Story About Accepting Admission to Princeton Class '79
Early in 1975, when I had just turned eighteen years old, I played drums in my brother Barry Miles's (Princeton Class '69) group 'Barry Miles and Silverlight' for a week at The Jazz Workshop / Paul's Mall in Boston. During one of the breaks, I was informed a gentleman in the audience would like to speak with me. He introduced himself as Lawrence Berk, founder of Berklee College of Music, saying he enjoyed the performance and was impressed with my drumming and musicianship. Figuring my young age and talent level would be an asset to represent Berklee, he asked if I would consider accepting his invitation to attend the school on a full, free scholarship. I thanked him for his kind and generous offer, but said I had just accepted admittance to Princeton University and would have to decline. (I declined acceptances to other colleges at that time, including Columbia College, Bard College, Boston College, Drew University, Rutgers College).
In 2004, when the second edition of my drum instruction book The Featured Drummer was being prepared for publication (originally published in 1981), I asked Lawrence Berk's son Lee Eliot Berk, then president of Berklee College of Music, if he remembered our meeting back in 1975. He said he didn't, because it wasn't him. It was his father! Nevertheless, I asked if he would consider writing an accolade for the re-publication of my book and he said he'd be glad to. It was good timing, because he was about to retire as president of the school.
I had written this book while in high school which might have been one of the factors that influenced Princeton's decision to accept me as a student.
- TERRY SILVERLIGHT
