Ali Milner is home from Boston!

WELL. I just got home from quuiiiiite a trip! I have been away the last FIVE WEEKS at Berklee College of Music in Boston, Mass. Impressive, I know. Gosh, it was daunting first arriving… Mostly because the registration line-up was wrapped around several blocks!

I guess one must expect that with a program that has about 900 kids all registering in one day. Whew, that was one hectic day, let me tell ya. Although, we did get to unwind at the end of the day; the Berklee folks were so kind as to throw us a Kick-Off Carnival! Can’t go wrong with cotton candy, giant jenga, spray-on tattoos, and caricatures.

Gosh, a carnival, and on the first day! A little preview into the program it seems.  What a fun place to spend my summer. I wouldn’t trade these last 5 weeks for anything. I met some increeeeddddible people, who I plan on keeping in touch with for a long time; and who happen to live in some pretty cool places like Argentina, Italy, Chile, the Netherlands, Florida, California, Texas, and even the other side of Canada to name a few (a.k.a. I now have some sweet destinations with places to stayyyy!).
The Berklee Five Week Performance Program did some great things for me and I’ve taken home some real learning experiences. I actually practiced today!!! That rarely happens. Berklee gave me a new perspective on practicing though; a miracle!

So, I was pretty bummed that I was spending my summer at a school. Barf! Who wants to do schoolwork during the summer? Well, once I got my schedule, my thoughts changed a bit. I had classes like Musicianship, Theory in Performance, Piano Labs, Chord Labs, Keyboard Synth Labs… I don’t know, but that sounds like Hogwarts classes, just the music form. I was stoked. Walking into Theory was funny, just rows and rows of pianos!

Classes surpassed my expectations, just like Boston did. I tried not to have any expectations at all, but everyone I’d spoken to had told me it was the greatest city in the world… I now agree. Holy cow, whatah place! It’s pretty cool how much history is wrapped up in that city. Best part’s gotta be the accents though. Boston accents are SO GREAT. I love them ☺

Berklee teachers. They’re like a whole community unto themselves. They’re just so neat, although it can really be a toss-up. In general, you can assume Berklee teachers are gonna say words like “groovy!” and “cool man!” and really mean it. At the end of the Placement Test, for instance, the guy was all like “cool! That test was kickin’, wasn’t it?”. Pretty funny. Most Berklee teachers truly are going to be really cool folks. But to be honest, you might end up with one that did too many drugs back in his or her hey-day and will ramble on about all the famous people they’ve played with or all the gigs they have this week. Pretty annoying. So, this is a little piece of advice; if you’re in a class with one of the bad ones, get out! Don’t waste time thinking it’ll get better, because it won’t, if you stay in that class you won’t learn scales, you’ll learn about how so-and-so smoked something with so-and-so. Beware! You might be lucky enough, though, to get an awesome teacher who will inspire you and all that junk. Like BAIN SMITH!! Such an awesome Theory teacher… I’m a better player because of him for realz. Shout out to Bain.

Best thing about the Five Week, like I said I think, is the friends I made. Hands down, that’s what I’m going to remember, not the Greek modes (blech), my amigos! Urgh, I’m going to miss them so much! But, we’re all doing the same thing and living in the same world (the music world), so I’m sure we can cross paths again in the future.

The Five Week was worth it. I had the opportunity to play with others, something I feel like I don’t get to do that often. I feel like I didn’t learn specific things as much as general ways of going about things. I practice now! That’s the biggest thing that’s come out of Berklee. I practice! Hurrah! Hell has frozen over and pigs can fly! It’s finally happened. And you know what? I LIKE TO! WHAT? I LIKE TO! How weird.

Well. That’s a little recap of my last five weeks. Summer 2008! Coming out of it, I would recommend Berklee to other musicians, definitely. It’s an incredible community. BUT! I’m home now, and home is good ☺ I’ve been practicing, and I can’t wait to get performing again.

Talk soon!