<p>This fall I plan to apply ED to Pton. I have a strong GPA, 6 APs under my belt, 2360 SAT, SAT II 800/760/760. I'm worried about my EC list though. My biggest commitment has been piano, but I feel that it really isn't too distinctive among HYPSM applicants. If only I had known this 12 years ago when I started! I love playing and have reached a high level, but I think that dancers, actors, and orchestra members are benefitted much more by their activities in the admissions process. Do you think that the strong commitment I have towards piano, even though it's not all that rare (although I am white, not Asian), will help me much in the admissions process?</p>
<p>Also, is it true that Pton is trying to recruit more artsy students, and, if so, would piano "count"?</p>
<p>Overvalued in my opinion. Just cause you play an instrument, is that any different than playing a computer game? I play the violin, but I am terrible at it and I have nothing to show for it except the ability to play a few song. Music is just a hobby.</p>
<p>Yeah - playing music is worthless. Just like every other artistic endeavour. I mean, art and music are no better than playing a computer game or text messaging a friend or ridin' dirty.</p>
<p>Those guys Bach and Mozart - they're worthless hacks.</p>
<p>Just playing an instrument for many years wouldn't make you stand out in top college admissions because many applicants to such colleges play instruments.</p>
<p>Now, if you're a professional musician with professionally produced CDs and Carnegie Hall concerts, that would make you stand out in top college admissions.</p>
<p>Piano is also an instrument that a lot of people learn to play. Colleges would probably pay more attention to an instrument that isn't as widely played.</p>
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Piano is also an instrument that a lot of people learn to play. Colleges would probably pay more attention to an instrument that isn't as widely played.
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<p>Yeah, but as someone who has learned multiple instruments, I'd tell any kid to learn the Piano over the Bassoon or French Horn. There's a reason some instruments are popular - they're useful to know how to play. Every music major has to learn some Piano. It's THE musical instrument - just look at the famous composers and what they wrote for. Orchestras and Pianos.</p>
<p>Piano is basically a good first instrument. Helps with learning scales, and it is easy to start since much of it is very straight forward and simple at the beginning.</p>
<p>Of course, at higher levels it is just as difficult as any other instrument.</p>
<p>Well, obviously if you do in fact enjoy the piano for what it is, and not because of what colleges want to see, then I guess it could even be important in admissions...if that makes any sense. If you truly love it, would continue it for its own sake and are considering going to and are at the level of being admitted into a good conservatory, then piano will in fact be a major deciding factor. If you just play for the hell of it on the side, regardless of your level (not that there's anything wrong with that, quite the contrary) then I doubt it will matter much and thus will be undervalued as an ec.<br>
wow, really confusing post, I hope you understand what I'm trying to say there.</p>
<p>But because "everyone" plays piano or violin, those instruments don't stand out on an app, unless you have won major national or international awards. Just playing an instrument well isn't worthless, but isn't enough to get you over the top with adcoms either.</p>
<p>I've been playing piano for years already, and it is probably my most favorite type of instrument (Although I've never been "that" good at it, hehe). Anyway, when I was filling out my common app. a few days ago, I decided not to put piano as one of my ECs, simply because it is such a cliched hobby that would most likely make my EC list MESSY and unfocused. </p>
<p>Do you have any other major interests/ECs? If not, your app. will probably look really really dry with only playing piano.</p>
<p>So you play piano... what do you do with it?
*win awards
*write music (send something in with your app if it's really good)
*play in a band? as a soloist with an orchestra? with a jazz band?
