Looking at Brown’s website for what to submit for music, I have a couple of questions regarding it.
Students uploading a music submission should include the following information:
“A description of music theory training and/or ensemble experience”
Do we just list all of our experiences with music? Do we need to write it in an essay format like with the supplemental questions? Should I just mention some awards here? If I play multiple instruments, can I add them all under ensemble experience?
“A description of the most challenging repertoire you have studied and the style or period (i.e., jazz, classical, romantic)”
When it means "most challenging repertoire you have studied," does it have to be pieces that I've completely learned, or can I describe pieces that I'm still learning but have greatly analyzed?
“Original compositions should be marked as such, with a score included.”
If I'm submitting an original composition, do I need to be able to play it live, or can I just send a MIDI (mp3) with a soundfont on it? Most of my compositions would require me a few weeks to learn, which I don't have.
“Students in rare circumstances may upload two music submissions only when their talent is equally impressive in two different areas within music performance or composition.”
Does uploading two music submissions mean something like this?
Portfolio:
Original composition
Piano playing of some piece
I'm a musician who plays both piano and composes music. Would this be a fine submission, or do I need more/less items?
Portfolio (0-5 items):
Original composition (PDF)
Original composition (mp3)
One advanced piano piece of me playing (mp3)
How much does the quality of the piano recording matter? I'm not certain whether I can play on a full grand piano or find a recording studio nearby, and my current upright piano is a bit off, where certain keys don't work with the pedal, and the sound quality isn't the greatest.
Finally, at what level of piano does this portfolio start to benefit for me; I'm not sure how good I have to be.
I've played pieces like Liszt's Un Sospiro, Schubert's Impromptu Op 90 No. 4, and a few other pieces around that level cleanly (and Ravel's Une Barque sur L'Ocean). Haven't learned to play Ravel's Ondine (Gaspard de la Nuit) cleanly yet, and I'm still learning Kapustin's Toccatina (Eight Concert Etudes).
@Skyfire : I believe the music/art portfolio is of ultimate importance if you are really good at it. Take a look at this girl’s art portfolio (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gH7wDR1gpQM) to get an idea. Last semester, there is a Medical Illustration course (http://med.brown.edu/pedisurg/IllustrationClass/PLMEHome.htm). You won’t believe the quality of the work done by students for this pass/fail course. Don’t worry too much about the instruction. My interpretation of the instruction is not better than yours. I do believe you should present your portfolio in the most professional way possible. See last year’s music portfolio thread for more information. We use a professional studio for piano recording (concert grand piano). My kid is also a concert master. We did not submit violin recording. We only submit three piano pieces.
Hi, my daughter was accepted to Brown a few years ago.
Her music portfolio was:
a music resume that included her experience on both instruments plus her school chorus (list of ensembles, years of private instruction, awards, etc.) She arranged the resume by instrument with activities/awards under each section. She also included recent repertoire at the end of the resume, just for her primary instrument, with one piece labeled as “in progress”
She also included recommendation letters from her private teacher on her main instrument and her school music teacher.
Then she submitted mp3 recordings of two piano pieces, one Beethoven sonata and one Chopin piece. She recorded them on an iPhone (audio only) at her teacher’s church, so professional recording is not required.
She did not submit original compositions, but I am pretty sure that MIDI version would be OK. My other child is applying to colleges now and most schools say that while they prefer live recordings, MIDI versions will suffice. Since this is a music supplement and not an application to a conservatory, I would think MIDI is fine.
I don’t know if they’ve changed the instructions, but when I applied a few years ago it was not stated that you had to perform the composition, only that a recording of the composition (plus a pdf of the score) be sent. So I sent a live ensemble recording. You can certainly ask Brown to clarify, but my experience was they will accept MIDI realizations, even if not their preference.
Thank you all for the responses: it’s been very helpful. I have one more question: Is it preferred to play two pieces rather than one, or does it not matter? The total time for recordings have to add up 15 minutes or less, but I’m deciding between playing two pieces and sending one good but not-my-favorite original composition or playing only one piece but being able to send my favorite original composition.
@Skyfire : It is really your call. In my opinion, it is the quality which counts. Do you believe the listener has time to finish listening the 15 mins recording? I have known so many people who have music/art portfolios at Brown. It seems to really help some applicants. In fact, recently I saw a particular college consultant boasting that one of their clients (international, probably at an US boarding school) got into Brown ED this cycle with GPA 3.9, SAT 1420, TOEFL 101. This person has been playing piano for 14 years and played at an Italian music festival. What surprised me was that they claim they cold-call music department professors and got an in-person on-campus interview/performance opportunity. I believe this person must be really good at playing piano for this to work.