Berklee offers on-campus accommodations for most Summer Programs offered at our Boston, Massachusetts campus (on-campus housing is not available for any Day Sessions: Music, Youth Musical Theater Summer Program, or ABLE: Day Sessions students). All of our on-campus residence halls are arranged in a standard college-style layout. Each room will have a closet, bed, and desk for each resident.
The following items are prohibited from all on-campus residence halls:
- 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
- Candles/incense
The lists outlined below include a general packing list recommended for all Berklee Summer Programs Students, as well as more program specific lists for many of the conservatory students:
General Packing Lists for All On-Campus Residence Halls
All students staying in the Berklee residence halls will need the following items:
- Bedding (sheets, pillow, pillow case, 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--the cost to attend any Berklee-coordinated event will be covered by the school; students are responsible for all "extra" expenses that may arise during events (e.g., a hot dog at a Red Sox game, a souvenir from the Museum of Fine Arts, etc.).
- Headphones
- Laptop computer, tablet device, cell phone, etc., including chargers
- Laundry detergent — Each residence hall has washers and dryers for residents to use
- Plastic bin to store snacks or food
- Prescription/first-aid needs
- Sunscreen
- Sunglasses
- Toiletries
- Umbrella
- Water bottle
These items are available upon request from the resident advisor's office:
- Basic cleaning supplies
- Games
- Movies
- Toilet paper (for private bathrooms)
- Vacuum cleaners
Each residence hall has washers and dryers for residents to use. The machines may be operated using the LaundryConnect Pay Mobile app, which students can download once they arrive on campus. Our machines do not accept quarters.
Students staying in the campus residence halls should also review the “What to Bring” section of the housing webpage for additional items.
Commercial Dance Intensive (CDI): Recommended Packing list
In addition to the items listed above for all participants, students for the Commercial Dance Intensive (CDI) are asked to bring the following program-specific items:
Clothing
- Casual summer clothing: shorts, t-shirts, jeans, dresses, skirts, etc.
- Pajamas
- Socks, underwear
- Casual shoes or sandals
- One or two outfits appropriate to wear to a theater or concert event
- Sweatshirt, sweater, and/or light jacket
Dance Wear
- Leotards
- Tights (pink and black)
- Unitards
- Dance shorts
- Ballet shoes
- Heels
- Tap shoes (optional)
- Dance underwear
Performance Wear
- Black dance shorts
- Solid-colored tank top or leotard
- Solid-colored t-shirt or tank top
- White pants/tights
- White long- or short-sleeved shirt
Students staying in the campus residence halls should also review the “What to Bring” section of the housing webpage for additional items.
Musical Theater Acting Intensive (MTAI): Recommended Packing List
In addition to the items listed above for all participants, students participating in the Musical Theater Acting Intensive (MTAI) are asked to bring the following program-specific items:
Clothing
- Casual summer clothing: shorts, t-shirts, jeans, dresses, skirts, etc.
- Pajamas
- Socks, underwear
- Casual shoes or sandals
- One or two outfits appropriate to wear to a theater or concert event
- Sweatshirt, sweater, and/or light jacket
- Audition outfits for mock auditions
- Any musical instruments you play!
Core Class Clothing
- Plan on bringing plenty of clothes that are easy to move in (yoga pants, leggings, t-shirts, sweats, athletic clothes, etc.). You will be in daily classes that require you to be comfortable and flexible.
- Sneakers or shoes to dance in (tap shoes, jazz shoes, character shoes, etc.). Don’t worry if you don’t have something perfect; sneakers or socks will work, too.
Performance Wear
- Black clothing appropriate for our final presentation, i.e., black pants and nice black shirt, black dress, etc.
Other (required)
- Music repertoire book or two audition-ready songs (with sheet music for pianist)
- At least three other songs to work on (bring duet selections as well). Our library may be closed, so we encourage you to bring as much sheet music as you like. There will be an opportunity to print new material with our staff once you’re here, but the less you need to rely on that service, the better. Please bring some pop/rock selections, too.
- Monologue selections to explore (and for mock auditions)
- Pencils and notebook
- Water bottle
Students staying in the campus residence halls should also review the “What to Bring” section of the housing webpage for additional items.
Musical Theater Dance Intensive: Recommended Packing List
In addition to the items listed above for all participants, students for the Musical Theater Dance Intensive are asked to bring the following program-specific items:
- Music repertoire book, or one audition-ready song with scores for a pianist
- Water bottle
- Leotards, tights, unitards, dance shorts, and leggings
- Ballet shoes, jazz shoes, character shoes, and sneakers
- Performance wear, such as a solid-colored dress appropriate for dancing or solid-colored shirt with black pants or leggings
- A notebook and pencil
- Knee pads
- Yoga mat
Students staying in the campus residence halls will also want to reference the 'What to Bring' section of the housing webpage for additional items.
Vocal/Choral Intensive: Recommended Packing List
In addition to the items listed above for all participants, students for the Vocal/Choral Intensive are asked to bring the following program-specific items:
- Two clean copies of solo music you are prepared to perform and work on with coaches and teachers (this must be a full piano/vocal score and not a chart). If you are a musical theater singer, please be sure that at least two of these pieces are true to style.
- An up-to-date hard copy of your complete repertoire list
- A device to listen to an MP3 of accompaniment (possibly your phone)
- A device to record your lessons and coachings (possibly your phone)
- Clothing that is comfortable and modest. You're likely to be lying on the floor, hanging upside down, and moving around at any given time of the day.
- Two nice outfits to perform in for the solo recitals, as well as "festive black and white" for the final performance; any combination of black and white, solids, or prints will be great.
- Performance-appropriate and comfortable shoes
- A yoga mat or large towel
- Water bottle
Students staying in the campus residence halls will also want to reference the 'What to Bring' section of the housing webpage for additional items.