*if you play in a band (jazz/other), do you play professional gigs? do you organize the gigs? do you have business-type skills to do this? </p>
<p>I know people who have done all of the above... make yourself stand out.</p>
<p>First of all I would just like to say that the ignorance of the first couple responses in this thread is appalling, to say the least. Comparing playing a musical instrument to "playing a computer game" or "just a hobby" is not only unacceptable but downright insulting to one who has kept it up for 12 years. I am curious as to how you can possibly label any artistic endeavor as "worthless" having had no experience with it yourself, save for "a few songs."</p>
<p>Now with regard to the OP, adcoms to top schools will be looking for a true passion in your application, especially if you plan on using music as a hook. That is to say, simply putting down that you played an instrument for an extended period of time would not greatly enhance your application. On the other hand, if you show a true love for music (through discussing it in your essays and making a recording), it could make you stand out in your application. For instance, you could discuss how music has shaped you into the person you are today, or how music helped you cope with a difficult time in your life. I have seen MANY instances where applicants showing a passion in a single instrument have been accepted to HYPS (MIT not so much).</p>
<p>And please, try to keep pubescent remarks like the aforementioned to a minimum.</p>
<p>Piano is great because it is a solo instrument and it can accompany orchestras/choirs/jazz bands/musicals. If you have ever done anything along those lines, definitely include that.</p>
<p>In response to an earlier comment that a person should choose to play piano over bassoon or French horn, that is not necessarily true. Music is a very valuable EC regardless of the instrument you play.</p>
<p>Playing the bassoon or the French horn can provide you with more opportunties than playing a common instrument. When auditioning for something prestigious like region band or all-state band, the demand for rare instruments is high and the number of people who play those instruments is low. Therefore, if you play a rare instrument, you have a better chance at being accepted into the band. Don't be so quick to assume that bassoon/French horn/etc. are useless.</p>
<p>Sorry if I offend anyone by saying this...but.</p>
<p>Doing well with an instrument such as Bassoon, Oboe, blah, blah isn't always as big a deal as doing well with a popular instrument like the Piano, Clarinet, Trumpet, etc. In my experiences playing in top bands, more times than not, the players on odd instruments aren't even close to the same level as those on the popular instruments because they didn't have to beat out hundreds and then thousands of other students to get there.</p>
<p>I seriously doubt that colleges don't realize that.</p>
<p>As long as you aren't majoring in music, I doubt it makes any difference at all whether or not you play piano or a different instrument. </p>
<p>I would assume that the college reps will notice, however, how long you have been committed to the activity. And might take notice if you actually seem to enjoy it - perhaps it is an activity that helps relieve stress for you, or you just simply "love music" for the pleasure of it. </p>
<p>Schools that have the ability to pick and choose their students are looking for real, down to earth people, who are intelligent, know themselves, are confident and have passion about something in their lives. They are not looking for another grade driven over achiever who starts projects or hobbies just because it will look good on their resume. </p>
<p>If you enjoy the piano and have enjoyed learning and playing - tell them so and be proud of it.</p>
<p>Actually doing well with an odd instrument is more likely to help students with admissions because colleges have a hard time finding bassoon players, violists, etc. </p>
<p>When it comes to the very top colleges, one needs to be virtually a prodigy for one's music to make a difference in admission because the majority of appllicants have a long time history of playing a musical instrument.</p>
<p>It really depends on the school. I'm not a music major, but I got a lot of special attention from one of the schools I applied to (I only applied to three) because of all the stuff I've done with band.</p>
<p>::edit::</p>
<p>I'm not an admissions person, so you may be right about their liking of odd instruments...but it's still harder to do well on a popular instrument.</p>
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Music is a very valuable EC regardless of the instrument you play.</p>
<p>Playing the bassoon or the French horn can provide you with more opportunties than playing a common instrument. When auditioning for something prestigious like region band or all-state band, the demand for rare instruments is high and the number of people who play those instruments is low. Therefore, if you play a rare instrument, you have a better chance at being accepted into the band. Don't be so quick to assume that bassoon/French horn/etc. are useless.
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<p>I think the point is that music should not be undertaken solely for it's appearance to colleges - so learning to play the piano would be more valuable than learning to play the bassoon, from a musical perspective.</p>
<p>^ and katho is exactly right. Example: violinists who switch to viola to help their shots at making an orchestra.</p>