<p>I sent a violin CD along with my application. Will that increase my chance to get in? Should I call or e-mail their music director?</p>
<p>I would call and find out who the music director is, particularly if they have a strings person, and send the CD to them as well.</p>
<p>There are a number of ways to approach this -- assuming you're talented and depending on what kind of interest you think the school should take in your music gifts. </p>
<p>I think keylyme's correct in noting that, for this to be a meaningful advantage, you need someone within the school community who is advocating for you (or more violin talent generally)...which would be in the form of the music director or department chair (who, in turn, may forward it to another faculty member dealing with your specific talent).</p>
<p>Still, it doesn't hurt to play an instrument. At the very least it adds character and personality to your application even if you're struggling with the instrument.</p>
<p>The practice of sending in additional materials, such as a CD, has been discussed here before:</p>
<p>Track back to other links in that thread and you'll see advice from szcbassoon, who says he's a music teacher at a top school, and he generally advises applicants NOT to send in CDs. I don't interpret that to mean that you've hurt your chances. I think he's saying it's a waste of time unless the material is solicited or you're trying to set up a personal audition. (After all, who's to say that it's really you they're listening to and not a CD you burned from the classical music collection from your public library?)</p>
<p>Following keylyme's advice is important because -- if I read szcbassoon correctly -- you need to get a personal audition or reach some other sort of understanding with the right people in the music department if you want to experience a real boost in the attention your application will receive in the admission office.</p>