Hi there,
I am currently a senior who is applying ED to Brown. I play the trombone, and talked about music in both my common app essay and one of the Brown supplements. So naturally, I thought it would be a good idea to submit a music portfolio via Slideroom to Brown.
However, after doing some research, it seems like it is not the admissions officers who review music portfolios, but rather they send them to the department chair of music for review? I also read that portfolios rarely, if ever, make much of an impact on one’s application.
I am quite confident that I can successfully create a high quality portfolio, but was wondering if it is worth the time and effort? I do have the common theme of music throughout my application, but am torn on whether I should add the additional component of a portfolio.
If anyone has any insight/ experience on Brown supplements, please let me know! I’d really appreciate it. 
Some on CC will tell you not to submit a supplement unless you perform at the level of a conservatory. My opinion’s that as long as you’ve spent time and energy on practicing, AND this shows through your work, submit it if you couldn’t imagine it not being a part of your application (which appears to be true, given that your Common App essay & supplement are focused on it.)
Personally, I did not submit a supplement, but that was due to most schools not having faculty in the field (Indian classical,) AND it being more for fun than anything else----I definitely wasn’t competition-level. I still listed it on my Common App, however, as I had spent lots of time on it throughout high school, and I don’t think Brown really cared one way or the other----just make sure your supplement’s polished.
Brown Slideroom: https://brown.slideroom.com/#/Login
Supplementary Materials: https://admission.brown.edu/first-year/supplementary-materials
Supplementary Materials FAQ: https://admission.brown.edu/ask/supplementary-materials
Hope that helps! Good luck with admissions!
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but rather they send them to the department chair of music for review? < FWIW it might go through the chair as a matter of bureaucratic procedure, but then may be farmed out to some other prof from the department who actually evaluates it. What goes back to Admissions is (or used to be) a numerical score. My general advice has been to skip portfolio submissions unless they are at least somewhat relevant to your intended concentration, since yours will be judged against aspiring concentrators.
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