Summer Programs introduces Jean Michel Zayas, a drummer from Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, who participated in Berklee’s Five-Week Performance Program.
Which summer program did you attend and what drew you to Berklee?
I went to the 2008 summer program when I was 17 years old. The opportunity came thanks to my godfather, who saw potential in me and wanted to show me the experience he had when he studied at Berklee.
What was your favorite aspect(s) of the program?
The atmosphere of just good music and being able to share and learn from musicians who are just incredible at what they do.
What were some of the challenges that you faced during the program?
Basically I had never formally studied music or didn’t know how to read music, so when I went to Berklee I took the studies very seriously. It was a challenge for me to catch up with other students at their level.