<p>How much does a good audition/tape and musical resume help with the top tier ivy leages and stanford if you're conservatory level and could be going to Julliard instead?</p>
<p>Julliard level = own. Enough...</p>
<p>If you're Julliard level and you send in a CD that's a major hook for HYPS.</p>
<p>If you possibly can, set up live auditions at the schools. This generally does not happen through admissions; get in touch with the person who heads the part of the music dept that interests you directly -- orchestra conductor, head of the most advanced choral group, the string instructor you'd like to have as your teacher while at college -- and make an appointment. At Stanford, there is an arts supplement which is due before the application. They also have a formal procedure for live, on-campus auditions. These would appear to be a big advantage, not only because you can audition for and make a connection with a professor there, but because you may get the equivalent of an interview with the professor who will comment on you to the admissions office. (Stanford does not interview other applicants.) If you are Juilliard calibre, you might want to think about Harvard's joint program with the New England Conservatory, or some sort of Columbia/Juilliard situation. Finally, even though Yale may be Valhalla for graduate musicians, undergrads in some instruments have traditionally had complaints about getting to first tier teachers (in some areas, they end up assigned to grad students) and you may not be able to arrange an audition there. Try to talk with someone who plays your instrument at your level who attends Yale to scope out the situation.</p>
<p>The reality is that unless you are a high level major talent, with pro level performance experience, major competition wins or placements, Juilliard level playing is NOT a hook.</p>
<p>There are many fine musicians at the Ivys, of Juilliard/Curtis level ability, who have played for years with some of the best teachers in the world. A number are already playing professionally, semi-professionally.</p>
<p>Many of these are not music majors, but in academic disciplines. A number of these students will go directly into conservatory level grad programs in Master of Music programs after attaining their acadmic degree in other disciplines. </p>
<p>CCSurfer's Yale comment requires clarification. The fact is that virtually all Yale ug's study with grad assistants. It is rare that Yale SOM faculty will have an undergrad in their studios. If so, it is normally at the instructor's invitation, and often with a prior instructor/student association.</p>
<p>Unless you are among the select few descriped in my opening, it is NOT a hook. You are on a par with a number of well qualified/exceptional musical applicants.</p>
<p>What exactly is a "hook?"
I guess I would be a semi-professional? And I've been able to arrange lessons/meetings with some Yale and Stanford professors already.
Thanks so much everyone!</p>
<p>A "hook" is generally considered to be something special or unique about you (besides the standard academic and extracurricular stuff) that makes the college want you quite a bit more than the average applicant.</p>
<p>Stanford's not particularly known for music, so being conservatory-level would probably be a big bonus. I believe the process for auditions and tapes is that your audition (or tape) is heard by one of the people who teach your instrument, who evaluates it, and the evaluation is then passed on to the admissions department.</p>
<p>What instrument(s) do you play? A bit will depend on that.</p>
<p>Can someone list the ivies where a music supplement would be a big bonus and the ivies where a music supplement wouldn't really matter?</p>
<p>I play the violin. If I applied as a music major to some of these schools, would I have a larger chance of getting in? (I'm thinking about double majoring anyway) </p>
<p>I would also really love to know the answers to Bigb's question! thanks!</p>
<p>I DON'T think it will help you much at Yale, Harvard, or Columbia. Due to the location of these schools, very strong music students are attracted to these schools because they can sometimes continue to study privately with top-notch teachers without majoring in music. This is probably true at Penn and Princeton also. It might be more of a factor at the other 3.</p>
<p>I agree with shennie.</p>
<p>ugh... darn. those were the schools i was hoping to apply to. </p>
<p>would that hurt me in those colleges if music is, say, my main EC on my app?</p>
<p>No, it is not going to hurt you. It will show hard work, dedication, and ability, all things that are important in an Ivy application. It just isn't going to give you an extra boost.</p>
<p>I'm so disappointed with yale's policy on getting private teachers...</p>
<p>Eating food - it is that way at most schools. The faculty only teach students who are performance majors. Everyone else studies with grad students or instructors.</p>
<p>do yale/harvard have undergrad performance majors?</p>
<p>Yale and Harvard's undergrad music offerings are in the music academic areas of theory, composition, music history. They are BA, not BM degrees. They are not performance programs.</p>
<p>Read the websites for ensemble options, instrumental study carefully.<br>
There are numerousplaying opportunities at both, most at a very high level.</p>
<p>Do not confuse Yale's undergrad music department with Yale School of Music, which is a graduate program and does offer MM performance options. There is a BA academic/MM Yale option, which is a five year program.</p>
<p>bump! bump bump</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>They still don’t have performance majors, if the above question was the reason for the bump.</p>
<p>Please read through the thread <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/college-admissions/610823-admissions-affected-music-maybe.html?highlight=music[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/college-admissions/610823-admissions-affected-music-maybe.html?highlight=music</a> and the series of links within. It’s a basic outline of the realities, and yes there may well be the exception. There are many here with vast experience that purport to understand the intricacies of Ivy admissions. I can’t put myself in that category, but I can relate what I know of the potential effect of a music factor as a possible additional data point. In certain rare instances, it may be an actual hook, although more likely a very heavy added additional facet that separates equally qualified candidates into “yes or no pools”. There are many who are exceptionally well qualified that don’t make the cut for whatever reasons the gods of admissions dictate.</p>
<p>As to a music talent, let me assure you that there are numerous conservatory level (and above) undergrad students at HYP et al, many of whom are pursuing academic disciplines other than music. At the highest levels, it’s beyond talent, to the level of artistry. Some are already performing professionally as section players, ensemble artists, or soloists. A number, albeit a small percentage will actually pursue MM performance degrees at the finest US and European conservatories after a Yale, Harvard, Princeton, etc. non music degree.</p>
<p>Search the forum (and the music major forum as well) for posts by mamenyu which detail some pros and cons of the Ivy music programs. I have also posted similar offerings, but a good portion is repeated within the links I gave you.</p>
<p>Specifically, the Ivies offer no performance based degrees. The offerings are in the music academic disciplines of theory, history, ethnomusicology, and composition. They are BA’s, not BMs. Yale’s undergrad program is detailed here: [Yale</a> Department of Music > Undergraduate Program > Introduction](<a href=“Welcome | Department of Music”>Welcome | Department of Music) Note the left sidebar link to the BA/MM program in conjunction with Yale SOM.</p>
<p>Without knowing your musical experiences and background, I cannot begin to suggest if it might be an additional data point. Do not underestimate the level of talent at the undergrad level at Yale, Harvard, or Princeton. The breath, depth and scope at Yale tends to be spread across many instruments; the others far less so, but there are exceptional performers at each. However, for many, an Ivy music experience does not provide the peer quality and instrumental depth for a conservatory level orchestral and in many cases small ensemble participatory experience.</p>
<p>Realize that few undergrads at Yale study with SOM faculty. Most lessons are taught by highly talented and capable GA’s, many of them artists in their own right. Those undergrads that do study with SOM faculty usually have prior experience with the instructor, or who have been invited specifically by the instructor into the studio. </p>
<p>If you have the stats to be competitive at the Ivies, and can truly count yourself as a conservatory level talent by all means apply. It may be your way in. It may not. In any event, you will be in competition with many of equal or greater ability.</p>
<p>Good luck to you.</p>