Guitar Sessions

How to Enroll

Submit your registration by July 1.* Begin by submitting your registration online(Opens in a new window). If applicable, you may need to submit additional supporting materials.
Make your tuition payment by July 1.* All programs have limited capacity, so be sure to complete your full tuition payment to reserve your space in the program.
Request housing by July 1. Students who are 15 years of age or older by the start of their Boston-based program are eligible to stay in on-campus housing. If you meet the eligibility requirements and have indicated that you would like to request on-campus housing, please revisit your registration portal(Opens in a new window) and submit a Residence Hall Agreement.

*Please note: This program has limited capacity. Submission of registration materials alone does not guarantee participation in the program. You will secure your spot by paying in full.

Curriculum

Guitar Sessions offers ensembles, classes, and clinics in the styles of blues, metal, classical, jam band, funk/fusion, classic rock, contemporary rock, jazz, fingerstyle, and performing songwriter. You'll select one style to study in your ensemble, with the ability to branch out in different styles through clinics and jams.

Every participant's schedule will include a class in each of the following:

Fretboard Harmony: Learn music theory and how it applies to the guitar. The class includes scales, modes, chord voicings, and chord inversions.
Style: Focus on the specifics in the style of your choosing, and explore related concepts and applied theory.
Ensemble: Rehearse with other instrumentalists and perform in concert with your group on the last day of the program.
Visiting Artist Clinics: Guitar Sessions will host several visiting artists and clinicians during the week. Past programs have included John Abercrombie, Wayne Krantz, John Petrucci, Vernon Reid, and Tommy Emmanuel.

Schedule

Below is a sample of a typical day in the program.

Time	Event
9 AM–10 AM	Breakfast
10 AM–12 PM	Fretboard Harmony and Styles, or Ensemble
12 PM–1 PM	Clinic
1 PM– 2 PM	Lunch
2 PM–4 PM	Fretboard Harmony and Styles, or Ensemble
4 PM–5:30 PM	Clinic
5:30 PM–7:30 PM	Dinner
7:30 PM–9 PM	Concert
9 PM–10:15 PM	Jam Sessions

Schedule subject to change.

Performance Opportunities

You will have the ability to participate in open jam sessions each evening. Multiple jam sessions will often be happening simultaneously, focusing on different styles.

The program will culminate with masterclass performances on Friday. You will perform the repertoire you have been rehearsing in your ensembles and will receive feedback from faculty.

Requirements

General Requirements

All students 15 and older with at least six months of playing experience are welcome to attend. The program curriculum focuses on guitar technique and proficiency.

Participants must possess a proficient level of English to enroll in this program. We do not require proof of English language proficiency (e.g., TOEFL, IELTS, Duolingo) as part of the enrollment or application process; however, you are expected to have a sufficient command of the English language to understand class material and assignments.

Required Materials

Students should bring their guitars, quarter-inch cable, and tuners. We supply amplifiers for all participants to use in our ensembles during rehearsals and final performances. No amplifiers are provided for use in practice rooms, so you may choose to bring a set of practice headphones and a small practice amplifier. Additionally, students should bring a notebook and pens/pencils.

Program Directors

Emily Joy Ashman

Jane Miller

Class of 2022

Professor

"I like my students to come away from my lessons and classes equipped to solve musical puzzles on the guitar."
Sal DiFusco

Class of 1993

Professor

"Artistic development is important to me; I get a great amount of joy in developing people musically."

Visiting Artist

Julian Lage

Julian Lage, hailed as one of the most prodigious guitarists of his generation and “the highest category of improvising musicians” (The New Yorker), has spent more than a decade exploring the many strands of American musical history with impeccable technique, free association, and a spirit of infinite possibility. The California-born, New York–based musician boasts a prolific résumé as a solo artist, and has collaborated with Gary Burton and John Zorn, as well as in duo projects with Nels Cline, Chris Eldridge, and Fred Hersch, among others.

Once You've Enrolled

The Berklee Summer Programs Team is excited that you've taken the first step! Now that you've enrolled, here's what to know, to be sure you're prepared before and after you check in for the experience of a lifetime.

What to do first?

