Berklee Blogs

First-hand accounts of the Berklee experience

Master’s student recounts Valencia experience

(As written by Gabrielle Banks)

February 15, 2014 marks the one-year anniversary of my acceptance into Berklee’s Global Entertainment and Music Business program. February 21, 2014 will be the six month anniversary of the day I stepped foot in Spain to live and learn. It’s been a wild ride so far, and this is just a fraction of the things I’ve done in a few, short six months: 

  • Hiked in Sierra Calderona
  • Traveled to Rome, Brussels, and Cannes
  • Attended one of the biggest music industry conferences in the world (MIDEM)
  • Participated in La Tomatina: world famous (and huge!) tomato fight
  • Networked with some of the industry’s top execs, right on my own campus
  • Met Placido Domingo in the Berklee halls
  • Collaborated with some of the most brilliant musicians on the planet
  • Drank my weight in sangria
  • Caught the first sunrise of the New Year on the beaches of the Mediterranean
  • Danced til dawn (and often)
  • Partied at dinners until 5 or 6am, discussing latest trends in the music industry with my classmates
  • Found (arguably) decent wine at Carrefour for 87 cents/bottle
  • Learned how to speak Spanish… Used my acquired knowledge of cursing in Spanish to help cab drivers scold other drivers who cut them off
  • Had some of the most intellectual conversations with cab drivers about international Top 40 radio, at 5am.
  • Learned about cultures from all over the world, from friends from all corners of the globe
  • Experienced paella
  • Thought “Hell yeah, let’s do this!” about as often as I’ve thought “What was I thinking? I can’t do this!”
  • Worked on music branding campaigns for local organizations, collaborating with fellow Berklee students
  • Turned 25 surrounded by some of my favorite people on the planet
  • Made friends and family out of the individuals who will surely lead the industry in the coming years
  • Made Zara and H&M staples in my wardrobe… taking up about a 75% stake
  • Had my limits tested by an insane amount of coursework at times
  • Learned way too much about K-Pop

As February 14, 2014 marks exactly 5 months until graduation in July, I am looking forward to this list growing more and more daily. I have a ton of work to do with my Culminating Experience, job applications, a business plan (or two), coursework and some outside projects, but I can’t wait! To Friends, to Travel, to Great Wine, to One Year in Valencia: Let’s get it!

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1 Comment

  1. Paul Levine

    Nice social and cultural experiences . . . Could you tell us about your experience with the actual program? Thanks.

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