for students to read and learn the do's and dont's of practicing and making a success out of music. Making MONEY out of playing music and so much more. The name of the book is the CITGO SIGN, named after the SIGN that Mike Stern and I use to look at while taking a summer course at Berklee. Mike was my roomate.

Hi Derek,

My daughter applied for the fall and didn't get in. She performs all over MA (vocal/guitar) but cannot read music. Just curious if you think she has a prayer of getting in if she takes a few courses online. Nothing else but Berklee will do for her and its making me nuts.

Help LOL

Thanks.
Sorry - you should contact Berklee to ask them. I attended 30 years ago. Not sure what's changed. — Derek

Outstanding advice! I'm 68 now. Wish I'd heard this at 18. Thank you. I will pass this on.

Thank you for sharing this! Wish I heard this a long time ago. Berklee '75: Distraction was and still to this day my biggest enemy, ADD. I remember trying to practice my trombone in one of the practice rooms in the old hotel/dormitory on Mass Ave., someone had put a hole in the drywall that covered the window and I used to watch the fire station and fire trucks across the street. lol. Eventually I became a professional firefighter and I'm now retired. I'm playing again and working on focus, beginning to feel better about myself, too.

Wow! Thank you Derek, what a great post! I'm starting my studies at Berklee this Fall and this post was extremely important for me, because I've been contemplating this stuff a while, especially the whole imitation/innovation controversy... thank you :)

Watching this the summer of 2017 as a 11th grade early high school graduate all my life is revolved around getting better in music and has been to the extremity since 9th grade. And I'm glad your one of the few telling these valueable lessons for musicians. thank you so much i truly appreciate this.

This was a great read. My son will do the Five Week Summer course in 2018, he will be 16. He wants to go to Berklee when he finishes school. We live in England so it is a big deal to let him study in the US. I will send this link to him, it is inspiring and informative. Thank you for the advice.

I love this. It's so inspiring to see someone think outside of the box for once. I don't see that a lot where I'm from. I only dream of being able to go to berklee but..things like this give me hope.

Have to say, that take out the word 'Music' and that is one of the best commentaries about higher education in general, that I have ever read. So many of my former (Geology) colleagues wailed on about the college doing nothing for them when / after they graduated. I used to think they were being unfair - that is, that surely they had to show some personal initiative. Gradually I learned that nearly all people are like this. And sometimes they resent you simply for showing that initiative, and not being like them.
Thanks Graeme! That's a great compliment. I really appreciate it. — Derek

I wish I could've seen this years ago before I decided to give up on my passion on dance.. I just recently decided to get back onto that wagon and keep improving. Everything on this page is nothing but the right things. When you stated that distractions are the worst enemy and not accepting their speed limits, I couldn't really feel more empowered. I tend to get distracted so easily and disconnecting is something that will move me forward to my goal. Thank you for this!

Thank you for this insight. I’m sending it to my son whose dream of getting into Berklee just came true!

Be well, and shine on with your tunes!

Warmly,
Rachel

This is one of the best things I have read in years, great motivation. Thanks.

Mr. Sivers,

You first caught my attention as a business executive trying to teach others about leadership (and do it myself)...your TED talk on "How to Create a Movement" was, and still is, my favorite all time leadership (followership) teaching.

Now my son, Morgan (jazz saxophonist), is heading off to Berklee this fall on a full scholarship and wants to triple-major. Once again, your teachings come front and center...this time for him. Every line contains so much wisdom, that I plan to make a poster of it for his wall.

I am so eager to share this with him - thank you!

Shelly

This is amazing! I want to share your thoughts with everybody, I'm really motivated right now!

People get paid a whole lot to play video games now! 😂

Excellent comments, Derek.

I'm proud to be your Berklee brother. ☺

I miss Victor Bailey (former sideman/ buddy / mate with Larry Coryell etc)

I'm at 6172669282.

I'm releasing a new record soon.

what's your phone and email?
Peace ☺

As a new Berklee student, I'm thankful to have stumbled upon your blog. No one is straightforward nowadays. For me to truly become motivated, it's important that there's someone out there to tell it how it is. I have this bookmarked to read whenever I feel like I could be getting into a slump. Thanks, Derek.

Thank you, I needed this.

Thank you

Good evening!

I am unsure if this post/blog is still active, but I am so intrigued in going faster than the Berklee speed limit. I am an upcoming freshman (an aspiring songwriting major) and was wondering what course materials do I take for the basic classes? I do not have the luxury of having an ex-Berklee professor, so I hope this email gets to you well! For I want to surpass my own expectations.

Thank you very much,
Emmanuel Fabella
Sorry I don't know. I'm sure it changes occasionally. You should be able to contact the department and ask. Tell them your intentions, and ask them how to do it. — Derek

I thought this was a very practical and helpful talk to your audience. I am older now and perhaps it is experience that has taught me many commencement speeches or matriculation welcoming talks are only grandiose words. Young people need substantive advice on how to take fuller advantage of the opportunities higher education provides to prepare for real-life in the competitive globalized economy we find ourselves. Your talk was concrete and offered solid advice.
I believe it presents wisdom that if listened to and taken to heart, will serve them in college and more importantly, in their entire life.
Thank you.

