<p>I am not familiar with this to the extent that you need. You don't appear to be planning on majoring in music, and the normal advice is that an EC such as varsity football in high school is not going to help you that much unless you are a recruited athlete. Playing as well as you do, they might want you for the college's orchestra. Assuming that you are interested in that anyway, you might benefit from contacting the music director at the college. They may need a clarinet player.</p>
<p>Thanks for the advice...I may end up contacting the director and asking for a live audition, as I've heard some have done in the past with success.</p>
<p>exceptional is playin Lead alongside Slash or James Hetfield</p>
<p>Well, there are adjectives above exceptional. I'm making this up but:</p>
<p>poor
mediocre
average
superior
outstanding
exceptional
unbelievable</p>
<p>inhuman
godlike</p>
<p>(Any fellow UT fans here?)</p>
<p>What everyone says in terms of what constitutes exceptional is correct. But there's a larger issue. An exceptional clarinet player will not have much impact on the world. Certainly they will provide enjoyment for a very small percent of the population, but let's face it, this is not a future world leading skill.</p>
<p>The exceptional that HYPSM... looks for are those that will be world leaders and make a true difference on a national/international level.</p>
<p>You have good stats, a nice EC and a 10% chance of getting into Princeton.</p>
<p>I don't think you have to be a world class scientist or politician to make an impact on the world. You have just relegated Shakespeare to the auxillary. On a more concrete level, where does a Pulitzer Prize winner writer or a historian writing on the Roman Empire fit into that scheme of things?</p>
<p>The point about EC's is that can show long-term commitment to an activity and that dedication is going to carry thru into any other activities that the applicant is interested in. It has taken a lot of work to get where the OP is. He/she doesn't seem to have plans to build his life around the clarinet, but what he/she has done is impressive and says alot about him/her as a person.</p>
<p>Suze's comment about the 10% chance isn't far from wrong. Harvard's accept rate is about 10% with perhaps 40% for applicants with perfect 1600 SAT's.</p>
<p>
[quote]
Certainly they will provide enjoyment for a very small percent of the population, but let's face it, this is not a future world leading skill.</p>
<p>The exceptional that HYPSM... looks for are those that will be world leaders and make a true difference on a national/international level.
[/quote]
I agree with Dufus' first paragraph. A person can certainly make a difference without being a "world leader," and there are ways to make a difference outside of politics. Just think about Yo-Yo Ma--a Harvard graduate. His music, which is obviously exceptional, is without a doubt the reason he was accepted.</p>
<p>My perspective on music and the Ivies is a bit different. If you are dedicated and good enough so that your talent would be helpful with admissions, they you should go somewhere else where you can continue your music training. Sure you can join the college orchestra but that is not the same as going to a school with a strong performance program where you can continue to develop your skills as a major, double major, or even a minor. Yale is the only Ivy with a strong music program and the program is only for graduate students. As an UG, you are not able to be accepted into the studios and work with the senior faculty.</p>
<p>I disagree. The most important part of a musical education is the teacher, and since it is often possible for one to study with a famous and prestigious teacher at a non-Conservatory, given appropriate skill and drive, then it is certainly possible to receive a great musical education at a conventional university. Orchestral experience can be had within the college or within the community. Coupled with classes in music theory/history/appreciation/training/etc., one can have a very thorough musical education while pursuing a traditional education. I seriously considered applying to Conservatories, and my teacher wanted me to do so; however, I value my learning and education, and I knew that I could get a good "normal" education at a non-Conservatory while studying music outside of college, while the opposite is more difficult. My teacher still assumes I will be a professional, regardless of where I attend school. One of her former students attended Harvard undergrad and is now principal in a major city symphony. It is more than possible to pursue a high level of further musical study while at a school not specifically made for it.</p>
<p>Hey, just out of curiosity, are you in the NE district?</p>
<p>I live in MA and auditioned for districts on alto sax but missed by 4 points :(
--I went to the concert anyhow and the concert band played A Movement for Rosa and the Jazz Band played Brass Machine. It was quite impressive.</p>
<p>Another thing you have to take into consideration is your promiximity to Boston. All the principles are likely studying with people from the Boston Conservatory or the numerous music instructors around here. NE district is especially competitive. I think making all-state in MA is an accomplishment which may not mean an Ivy league acceptance, but is definitely something to be proud of.</p>
<p>"If you are dedicated and good enough so that your talent would be helpful with admissions, they you should go somewhere else where you can continue your music training."</p>
<p>Those poor, misguided Wiffenpoofs. They should have gone to State College.</p>
<p>I have faith in you ;) JTC007... go for whatever you want to do. You have no shot if you don't take a chance :)</p>
<p>sanguine: I am actually from the Central district. The reason I was so surprised I made it was exactly the reason you stated: I've heard that traditionally most of the All-State band is filled out by kids from the very-competitive NE district and there usually isn't very much room for Central district players, never mind the Western district. Last year a tuba player from my band made All-State, and he played A Movement for Rosa (which was convenient as we had already been preparing it for MICCA). </p>
<p>As for a conservatory vs. a non-conservatory, that has never really crossed my mind as I do not plan on making music my career, but hopefully a life-long hobby.</p>
<p>I never used the C word. There are a lot of other good choices. My point was that the Ivies may not be the best choices.</p>
<p>Have you entered solo and ensemble competitions? Is there a regional youth philharmonic you could audition for? Cold you make a CD or hold your own in a college music audition? No to all of these makes it a perfectly fine EC, but not very noteworthy.</p>
<p>I am planning in the MICCA Solo and Ensemble competition doing a solo with piano. I have considering auditioning for some group...I'll look more into that. </p>
<p>edad: I know very well that the Ivies don't offer the perfect music environment. Another school I'm looking into is Northwestern, which has a very good music program. However, the only musical reason I wouldn't apply to a school would be one that didn't have any performing group...I am not limiting myself to schools with great music programs.</p>
<p>
[quote]
Last year a tuba player from my band made All-State, and he played A Movement for Rosa (which was convenient as we had already been preparing it for MICCA).
[/quote]
</p>
<p>how'd you like a movement for rosa? we're playing it for fba (florida bandmasters' association) this year, and i kind of hate it. maybe i just don't "get it" yet.</p>
<p>Yea...I loved it once I "got it". It is a very good piece when played well, with lots of emotion and contrast. We actually got a gold medal at MICCA playing it and played it at Symphony Hall in Boston....'twas cool.</p>
<p>JTC007: You might want to attend a performance or rehearsal before deciding if a specific college will meet your needs. Some college orchestras and groups are just pathetic. Many will take any student who has minimal playing ability and interest. As a HS student, my D played as a fill in at the State U. The HS orchestra was much better than the U orchestra. You should listen and then decide if the level meets your needs.</p>