I’ve put a lot of time into ABRSM in hopes that it will be seen as a good achievement in the eyes of top tier colleges (like top 25). Personally, I’m more a STEM kid and am definitely not going towards anything music related. Piano has always just been a fun extracurricular and I pursued the ABRSM grades to actually have something to say on my apps as opposed to just “played piano for 10 years”. I’m just wondering how much this is going to count and if it is worth putting so much time into?
I do alumni interviews and I see many students who play music. For some instruments, like Piano, it is more difficult to be in a band/orchestra so they pursue things like ABRSM.
Like any EC, it shows that you can balance your school work with a time intensive EC. It shows you can pick one and stick with it and acheive excellence. It is the same as playing soccer for 10 years.
I would suggest seeing how you could expand on your piano playing? Be in the pit band for the Spring musical?
Be an accompanist for the choir? Play glockenspiel in marching band?
How can you show leadership with this? Teach little kids? Play at nursing homes? Play at church?
These are ways to maybe lead or show community involvement.
That’s very helpful, thank you!