<p>I'm filling out the "activities" part of the common app, and I noticed that it asks for the hours per week for each activity. I'm in several orchestras, each of which have several hours of rehearsal a week but require many more hours of individual, private practice; my question is should I include my (variable) practice hours in the hours/week count? Should I assume that admissions officers realize that being in an orchestra demands plenty of practice outside of scheduled rehearsals? I initially just listed 2 or 3 hours more than the rehearsal total, but I often practice much more than that.... anyone else in a similar situation?</p>
<p>Practice time spent on the orchestral rep in preparation for a concert can legitimately be included. Don’t pad it by including technique and rep practice time for solo study or private lesson instruction. If you wish, list that separately.</p>
<p>i was sort of wondering about this too.
so if i’m in a district orchestra, all state orchestra, and take private lessons, i should count that as 3 different activities? would that seem excessive?</p>
<p>Guys, don’t make yourself crazy. Look at this objectively. Be realistic, it depends on your level of participation. Allstate, all district typically involves 2-3 days of rehearsals and a culminating performance. Assuming that’s over two weekends, my guess is 8-12 hours of practice and performance for those two. Now divide that over the number of weeks in a school or calendar year. A high school orchestra might add another 3 to 5 hours a week over the school term plus actual performance time. 39 weeks of school for about 160-165 total hours over the year including performances.</p>
<p>If you add in a youth orchestra, figure another 3-4 hours a week over an 8 month period.</p>
<p>Private instruction is a variable. The typical lesson is an hour a week. Practice times vary widely from an hour to four or more a day for the student on a performance/conservatory track. Same with orchestral rep prep… how much do you spend a day on that? A half hour? Two would be stretching it.</p>
<p>Add up the numbers. Put in legitimate times, but don’t pad.</p>
<p>My son was a serious music student in high school (conservatory grad now performing professionally) who was involved currently in the high school orchestra, pit orchestraa, a youth orchestra, three string quartets and was taking private lessons as well as quartet coachings, plus gigging on the side. His rehearsal/practice times/performance times typically were in the 40 hour/week range year round. But it left him no time for any other pursuits.</p>