<p>I play the string bass, and definitely want to continue playing at the college level. I don't really want to study music, however. Should I submit a CD of my playing when I apply, and will this help my chances? Does anyone understand how this all works?</p>
<p>yes a cd of a song. Most of the colleges list a few songs and ask that you submit one of those. If you're really good it will help. It you're average it will just annoy them</p>
<p>I haven't seen any such lists on any of the college websites I've visited. Besides, wouldn't they expect to hear different songs from different instruments?</p>
<p>Most colleges I've seen don't ask for specific songs, but rather for specific time lengths.</p>
<p>String bass love! :D
I'm in the exact same boat. I want to continue playing, but pursuing a Bachelor's in Music is just not for me. I was planning on researching colleges with a budding music program (or at least a relatively weaker one) that would be more likely to give scholarships to play in the orchestra.
After all, string bass is a relatively rarer instrument.</p>
<p>ahh that's a good idea, underscore. i'm a violinist...i'm not that great or anything (not NEARLY good enough, or driven enough, to major in music), but I'd love to continue playing in a college orchestra.</p>
<p>unfortunately, there's more violinists than orchestras can hold :(. but do let me know if you find any decent schools with weak/budding music departments! (with scholarships to play in orchestra)</p>
<p>You should send a CD of your playing if you think music has been a big part of your extracurricular pursuits in high school. Be sure to also attach a one-page resume of your musical experiences and highlights: years of playing, your private teachers, musical honors, summer camps or academies, repertoire studied. Lastly, a recommendation from a music teacher or music director usually would be helpful. How much it will help you depends on how good your bass playing is :)</p>
<p>I play the viola, and there aren't a lot of violists in our school orchestra. In college admissions, are violists pretty common?</p>
<p>Similar situation in wind instruments. Lots of flutes around, but oboe or bassoon may create more interest.</p>
<p>I play the keyboard, stopped playing seriously about 2-3 years ago, but nevertheless play when in need for some fun.</p>
<p>You never know which schools will listen to CDs and which ones won't. But if you're a strong player and wish to continue to play at the college level, even as a non-major, then you have nothing to lose by sending a CD. </p>
<p>It doesn't matter how popular your instrument is. The level of your playing will show your sense of discipline, commitment and hard work over a long period of time. Obviously it's a bonus to the school if you play an instrument that they need for their orchestra, but that's impossible to predict in any given year.</p>
<p>Send a tape if you are serious about music and if you've stood out in some way: played in all-state or won a competition, spent summers doing music, etc.</p>
<p>Most places want two musical selections of contrasting character, no more than 15 minutes altogether. Include the composers' names and titles of the pieces on the CD and send along a resume of musical activities and accomplishments. If you are using the Common Application, use the Arts Supplement that comes with it. Also check each school's Music Department webpage to see if they provide any specific information about sending a recording.</p>
<p>Remember that they only want solo pieces (with piano accompaniment if appropriate), and NOT chamber music or a solo with an orchestra. </p>
<p>You don't need to make a professional recording, but the sound quality should be decent, and any piano used should be tuned for the occasion.</p>
<p>Good luck!</p>
<p>Hmm.. How are you supposed to do a recording?</p>
<p>I'm a violinist who have accomplished.. well.. alright.. I was 2nd chair in the Senior All-State orchestra in Freshmen year (didn't take orchestra anymore), 2nd place in Peabody young violinist competition, founder/1st violin of a quartet with friends (we play for gigs and for non-profit organizations), 2nd violin leader in AYP (American Youth Philharmonic) in DC.. </p>
<p>Should I send in a CD? I mean, I don't think it'll matter that much whether they are hearing me play.. Because I am not going to apply to a music institution like Peabody or major in music (plus, my favorite colleges: Davidson, UNC, and Emory don't even have good music schools). I plan to major in Microbiology or something like that along with a pre-med schedule, and minor is music - performance.</p>
<p>Maybe you should send it directly to the person who chooses the musicians in the school orchestra? If they want you, they will tell you how best to deal with the admissions office at their school.</p>
<p>RichHobo: Davidson, UNC and Emory may not have "good music schools" but they all have excellent, though small, Departments of Music interested in attracting strong students to participate in their music programs. </p>
<p>At UNC, faculty only listen to tapes of students declaring a music major. At Davidson and Emory, they may listen to tapes of students who plan to play in an ensemble, I don't know. Look at their websites and find out. </p>
<p>I would recommend sending in a CD if you consider your violin-playing to be one of your top 2 or 3 strengths and interests. If that is the case, then you should already be performing repertoire that would be easy to record. If you need to learn a piece just to have something for a tape, then you probably shouldn't bother. </p>
<p>If you are currently taking lessons, then your teacher can (and should) help you put together a recording. If you're no longer taking lessons, then you probably are not going to be helped in admissions by submitting a tape. Still, your accomplishments are impressive and will look great on your application.</p>
<p>Thanks Skie, that's the answer I was looking for. I might as well audition in person when I get into the college and am looking to play in an ensemble like the school orchestra or a chamber group. As for minors, do the faculty require tapes or what not?</p>
<p>And I have not had a teacher for about a year now - ever since I relocated to NC from MD.</p>
<p>I doubt that whether you are taking lessons at the moment matters when you have accomplishments at the level you have described as long as you are still PLAYING the instrument, which you are. If I were you I would definitely make a tape and send it. Sure there are lots of violinists, but orchestras also need lots of violins. And most of them are not at your level. Most admissions committees say they will give such CDs to music profs to evaluate.</p>
<p>By the way, given that you have actually started a string quartet that plays gigs, a movement of a chamber music piece with the part you are playing noted might not go amiss. I'm sure that each college has its own criteria, but if you look at the audition recording rules for many chamber music seminars and camps, they are interested in such recordings in addition to solo work. Don't be too quick to eliminate that possibility. Advocacy from a music prof or arts staff might be what tips your application into the plus column. And just listing it on your application is unlikely to result in your talent being brought to their attention.</p>
<p>RichHobo: at UNC, minors do not have to submit tapes. I doubt that you'd have to for the other schools you mention, but I don't know for sure. </p>
<p>(I didn't mean to discourage you from sending a tape, just tried to give some basic guidelines and assure you that you needn't feel pressured to.) </p>
<p>You will be most welcomed at auditions for orchestra or chamber music when you get to college, no question about it. And it never hurts to meet the orchestra director when you visit colleges or to write to him/her to express your interest.</p>
<p>i actually have a question. my school has a large (large!) and competitive orchestra, and i play violin. however i'm not as amazing accomplished as some of my peers. i take private lessons, and i have a decent seat. but will i be allowed to play in a college orchestra, even though i'm nothing really special?</p>
<p>Do you think colleges prefer to hear only classical, orchestral, and chamber works, or would high quality and recognized music of any genre suffice?</p>
<p>Sending in a tape or cd only helps if you're really good. Most applicants that do go through the trouble of recording themselves on an instrument take it very seriously, so if you're only average, sending in a cd could actually hurt you.</p>