<p>so as far as i can tell i have two options for the music supplement. one is that i play cello, did a recording of two contrasting pieces etc. just as they expect. the recording isn't bad necessarily but it's not spectacular and i feel that it is unlikely to affect my application except perhaps in that it would emphasize the fact that i am actually a musician. </p>
<p>i also create electronic/sample-based music, so option two would be that i could send one or two pieces in. my two significant worries about this are that, a. they're not composition submissions in the typical format of score + cd and they might not exactly be the genre they're looking for, although i'm not sure exactly how to define them (electronic minimalism?...sorry if that sounds pretentious) and b. is that i compose the pieces from small samples, usually of specific sounds, of other artists work. i personally consider it my own work because the samples are so small and mostly unrecognizable and because the songs are built from so many of them, but because there are so many artists and most of them are well-known enough to be difficult to contact, i have only received permission to use from a few of them (the ones that i've been able to contact; no one's denied). so basically, i worry that swat could see the submission as legally questionable (although according to the copyright law that i've read precedent shows that sampling is considered fair use and licensing is generally unnecessary if the samples are small enough and don't rip intellectual property like melodies or chord progressions).</p>
<p>on the other hand, a friend of mine who submitted some of his own electronic/guitar-based music says i'm being ridiculous, that it's totally legal and that i should submit something. moreover, i don't mention that i make my own music anywhere else on the app, i think my songs display my creativity and musicality much much better than my cello recordings, and that swat could be especially receptive to this more unusual submission; their supplement form seems deliberately vague, asking you only to check the type of submission (music) and briefly describe "your piece". </p>
<p>it's a weird question. any advice? my more succinct feelings are that my cello submission wouldn't add anything to the app, whereas my composition submission could definitely add something but could also possibly detract...</p>
<p>I submitted a flute supplement to Swat, and I feel as if it adds a lot to my overall background in music. Personally, I think you should submit the electronic one. You say that you think it adds something unique to your application, and you don’t believe your cello one does that. Why not take the chance? You seem to have researched the legal aspect of this, and if the sampling is so small, I don’t think Swat will have a problem with it. Take a risk. Send in your electronic stuff. If you’re still really worried, why not submit one cello song and one electronic one? Mix it up a little. You want to give the admissions committee something different and unique, but ultimately the choice lies with you. Send in whatever you feel contributes to your application.</p>
<p>well i actually finally found the sheet that provides specific instructions for supplemental materials. my sample-based music would not fulfill the requirements for the composition portion, because i don’t have actual scores. the fact that there are actually concrete instructions makes we wary of ‘taking a risk’. do you still think i should submit my music? regardless of whether i do i think i will submit my cello recordings because they fulfill the instrumental requirements. thoughts?</p>
<p>The music department will understand that minimalist electronic music doesn’t have a score in the conventional sense. Call the department (they’ll be listening, not the admissions folks) if you’re concerned, but really, the electronic one should be fine.</p>
<p>I agree with the posters above me. Like eagertolearn, I am also a flutist and I submitted a music supplement. The electronic work that you do sounds very unique and creative, and I don’t think it would really hurt you. It seems to me that the worst case scenario is that it isn’t considered at all and neither helps nor hurts you. I think it would definitely help you stand out…go ahead and submit it!</p>
<p>would it be over the top or otherwise frowned-upon so submit both? if they do choose not to evaluate the electronic piece as you suggest is the worse-case scenario (probably correct) i would at least like them to evaluate my instrumental credentials…</p>
<p>My son is a current freshman and submitted two music supplements since he was quite proficient on both instruments. (Totally different instruments.)</p>
<p>Seconding the suggestion to submit both samples. The electronic one may or may not be evaluated, but it can’t hurt.</p>
<p>sorry for the late reply–
i don’t think it’d hurt to send in both. </p>
<p>i actually sent in 3, and when i checked my application status online, all 3 were listed as submitted–which means they’re accepting them all. the best one was a piano recording, and i had one for cello i also considered good but not spectacular. i didn’t know what they’d think about the third, a philosophical essay</p>
<p>a bit late now, but did you guys send your different supplements in separately, or together in a single package?</p>
<p>When I applied, I submitted my two music supplements in a single large envelope to each school. Each one was distinctly labeled within the package with a listing of tracks and relevant information (like composer, arranger, length, etc.).</p>