Scholarships for Aspire: Five-Week Music Performance Intensive
Berklee offers a variety of full and partial merit-based scholarships for students attending Aspire: Five-Week Music Performance Intensive. Berklee scholarships are not available for any other programs.
These include the following:
- Aspire: Five-Week Music Performance Intensive Scholarship
- Rock Workshop Scholarship
- Jazz Workshop Scholarship
- Arif Mardin Music Fellowship
Follow these three steps to apply:
- Step 1: Create an account and register for Aspire: Five-Week Music Performance Intensive.
- Step 2: Review the specific scholarship types and submission requirements below before completing the scholarship form.
- Step 3: The scholarship application will appear in the Next Steps section of your berklee.edu/apply account after you submit your registration. Choose the scholarships for which you wish to be considered. (You may choose the Aspire: Five-Week Music Performance Intensive Scholarship and one other, depending on eligibility criteria.)
Deadlines
Priority Scholarship Submission Deadline: March 1, 11:59 PM ET
- Aspire Scholarship Round 1
- Rock Workshop Scholarship
- Jazz Workshop Scholarship
- Arif Mardin Music Fellowship
Submissions received by March 1 will be given first funding priority.
Decisions will be issued by April 8.
Regular Scholarship Submission Deadline: April 1, 11:59 PM ET
- Aspire Scholarship Round 2
Decisions will be issued by May 2.
Aspire: Five-Week Music Performance Intensive Scholarship
Funded by Berklee, this merit-based scholarship ranges from $1,000 to $3,000. A limited number of full-tuition scholarships are available (housing is not included).
Priority Scholarship Submission Deadline: March 1, 11:59 PM ET
Regular Scholarship Submission Deadline: April 1, 11:59 PM ET
Supporting Materials
You must submit the following supporting materials with your application:
- Two links to performances uploaded to YouTube
- One link to a technical exercise uploaded to YouTube*
- A short essay highlighting your musical and academic achievements (1,500 character limit)
*Musicians applying with an electronic digital instrument (EDI) will need to provide an additional performance video in lieu of the technical exercise. Please see the EDI submission guidelines below.
Submission Guidelines
Guidelines for Performance Videos (two required)
- Videos must be uploaded to YouTube.
- Videos can be home, live, or studio recordings.
- The sound quality of the featured musician must be clearly audible (video quality is not a factor).
- Each video should be two–three minutes in length.
- Recordings of the performances should be recent (within the last year).
- Editing or overdubbing your performance in any way is not permissible.
- Videos should be similar in style, but with contrasting tempos.
- Accompaniment is required for the two performance videos. You can perform with a band or with a play-along track. If you choose to use a play-along track, it must not contain your instrument.
Submission ideas include:
- a song from a well-known artist or band demonstrating the style choice you wish to focus on during the program (jazz, pop-rock, funk/fusion, pop/R&B);
- a jazz tune, standard, or blues song (in this case, featured improvisation is strongly suggested);
- a composition from your repertoire, or a movement, sonata, concerto, or étude;
- the transcription of a well-known artist’s solo; and/or
- an original song or composition (if you submit one original, the second piece must follow one of the suggestions listed above).
Guidelines for the Technical Exercise Video (one required)
Your technical exercise might include:
- major/minor scales,
- arpeggios,
- an étude, and/or
- any other vocal/instrumental exercises you use while practicing.
Do not use a band or play-along track for the technical exercise. Starting pitch is permissible for vocalists.
Guidelines for the Essay
Your essay of 1,500 characters or less should start with a description of your three video clips and then describe your musical and academic achievements.
EDI Submission Guidelines
Students auditioning for a scholarship as EDI performers will need to provide an additional performance video in lieu of the technical exercise. They should demonstrate proficiency on a system that includes a laptop computer running Ableton Live and at least one controller.
Guidelines for EDI Performance Videos (three required)
- Videos can be home, live, or studio recordings.
- The sound quality of the featured musician must be clearly audible (video quality is not a factor).
- Each video should be three–five minutes in length.
- The musician must demonstrate an ability to play a musical form, including creating variations on basic parts and performing additional musical parts live.
Guidelines for the EDI Essay
Your essay of 1,500 characters or less should include:
- the hardware controller(s) used;
- any hardware and/or software audio effects used;
- a short description of the audio files being used, and whether or not they are original or taken from another source;
- a short description of the software or hardware synthesizers, and how they’re used; and
- a short description of the musical idea behind the performance and how it’s demonstrated.
Rock Workshop Scholarship
Led by artistic director and veteran rocker Marty Walsh, the Rock Workshop scholarship gives students an opportunity to gain valuable insight into the world of rock music and performance while studying at Aspire: Five-Week. Students collaborate to develop the musical identity of a band, culminating in studio recordings and performances on campus. Instrumentalists and vocalists interested in studying and performing rock music at the highest level are invited to apply.
This scholarship covers full tuition, on-campus housing, and a meal plan for Aspire: Five-Week. If you apply for this workshop scholarship and are not chosen, you will automatically be considered for an Aspire: Five-Week Music Performance Intensive scholarship.
Scholarship Submission Deadline: March 1, 11:59 PM ET
Curriculum
The Rock Workshop curriculum focuses on ensemble and performance skills, stylistic vocabulary, and the history of contemporary rock music. Students will attend weekly ensemble rehearsals to prepare for several performances throughout Aspire: Five-Week.
Supporting Materials
You must submit the following materials with your application:
- Three links to performances uploaded to YouTube
- A short essay highlighting your musical achievements, academic achievements, band experience, and which music groups you identify with most (1,500 character limit)
Submission Guidelines
Guidelines for Performance Videos (three required)
- Videos can be home, live, or studio recordings.
