My daughter plays several instruments but is most accomplished on cello and jazz bass – electric and double bass. She is in an orchestra and plans to audition only on cello but would like to play bass in some jazz combos at whichever school she ends up. She’s a high school senior and has about 6 or 7 colleges in mind. Is this an advantage for her – in being accepted and/or for any scholarship considerations – or might it be better for her to focus on one instrument?
Is she interested in a BM or a BA at these schools?
BM
Thanks. If she is seeking a BM in Cello Performance, it will be her cello audition that matters the most. If her choices are schools like Rice, Northwestern etc. grades and test scores will enter the picture. After that such things as other instruments might have a usefulness for university admissions, but not so much for music school admissions. Now, that should prohibit her once she is admitted from auditioning for other groups.
Thank you.
Sorry, should have proofed my answer. It will not prohibit her from auditioning for other groups.
cellobasspiano - I sent you a PM.
Different conservatories have different approaches to multiple instruments. In some cases conservatories will let students audition on more than one department. Different conservatories will also have different approaches to how rigid they are about her instrument (cello versus bass) and major (classical versus Jazz). These are all things she should look into when considering where to apply. At some institutions and for some majors it is easier to move between genres and instruments than it is at others. And then there are also groups that form in conservatories to make music together. My son is in a group that consists of somebody from every department at NEC.