Common App Music Supplement ?

<p>My ds is a pianist who has likely now decided that he does not want to pursue music as a college major. However, he is an advanced player who will want to submit the common app arts supplement. Am I to understand that this has a ten-minute limit that is to show contrasting styles? My ds hardly has a single piece (other than Bach Preludes and Fugues) that is less than ten minutes let alone anymore! </p>

<p>If you have had students that have applied to places for music and places not for music, how have you handled this very limited time frame for the common app music supplement?</p>

<p>TIA.</p>

<p>Hoggirl, </p>

<p>My son is a freshman in the Dartmouth Symphony Orchestra. He applied to school not as a music major nor to a conservatory program, but he too wanted to submit a sample of his playing to strengthen his application. When faced with time limits, he and his teacher edited his pieces. They cut them down to size basically. Your daughter should really try to stay within the time requests. The admissions people have lots to go through and you dont want them annoyed by a long submission! Good luck.</p>

<p>When I spoke with the Yale admissions office, the person with whom I spoke said submit something that will impress within the first minute. Sometimes, that is all the person is going to listen to, especially if you don’t plan on majoring in music. At Yale, they get over 10,000 music supplements, and they are not going to listen to all 10,000 in their entirety. </p>

<p>Keep in mind, Yale does not have a time limit on their art supplement website (they don’t use the common app arts supplement). Yale has a number limit. I was asking because my son was submitting for composition and piano, so your answer may not be the same.</p>

<p>Wow! That’s a lot of supplements to listen to! </p>

<p>Princeton is another school that doesn’t use the common app supplement. What they requested for piano was much more similar to a conservatory pre-screen. That’s what ds would <em>like</em> to submit everywhere, but it looks like we will need to come up with a shortened version, at least for those schools that only take the common app supplement.</p>

<p>Thanks for the tips on abiding by the time limits for those that impose it AND for suggesting to go with something with a “wow” factor in the first minute! As always, the advice is great here!</p>

<p>Has anyone heard of a college that does NOT want sections of pieces or movements for the 10 minute music supplement? Likewise, the only thing my son has that will fit the 10 minutes is a Bach P&F.</p>

<p>Hoggirl, we’ve talked in the past and it looks like my son is not headed for a conservatory either. However, he does want to go to a college with a good music program and find a top-level private teacher. It keeps more doors open than going to a conservatory. At some of the combined degree schools (e.g. Oberlin), you have to apply to both the school and the conservatory to get a combined degree, and the feedback I have heard is that some conservatories really don’t like students who are “distracted”.</p>

<p>We met with Melvin Chen (he is very nice) at Yale and they review the recordings (but I never asked him about partial movements) and provide feedback to the admissions people. It’s up to the admissions people to decide how important that information is. As I’ve said elsewhere, maybe my son should have put his efforts into hockey.</p>

<p>Question from the mom of a drummer (jazz and contemporary). He has played at the top level of jazz ensembles at his school all four years, but is not pursing music as a major. However, he’ll naturally want to share his accomplishments as a drummer on the common app music supplement, but we are at loss as to what it should include. Should it be a solo, solo’s plural, clips from various performances with ensembles or just himself at the drumset. Help!!!</p>

<p>My daughter (composer) called the schools (including most of those mentioned) and asked if they would like her to cue the three minutes she considered her best work in a piece she wrote. She did this for conservatories, and offered to do it for the universities, and they seemed to like the idea. This would be a good way to limit length but also offer the best example of a student’s playing.</p>

<p>As for a music supplement’s contents, she included a CD (could be DVD for instrumentalists or vocalists), score, list of compositions (repertoire?), performances, awards etc. Also programs. And, very helpful in admissions, two letters of recommendation from music teachers (outside school).</p>

<p>Any drummers out there who can help? It’s such a different instrument, and he is not a composer. Also, these days, it’s all uploaded - no mailing of CD’s from what I understand. We really don’t know whether to record just him… or edit together a compilation of performance highlights.</p>

<p>Does adding an art supplement help your chances? I’m applying to schools as an engineering major, and when I looked at the questions in slideroom, some of the questions did not exactly apply to me.</p>

<p>" Statement of Purpose: Why are you interested in studying music or music education at CWRU? Or, if you’ve applied for the Arts Achievement Scholarship only, what are your goals for musical study and/or participation at CWRU? (250 words or less)*"</p>

<p>How should I answer this question? Do I pretend as if I am going into music?</p>

<p>@maniactango‌ - I would not “pretend” that you are doing something that you are not. I think both of those questions could be answered honestly without one intending to be a music major. Only YOU can know the answers, exactly, but if you have always enjoyed the study of music and you want to continue lessons or if you enjoy the camaraderie of ensemble playing or If you intend to be a lifelong musician because you are passionate about your instrument, albeit a hobbyist, or if you want to use music study as a way to connect with those outside your major course of study while pursuing your interest…those could all answer why you are interested in studying music or explain your goals. Don’t you think? Good luck!</p>