Important: continually check the email you used to enroll

Request on-campus housing

On-campus housing is limited, and spaces will be offered on a first-come, first-served basis based on the completion of the following steps:

Read, sign, and submit the residence hall agreement on the registration portal(Opens in a new window).
The Summer Programs team will review your signed residence hall agreement within 3-5 business days. After review, we will send you an email inviting you to return to the registration portal(Opens in a new window) to view your on-campus housing decision letter.
If your request has been approved, secure your spot by accepting your offer and paying the housing fee in full.

Important Considerations

For students enrolled in multiple programs, please complete a separate residence hall agreement (along with the accompanying housing fee payment) for each program.
To be eligible to request on-campus housing, a student must be 15 years of age before the start of their program.
If a student is under the age of 18, the request for on-campus housing must be filled out by a parent/guardian, and both the student and parent/guardian must agree to all the terms and conditions.
Applicants for Musical Theater Acting Intensive (MTAI) and Vocal/Choral Intensive (VCI) must first be offered admission and accept their offer before their residence hall agreement submission will be considered.
Since space in our residence halls is limited, a spot in our residence halls will only be guaranteed once a student has fully registered for their chosen program and paid the program tuition in full. Any housing requests or payments made before the completion of both these steps do not ensure a guaranteed place in on-campus housing.

Learn more about housing and campus life by exploring the Help Center(Opens in a new window).

Request accessibility accommodations (if needed)

Accommodations are provided for students with documented medical needs, offering services such as academic accommodations, academic coaching, special housing arrangements, dietary adjustments, and referrals to on-campus support, including adaptive technology and tutoring.

Accommodations are determined through an interactive process involving the student, faculty, the Office of Housing and Residential Education, a dietitian, and Accessibility Resources for Students staff. Requests for academic, housing, and dietary accommodations can be made by following the steps outlined in this Help Center article(Opens in a new window).

Complete These Tasks by June

Complete the items in your Magnus Health account by June 1

We require up-to-date health information, documentation for the required immunizations(Opens in a new window) mandated by Massachusetts law, as well as conduct and consent forms for all students. Instructions on accessing your Magnus Health account will be sent via email to all registered students in mid-spring.

If you have more questions you can review our help center. Here are some articles that might be helpful:

Submit a photo for your ID by June 1

Submit placement videos

To ensure accurate class placement, we request that you create a brief video showcasing your talent. Please refer to the class placement submission form for requirements and expectations. Videos must be submitted at least two weeks before your program's start date. Late submissions may not be reviewed, potentially resulting in placement at a level that does not align with your ability. Log into the registration portal and click on the Next Steps tab to submit your placement video.

Prepare to Arrive and Check In

What to pack if you’re staying on campus

All of our on-campus residence halls follow a standard college-style layout, with each room equipped with a closet, bed, and desk for each resident.

Students staying in a Berklee residence hall should bring the following items:

Bedding (sheets, pillow, pillowcase, blanket) for an extra-long twin bed (36 inches by 80 inches)
Towels (bath towels, washcloths, hand towels, etc.)
Toiletries

We also recommend bringing the following:

Alarm clock
Clothes hangers
Earplugs
Extra spending money for snacks, drinks, or public transportation (costs for Berklee-coordinated events will be covered by the school; students are responsible for additional expenses during events)
Headphones
Laptop computer, tablet device, cell phone, etc., including chargers
Laundry detergent and quarters (coin-based laundry facilities available in every residence hall, although we recommend bringing quarters)
Plastic bin for storing snacks or food
Prescription/first-aid needs
Small refrigerator
Sunscreen
Sunglasses
Umbrella
Water bottle
A fan

Items available upon request from the resident advisor's office:

Basic cleaning supplies
Games
Movies
Toilet paper (for private bathrooms)
Vacuum cleaners

The following items are not allowed in a student’s residence hall room:

Candles/incense
Weapons
Cooking appliances (hot pots, toaster ovens, grills, popcorn makers, or anything with a visible heating element, etc.)
Air conditioners
Bicycles
Futons, chairs, couches, or any other non-Berklee-issued furniture
Wall hangings
Pets (including fish)
Halogen lamps and holiday lights

Download the Guidebook app

Getting to campus, parking, and hotels nearby

Access the Summer Programs Help Center

Explore some of these top articles from the Summer Programs Help Center.