With you every step of the way .. that is just exactly right. That is how it is done. No matter how much natural talent you may or may not have. There are some hard yards, but if you truly love it and you truly want it, then how hard can that really be? Self belief and perseverance are key. As I think John Wayne was quoted as saying, something like: '..being brave is just feeling scared to death, but saddling up anyway..' so even self belief requires you nonetheless to 'saddle up' (get prepared, ride out, take action) I know how great I am, but who else knows? Thank you, Derek.

I love how this can be applied to almost any aspect of life... thanks, man!

Hey!

Ran into your page thanks to a Virtual meet up for the Voice Department at Berklee (an entering student for Fall 2020). And hawt diggity dawg. This is what I needed to hear. Thank you for keeping this video and post up even though it has been 12 years since then! But hey, great work is timeless and so thank you so much for sharing your knowledge.

Best of wishes,
Celine W.

PS: I hope you're doing well during this unprecedented time. Sending good vibes your way!

Thank you for the enlightening words. I always like to be ready to launch into whatever I do and I was feeling like I had no guide. I start tomorrow and I started studying and returned to my lyric writing before I knew of the opportunities offered by Berklee. I have watched many of the seminars offered, dissected my favorites, for opening lines, imagery, repetition and language. I found some incredible songs that I had not listened to closely. I am again excited like I was getting ready for my first year at the High School of Music and the Performing Arts. The Castle on the Hill. You have truly given me a guide to getting the best out of my Summer Songwriting Sessions.

Thank you for posting this, I plan to fully apply your ideas to my life starting right now.

I remember reading this article when I first got into Berklee, and I'm revisiting this again as I'm considering going back to finish my degree after 7 years. Curious how long of a hiatus you took when you left and came back? I've since had some cool work opportunities but now seem to be hitting a rut again with the pandemic and wondering if it's the right time to go back and level up during this period.
No real hiatus. Just summer vacation. Went home in June. Came back in September. (1988) — Derek

«For example: How much does the world pay people to play video games? Nothing, because everyone does it. How much does the world pay people to make video games? A ton, because very few can do it, and lots of people want it.»

The first part: bwha hahahahahahaha. This just goes to show you that the world changes very fast. What does Ninja make on twitch a month? I dunno $100,000? More? Probably more.
E sports! Wow.

I think there’s a new blog post here about making observations and being 100% wrong 15 years later! ;-)

Your recent book “Hell Yeah or No” led me here. It’s a great bit of advice every new and continuing student of every discipline should read and re-read. I have a music degree as well, Southern Methodist University, and grateful to have the experience and diploma. They now have an Arts Entrepreneurship program I joyously envy and routinely guest lecture. I’ll remember this piece to share forward, Derek!

Hi,

I am actually applying for berklee right now and i wanted to know if you had any tips to nail the sight reading and the improvisation and ear training sections? Also do you have pdfs of those music books so I can also like you zoom past in berklee?

thanks,

Shatabdi
Emailed you. — Derek

This is inspiring me so much and I'm stoked to go to Berklee now. Do you have any tips on getting in? I'm in high school right now and want to apply for it.
Just apply! If you get in, then no tips are needed. ☺ — Derek

It's nice how folks like Berklee, but honestly? I never heard of it until I found various posts on Derek's web site. At first I thought he meant a branch of the state university of California.

As a recovering nerd I used to pay attention to my socialization, and so I can relate to #157 young Pranav, with three degrees, being wary of too much focus away from other students. (Talking to a lonely mirror in one's dorm because you haven't met anybody safe just when you desperately need advice)

I have only one degree myself, but I also have a diploma and a certificate. So I can relate to #93 David Shertz saying that a lot of his Berklee teachers were not good teachers, although they were, I would hope, good musicians.

Let me add that, similarly, a lot of students are not good students. At least, not eager to teach each other. Most are, as Derek would say, "hanging out casually, tempting you to relax." As an earnest young nerd, I would much rather be talking to learn, piling up ideas to get somewhere, rather than talking "to pass the time." (Even as an old nerd, I will try to learn new things when I am on vacation, such as visiting a museum) One night at a student club I said, "I keep meaning to go home, but the talk here is so interesting." Someone laughed and said, "Ya, back at the residence they're still talking about dining hall food."

Part of the age group, part of escaping high school, is being like nerds in having "earnestness:" Not all students want to be cool clones of non students, sometimes you just have to engage individuals long enough for their honesty gear to kick in.

I remember one day—I guess I was being too loudly extroverted—I had to talk to an English major for a few minutes before he would finally admit that, like me, he too had memorized poetry.

Hey Derek

I loved this! I’ll be revisiting this page often! Thank you for everything you do!

YES!
TRAINING TO BE A SUPERHERO.

Would love to meet you soon and talk about blockchain's role in future of music industry. Thank you.

Yes I can do it. THANKS!

Dude! I had no idea you went to Berklee. My 16-year-old son is doing summer camp there, and it is at the top of his list for colleges. But now all I want to do is find him a Kimo...

Thanks for being you.

For sure I've heard this before joining Campus, its a blessing!

I love the piece but what if i am way past it, well into my career. i am not doing bad by any means but there is longing for more. i can't simply isolate myself anymore