Your Guide to the Berklee Ratings Audition: What Those Five Digits Really Mean
Every Berklee student knows the moment: you walk into your Ratings Audition with a mix of nerves, excitement, and “I hope I practiced enough.” But here’s the truth: your rating isn’t a judgment. It’s a roadmap. It helps place you in the ensemble where you’ll grow the fastest, collaborate the deepest, and sound your absolute best.
The Ensemble Rating is made up of five digits:
1) Reading,
2) Instrumental Skills,
3) Improvisation,
4) Stylistic Interpretation, and
5) Overall Rating.
Each number paints a picture of where you are right now—not where you’ll stay.
Registration for auditions opens Week 5 (Midterms) and Week 12 (Finals), so preparation matters. Sight-read daily. Warm up with intention. Immerse yourself in the styles you love and the ones that challenge you. Most importantly, show up ready to listen and express, not just execute.
For those who want to dive deeper:
Join Professor Consuelo Calendaria-Barry on Dec 1st,
6-8pm in Room 114
as she answers all your ratings audition questions.
Please remember, a lower reading score doesn’t erase your artistry. A higher improv score doesn’t mean you’ve “made it.” Your digits simply help us place you in an ensemble where you’ll be supported, stretched, and set up to shine.
Because that’s what Berklee ensembles are built for: collaboration, creativity, and community. You’re not auditioning to prove your worth…you’re auditioning to find your musical home for the semester.So walk in with confidence. Walk out with clarity. And remember: your rating is not a label, it’s your launchpad.
See you on the bandstand. 🎶✨
