My son is considering applying ED to Vassar; he’s a songwriter and musician for his own rock band as well as some other projects, and plays jazz fairly well. He is not intending to major in music, but wants to submit some of the recorded songs he wrote and played on. They are good, but will this be helpful? The classical/jazz professors won’t necessarily find it compelling. Thanks.
Hi bklynkids, you may already know this, but if you’re submitting via Slideroom Vassar asks whether you want music faculty to review the submissions at all. If your son is sending these in just to show his well-roundedness, share a sense of his personality, etc. he can submit for AO review without faculty review.
When we were on campus recently, I got talking with a current student who put links to some non-classical performances in the “MySpace” section – along with a bloopers reel, to show that he doesn’t take himself too seriously. That’s another option (and we know he got in!).
I realize that none of this answers your actual question, but I hope it helps. I have definitely heard – in general, not specific to Vassar – that if you submit an arts portfolio for faculty review, the faculty will judge it as though you are a prospective major. That creates the risk of a negative comment where you may have intended only to show “this is who I am in my free time.”