College Application Music Supplement

Hi everyone,

I am willing to submit a music supplement. I found these instructions at Columbia’s webpage:


We ask that students select two works contrasting in period and tempo, and choose from one of three possible types of submissions:
-orchestral instruments (specify instrument);
-jazz (specify instrument or composition);
-piano, voice, non-orchestral instruments (e.g. classical guitar) or composition (score or recording of score).

We require that students also list the composer, title of the work and movement title or opus number. The total length of recordings should not exceed 20 minutes and should not include any biographical or introductory material.


The music I play is neither of the categories listed above. I play rock, blues and rock&roll on an electric guitar. As I can see they require very traditional music pieces. Modern music compositions aren’t assigned with neither an opus number nor movements.

Would it be appropriate to submit my compositions and covers of some blues or rock classics, which I guess contrast only in tempo rather than period? Is it OK if I sing through or if I call a drummer and a bass player to play along with me? I wouldn’t like to screw up my supplement.

You should email (or call) the admissions department and ask them. From what I read on their website it isn’t clear. I think that it would NOT be appropriate given the language used but there’s no harm in asking them directly.

I would not submit a supplement for this. Supplements are for people with extraordinary ability and recognition (awards) and/or those who wish to major or minor in music.

Would you be participating in their department in any way? If not, then definitely do not submit.

I do agree with @guineagirl96 that it should be limited to those with extraordinary ability. Remember that the supplement is to enhance your application, not detract from it.

I read somewhere that music is the most common EC for HS students, so musical ability by itself is nothing special. While I would not go so far as to say that a rock/blues musician should never submit a supplement, I would caution that those who do should have headlined at Madison Square Garden, much like most of those submitting classical supplements should have performed at a venue like Carnegie Hall.

@skieurope Sorry, just edited to clarify on that. I meant that as an “or”, not that students had to be majoring or minoring.

But what about a supplement for a student that would potentially be playing in the college orchestra but was not at a protogy level?

@LKnomad You don’t have to be at the prodigy level, but you need to have awards for a supplement to be worth it. Examples include being in all-state (in a high chair), winning concerto competitions, etc. If a student is just wanting to play in the orchestra, a supplement is not appropriate if they’re not an extraordinary player.

prodigy. Same applies. Many members in a university orchestra/band/etc. are very good musicians, but not necessarily superstars. There will be plenty of time for auditions if you get admitted. Keep in mind, for many colleges (not conservatories) supplements are not even required for potential majors.

One needs to realize that in most instances, supplements are sent out to specialists to review. So in this case, it would go to someone in the music department, who is assisting the admissions office. The admissions office has no desire to forward on 10K supplements to staff whose primarily job is not to listen to supplements. Penn, for example, says that not all music supplements will be reviewed because admissions does not want to overly impose on the music department.

Does this hold true for non Ivy. For example my son is applying to several SLACs. He had been taking private lessons since 3rd grade but choose not to do anything outside this highest orchestra at school even though he continued with a private instructor for 10 years. The possibility for a music minor is on the table but unknown at this point. He also had AP music theory.

I understand that for HYP it would not be appropriate but we are looking at schools that do not have conservatories but welcome supplements as “part of their holistic admissions.” Or so they state. This is why I was surprised to hear it is not appropriate.

OP sorry to hijack.

My general rule of thumb is that if your level of play would be competitive applying for admission at a top conservatory (Julliard, Curtis, Peabody, etc.) then go ahead and submit a supplement.

@LKnomad Depends on his level and instrument. Same would apply at most LACs (or universities for that matter). It doesn’t matter the level of the university; they still don’t want to review supplements from every violinist who plays in their school’s top orchestra. I’m not a string player (my primary is a woodwind), so I can’t give a specific piece really to be representative of the level of ability needed.

Interesting. Thanks all. Guess we will check with the specific colleges. I think some of them have non major music scholarships and some don’t. I think that would be the deciding factor.