- The sound quality of the featured musician must be clearly audible (video quality is not a factor).
- Each video should be two–three minutes in length.
- Recordings of the performances should be recent (within the last year).
- Editing or overdubbing your performance in any way is not permissible.
- Accompaniment is required for the three performance videos. You can perform with a band or with a play-along track. If you choose to use a play-along track, it must not contain your instrument.
View instrument-specific requirements below:
Vocalists
All three of your recordings should focus on groove, vocal range, and projection through:
- one slow-tempo rock ballad,
- one mid-tempo rock piece, and
- one up-tempo rock piece.
Drummers, Bassists, and Keyboardists
Your recordings should provide examples demonstrating rhythmic skills, consistent time, groove, and feel through:
- one slow-tempo rock piece,
- one mid-tempo rock piece, and
- one up-tempo rock piece.
Guitarists
Your recordings should provide examples of your guitar skills through:
- one rock guitar solo,
- one rock song playing electric rhythm guitar, and
- one rock song on acoustic guitar.
Jazz Workshop Scholarship
Led by Grammy Award–winning drummer Terri Lyne Carrington, the Jazz Workshop scholarship gives students an opportunity to gain valuable insight into the world of jazz music and performance while studying at Aspire: Five-Week. Students will explore classic and modern jazz repertoires as well as students' original music, culminating in several public performances. Instrumentalists and vocalists interested in studying and performing jazz music at the highest level are invited to apply.
This scholarship covers full tuition, on-campus housing, and a meal plan for Aspire: Five-Week. If you apply for this workshop scholarship and are not chosen, you will automatically be considered for an Aspire: Five-Week Music Performance Intensive scholarship.
Scholarship Submission Deadline: March 1, 11:59 PM ET
Curriculum
The Jazz Workshop curriculum focuses on ensemble and performance skills, stylistic vocabulary, and the history of jazz music. Students will attend weekly ensemble rehearsals to prepare for several performances throughout Aspire: Five-Week.
Supporting Materials
You must submit the following supporting materials with your application:
- Three links to performances uploaded to YouTube
- A short essay highlighting your musical and academic achievements (1,500 character limit)
Submission Guidelines
Guidelines for Performance Videos (three required)
- Videos can be home, live, or studio recordings.
- The sound quality of the featured musician must be clearly audible (video quality is not a factor).
- Each video should be three–five minutes in length.
- Recordings of the performances should be recent (within the last year).
- Editing or overdubbing your performance in any way is not permissible.
- Accompaniment is required for the three performance videos. You can perform with a band or with a play-along track. If you choose to use a play-along track, it must not contain your instrument.
- Video 1 should be an up-tempo piece with a swing feel
.
- Video 2 should be a medium-tempo piece with a swing feel (between 110 and 130 beats per minute)
.
- Video 3 should be an odd-meter piece with an even eighth-note feel
.
Arif Mardin Music Fellowship
In memory of Berklee alum Arif Mardin '61, the American Turkish Society supports one fellowship for a student to attend Aspire: Five-Week Music Performance Intensive. Only individuals of Turkish descent or nationality are eligible to apply
This scholarship covers full tuition, on-campus housing, and a meal plan for Aspire: Five-Week. If you apply for this scholarship and are not chosen, you will automatically be considered for an Aspire: Five-Week Music Performance Intensive scholarship.
Note: if you apply for this scholarship and are not chosen, you will automatically be considered for an Aspire: Five-Week Music Performance Intensive scholarship.
Scholarship Submission Deadline: March 1, 11:59 PM ET
Supporting Materials
You must submit the following supporting materials with your application:
- Two links to performances uploaded to YouTube
- One link to technical exercise video uploaded to YouTube
- A short essay highlighting your musical and academic achievements (1,500 characters or less)
Submission Guidelines
Guidelines for Performance Videos (two required)
- Videos can be home, live, or studio recordings.
- The sound quality of the featured musician must be clearly audible (video quality is not a factor).
- Each video should be three–five minutes in length.
- Recordings of the performances should be recent (within the last year).
- Editing or overdubbing your performance in any way is not permissible.
- Videos should be similar in style, but with contrasting tempos.
- Accompaniment is required for the two performance videos. You can perform with a band or with a play-along track. If you choose to use a play-along track, it must not contain your instrument.
Submission ideas include:
- a song from a well-known artist or band demonstrating the style choice you wish to focus on during the program (jazz, pop-rock, funk/fusion, pop/R&B);
- a jazz tune, standard, or blues song (in this case, a featured improvisation is strongly suggested);
- a composition from your repertoire or a movement, sonata, concerto, or étude;
- a transcription of a well-known artist’s solo; and/or
- an original song or composition (If you submit one original, the second piece must follow one of the suggestions listed above).
Guidelines for Technical Exercise Video (one required)
Your technical exercise might include:
- major/minor scales,
- arpeggios,
- an étude, and/or
- any other vocal/instrumental exercises you use while practicing.
Do not use a band or play-along track for the technical exercise.
Starting pitch is permissible for vocalists.
Please note: You must submit your registration for Aspire: Five-Week in order to be eligible to apply for a scholarship. Scholarship awards from Berklee cannot be combined; there is a maximum of one award per person. All scholarship decisions are final. If you have already received a scholarship decision, you are not eligible to be reconsidered by reapplying. There is no federal aid for this program. You can reference our full scholarship submission policies in this Help Center article.
If you have any questions about scholarships, please contact Berklee Summer Programs directly at summer@berklee.edu or 617-747-2245.
