<p>Hello, I play in band as one of my extracurriculars, and I am interested in continuing to play in college. Should I submit a music tape supplement? Also, how good do you have to be for it to actually help your application at Stanford? Are most people at the all-county/all-state level, or are they at the all-eastern/all-midwestern/all-american level?</p>
<p>I don't think you can submit a music tape supplement...you can submit an art supplement (only allowed if you've been recognized for extraordinary achievement) along with an instructor's recommendation.</p>
<p>You can submit a music tape supplement (there is a special form for it in the application). I think now they require a letter of recommendation from your music instructor, but your band director probably can write one for you if you don't have a better source. </p>
<p>If the music dept likes your tape, it can certainly help you with admissions. If they don't, it will not hurt you. I don't know what level most people are, but all-state is certainly good enough to play in the wind ensemble. </p>
<p>You don't need to be able to play at all to be in the marching band, but that is a whole different story.</p>
<p>I definitely think you should send one in. As nngmm stated, it can only help you.</p>
<p>I sent one in with my singing. I hadn't done any competitions (not that there are very many for Indian classical singing...), but it has been a huge part of my life since the 5th grade. If you have a sincere passion for it, or you're just really good, definitely send one in. It's also fun recording the CD if you don't really have any recordings of yourself playing before. Definitely worthwhile!!! :)</p>
<p>what about for piano? i'm sure with the tons of asians applying that it must be extremely competitive to stand out in piano</p>
<p>If music is one of your passions, then definitely consider sending in a tape. I was very involved in music in high school... wind ensemble, marching band, pit orchestra, jazz ensemble, clarinet, sax, piano...I sent a recording in, I was fifth-chair clarinet IMEA district level back in high school, and now I'm at Stanford...have played in the wind ensemble, and am minoring in music now. Who knows if the tape helped, but it certainly didnt hurt.</p>
<p>"I don't think you can submit a music tape supplement...you can submit an art supplement (only allowed if you've been recognized for extraordinary achievement) along with an instructor's recommendation."</p>
<p>I don't think this is true. Stanford recommends that you have been awarded, but doesn't require it. But that's just to weed out the bad artists. A good portfolio is a good portfolio, and I think they will recognize that regardless of awards won. I know tons of amazing artists who never have won any awards.</p>
<p>I'm looking at last year's fine arts supplement application, but I don't see anything about a recommendation... is this new for this year?</p>
<p>Hmmm...try reading the back with the descriptions for each type of supplement that you can send. The requirements are different depending on what you decide to send (i.e. instrument, vocal, dance, etc.).</p>
<p>Oh wow how could I have missed that... it was in bold too</p>
<p>Thanks. Does anyone know if they'll still keep the form now that the school has converted to the Common Application?</p>
<p>To answer your last question, the top players in the Wind Ensemble are at all-state level. You certainly don't have to be at that level to play in the ensemble, though. I think the same is true of wind/percussion players in the orchestra also. And you may not have to be at all-state level to have a tape help you with admissions.</p>
<p>Like nngmm said, marching band is a whole different thing. Feel free to PM me with questions about wind ensemble or band. I'm slightly less knowledgeable about orchestra.</p>