Leaving orchestra to join band: impact on scholarship opportunities?

Applying to College
1

My daughter is a rising senior and has been in a community orchestra since 9th grade. She plays the violin. She wants to quit community orchestra and join the school band. (Since there is no orchestra at her high school, she can play the violin for the school band.)

Will quitting the orchestra hurt her chances for scholarships because she is not sticking with a long term activity? I am wondering whether it may not affect her opportunities because she will be continuing her interest in music. Thanks for your input!

2

I would not since violin is not a band instrument. I don’t know what part she’d be playing. Are you sure the school would even let her do that? Sticking with orchestra is more worth her time in terms of commitment and musical growth.

3

Academic scholarships are almost entirely on gpa and sat scores. Musical scholarships depend on talent and auditions. I am not in the loop about music scholarships but seems silly to think a scholarship would depend on such a thing. Why don’t you visit the music majors forum and browse some threads. Helpful general threads are usually pinned to the top.
http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/

4

Thank you, guineagirl96. The school will let her play violin in the band because there is no orchestra at the school. They are several violinists. I appreciate your comments, and your points are well taken.

5

Stick the the orchestra. It will also look much better on her college application for admittance. Isn’t there a much high level of skill required for community orchestra than HS Band?

6

All of my kids played classical violin, and unless your child is Julliard bound and plays at Carnegie, there isn’t much in the way of scholarships.

Everything financial is uber academic for high GPA and SAT scores and/or super athlete ability.

7

You’re just swapping one music EC for another. No difference.

8

She is exchanging a music EC at the community level for a music EC/class at the school level. Let her do this. It will make her life more sane.

9

Agree with @“aunt bea” if you mean music scholarships. If you mean competitive academic merit scholarships where she list her ECs and you are afraid this won’t look as good, then also agree with above posters that band violin shows continual commitment just like orchestra would. Who know, maybe playing violin in a band (not familiar with this practice) will provide an interesting talking point in an interview.

10

I agree that she will just be swapping playing violin in one place for playing violin in another place. I don’t think it will make a a difference unless the community orchestra plays at a much higher level than the HS band and she is going after some kind of music scholarship or music conservatory.