<p>I mean, I played the clarinet in an optional after school band in elem. However, I hated the clarinet. </p>
<p>Summer of 8th grade I bought a guitar and self-taught myself a little bit. Freshman year I abandoned it but again in the summer of 9th grade I took it up, bought a better guitar, and have been practicing since then.</p>
<p>No formal training and didn't even take Guitar in high school.</p>
<p>EC or not?</p>
<p>I think that might be stretching the boundaries of what defines an EC, but I’m not sure. If, for example, you played guitar for a school production or something, that would be an EC for sure, but just playing in your free time might be pushing it.</p>
<p>I guess smoking reefer counts as one of my ec’s</p>
<p>Haha, hey but I’ve seen people putting things like this.(:</p>
<p>Lol wow haha no…</p>
<p>Probably not. Otherwise, I’d be tempted to put “Surfing CC” on mine haha.</p>
<p>Oh, I guess playing an instrument and even taking lessons doesnt count unless you win awards. ok</p>
<p>^I would assume that if you had someone to vouch for your EC (aka a private music teacher), you’re all good. </p>
<p>But not “everything you do in your free time” would qualify.</p>
<p>I’m putting instruments as one of my top ECs because</p>
<p>1) I spend half my time playing one of the four saxes
2) I play publicly a lot
3) I have tons of sessions with friends and have been paid sometimes</p>
<p>So there’s no way I’m not putting it because it describes who I am.</p>
<p>But if you’re more of a casual player who plays, like, once every two days, don’t put it on.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>I agree with this.</p>
<p>I definitely have a passion for it. But never paid the money for a teacher because I thought I’d just learn a few chords and stop.</p>
<p>I don’t think colleges care much for activities done in middle school.</p>
<p>^ All through high school if you read it…</p>
<p>Regardless, it’s not like you’ve accomplished much via your guitar work. It certainly won’t hurt to put it on your application but I don’t see how much good it could do. Perhaps it might add more depth & personality to your application.</p>
<p>What was there to accomplish? Sorry, no, I did not cure cancer with my guitar.</p>
<p>It’s totally an EC. It’s teaching yourself an instrument! That sounds pretty impressive to me, as it should to the adcoms. I mean, someone once put “breeding guppies” as an EC. This totally counts, especially since you’ve been playing for three years. There is a whole ton to accomplish in the span of three years, you must be a talented player! :)</p>
<p>It upsets me that people here believe that unless you won an award for something, it doesn’t count as an EC. And it especially upsets me that people would put something like “web design” or “guppy breeding” as ECs (no awards, only in free time), but won’t recognize playing an instrument for three years as one. I’d like to see some of you pick up an instrument without a private teacher and commit to it for three years; THEN let’s talk about whether it’s an EC or not.</p>
<p>Haha, maybe I should play in a Open Mic or something? But its not something I’m comfortable with. Its something that soothes me.(:</p>
<p>Haha, hey but I’ve seen people putting things like this.</p>
<p>You’ve seen this sort of thing on CC. You haven’t seen how adcoms respond. If all you do is tinker with the instrument, it’s not that impressive. If you routinely play for school events, in the community, teach music, etc, that’s different. Open Mic doesn’t count. Playing for your brother doesn’t count. Winning a legit award counts. Some unusual thing like playing on a street corner and earning all your spending money…could be interesting.</p>
<p>ps. “breeding guppies” had to be a joke. Working in a research lab with guppies, that’s another matter. How you list your EC’s can indicate your perspective and judgment. Or not.</p>
<p>“‘breeding guppies’ had to be a joke.”
It was, in fact, not. And even if breeding guppies was a joke, web design is in the same position.</p>
<p>"If all you do is tinker with the instrument, it’s not that impressive. "
I think SeniorIndian was doing more than “tinkering” with the instrument; (s)he even posted earlier that (s)he has developed a passion for it. And you don’t “tinker” with something for three years. </p>
<p>This shows dedication, passion, and perseverance to pursue your interests and to teach yourself something in which you’re truly interested.</p>
<p>IDK about guppies, but if I were an adcom and saw “breeding bettas” on there I’d be impressed! They’re ridiculously hard to breed and get more than 5-7ish to adulthood.</p>