<p>Wondering whether or not a music hook would help if one applies for a science major...</p>
<p>My take would basically be that if your music is good enough to be a hook, you will probably be looking forward to a careeer in music--not science.</p>
<p>Meaning that its basically of no help whatsoever? I love music but want to major in science, becuase I hope to become a doctor. I'm sensing that without many accomplishments in the sciences I don't stand a chance...Would it be possible to do a double-majored in music and science?</p>
<p>At Harvard, Music is only a hook if you're one of the absolute best in the country. Harvard does have a need for musicians to fill its musical groups, but it gets so many talented musician applicants, that in order for it to be of much real value in admissions, you would really have to be amazing. If you are that good, then it doesn't matter that you plan on majoring in science, it will still be a big boost. Even if you aren't amazing, it will still look good on your app to have dedication in music.</p>
<p>It helps if you play a rare instrument</p>
<p>do you think attending juilliard pre-college (major in piano, minor in composition) would be considered a hook? any input is appreciated. thanks.</p>
<p>Its possible...
who'd you study with in piano and composition?</p>
<p>Not a rare instrument (piano). But what would qualify as exceptional, exactly?</p>
<p>Waht about Harp?</p>
<p>I guess I'm kinda in the same boat, I play piano but probably am leaning towards a major in something like neuroscience. But how good is "good enough" for music to be considered a hook? </p>
<p>I have performed at Carnegie Hall...Kimmel Center...international appearances throughout china and germany. And got accepted to the Juilliard Summer Music Academy in Leipzig. Basically that program selects only 70 conservatory students across the world to come study in Leipzig, kids from like Curtis and Juilliard etc and out of the 70, 15 are pianists; I got in at age 14 making me the youngest ever. (wow that sounded like major bragging i apologize) but does that count as "good enough"?</p>
<p>thelittleone- on the paper (from you description), that probably sounds go enough to be a hook. However, the definate way to prove that to the adcom is to send in a recording to be judged by the music faculty (informally) at Harvard. On the otherhand, be aware that playing at Carnegie Hall is not as difficult as one thinks; if you're rich, you can easily rent the place, esp the smaller Weill Recital Hall. But again, what you describe sounds good enough. But remember, many others applying to Harvard ALSO have played at Carnegie, NJPAC, Walt Disney Hall and the other big league concert halls. Many have made debuts with large orchestras in concertos. So the best judge of your talent on the instrument is a quality recording.</p>
<p>As for what counts as an exceptional music hook, thats harder to pin down. A few major awards in competitions or performances at famous venues or with famous performers will matter. To the adcoms, that looks pretty good. But to prove it, the additional recording might make or break. If you've won many awards but the music department evaluates your recording performance at a 2 or 3 out of 5, it probably wont help you and might even bring suspicion to the credibility of the awards you've won.</p>
<p>Kirei na Neko Ku- Yes, it would be easier to play a rarer instrument and be considered a hook. You still have to be good at it, very good in fact. But the competition is less stifiling than for pianists and violinists. (And violinists are better than pianists)- An orhcestra NEEDS strings (for 99.999% of pieces). The largest works in the repertorie requires up to 16 first chairs and 16 second violins. They need to be good. An orhcestra doesnt need more than 2 pianists (and probably less than in 5% of the music they play- not counting concertos.) So yes, they'd might want a good tuba player over an exceptional pianist some years.</p>
<p>Gneraly, for your music to help at top schools it needs to be good enought to get you into Julliard.</p>
<p>So lets say that music is a "very strong factor" instead. And you're pretty well rounded...Can/Should you still give Harvard a shot or save the extra application fee $?</p>
<p>Yes, yes, yes...give it a shot but remember, it also depends on your academic, testing stats</p>
<p>what about the bassoon</p>
<p>im in a similar situation as the OP. I plan to go into premed but hope to use music as a hook. I play the marching/rudimental snare drum and have won state championships, marched drum and bugle corps, etc etc. I realize that this isnt a very common instrument, but its rarely used outside of marching band/ pep bands. Do you guys think this could possibly give me a leg-up in admissions? Colleges have to fill marching band spots, but would an instrument like this do much for me? Thanks for your input.</p>
<p>Bassoon and horn are in great demand in any orchestra.. So IMO, it helps</p>
<p>yeah...again i emphasize this, if your halfway decent at the tuba or in percussion in general, you're gonna be better off than just another pianist or violinist.</p>
<p>This doesn't excuse you from bad test scores or low grades but it does help if everything else is there. But also remember, an orchestra really only needs like 3-4 bassons. Everything besides the strings are also lower in numbers in the orchestra. So while there's less competition theres also less spots. I'm really not sure of what the ratio of applying violinists/#needed and say bassoons applying/#needed in orchestra.</p>
<p>there are usually 3 bassoon parts and occasionally a contrabasson</p>
<p>OK...so someone prompted me to do this all over again. This was posted in the Yale Board by me and I'm reposting it here. Regarding
a "music hook" at HYPS: </p>
<p>Unless your SATs, GPA, rank (academics) are steller, don't expect high school jazz choir (even if it is the most prestigious at YOUR school) or 4 years of Sax lessons in middle school is NOT A HOOK!</p>
<p>I know a few musicians- composers/performers at the top schools- HYPS and their resume "before matriculation" looked something like this; its even better now:</p>
<p>Example:
Juilliard Pre-college 10-12 grades (piano and composition)
Davidson Fellowship- Music Composition
ARTS Award Level One- Composition
Several awards from ASCAP and BMI- Composition
Boston University Tanglewood Insitute</p>
<p>That's just an example. I'm not going to name names, but many some people on this board knows who I'm talking about anyway. That's a hook. Piano lessons, High school show choir and middle school sax lessons ain't getting you anywhere....</p>
<p>Now I saying this because you SATs are low and your rank is at the bottom of the first decile; you just won't stand out. </p>
<p>I want to end this "Music Hook" thing once and for all. Yes, some people who are really good on an instrument (esp. rare) may get in. But the music Hook competition at HYPS- esp Yale- is very, very bad. Your up against impossible odds.</p>