<p>I am planning to publish a cd for my club ( a symphony orchestra)
Do you think that is a deciding factor?</p>
<p>definitely not</p>
<p>Hold on a second jono, music is very well a deciding factor in Harvard, especially classical music. The big four, Yale, Stanford, Harvard, and Princeton, all have huge orchestral programs (I think Harvard may have as many as four and the Princeton one is also professional class). Colleges such as Harvard are basically run by white elites, and the important socializing element of "high culture" is classical music. Therefore, one of the first qualities colleges such as Harvard is musical talent. If you don't believe me, look up on Harvard's many orchestras. Publishing a cd for your orchestra would do wonders for your resume yahooo (after all, how many high school students actually get published) and could be a major factor in determining your acceptance.</p>
<p>One more thing, do you think Harvard will consider this more since my club is student-conducted? ( Since it is a club, the conductor is a student not a teacher?) My club has 50+ members and growing .... I am planning to publish a cd for this club pretty soon.</p>
<p>Harvard is always looking for things that stand out, and student-oriented orchestras (much like those in Harvard) will make a pretty good impression. However, the real important factor is your position in this club.</p>
<p>i am the president / founder .... Do you think that if i emphasize that this is a symphony( strings and winds) , a first for the school district, it would boost my chances?</p>
<p>You have to be very careful when writing your application. Harvard doesn't want to know every single detail, just the important facts. Just write on your transcript something like "Founder/President of school Symphony Orchestra" and include a "professional-looking" published CD. Trust me, colleges dig this kind of stuff.</p>
<p>I'm a musician, actually a really good one. I know how well musicians do when they apply to colleges. I already got into Columbia ED. But making a CD of your orchestra isn't a hook. Soooo many kids can say they're involved in orchestras.</p>
<p>Are you the conductor? It's a really good thing that you've set up the first orchestra in your district. THAT is what you should emphasize. You can WRITE about that. If this orchestra doesn't sound very good, don't send them a CD. Send them an essay.</p>
<p>Hey jono, what instrument do you play?</p>
<p>I play cello</p>
<p>Cool. Did you send a tape/CD recording with your application? If so, what pieces did you pick?</p>
<p>Are you a musician? What instrument? I sent a Bach suite movement and a Beethoven sonata movement. Columbia requests two contrasting pieces.</p>
<p>I play violin, but my brother play's cello. I'm thinking of sending Saint-Saen's concerto, Mendelsson, or Lalo Symphonie espagnol. I hear Beethoven sonata is a killer.</p>
<p>Not a technical killer like the toughest concertos are killers, but they're GREAT pieces of music, no doubt. Anything by Beethoven is a killer because the musician has to take on a work of genius.</p>
<p>A lot of violinists probably send them Mendelssohn. I like that one the best of the three. Saint-Saens is kind of a sh***y composer, but I do like the opening of that concerto. I also like his cello concerto in a minor. I, personally, hate Lalo. His cello concerto is so oppressive. Once I was forced to listen to the whole damn d minor entirety of it in a closed, dark concert hall. It was torture. Maybe the composer likes that key? Send the one you play best, but anyway you've got some offerings that'll let schools know you're a serious violinist.</p>
<p>I play the french horn so i might send them a Mozart Horn Concerto. BTW horn is a really hard instrument... i hope they know that</p>
<p>I think everyone knows that!!! Yeah, it's hard. For some reason, french horn players tend to become conductors. hmmmmmmm</p>
<p>Make sure it sounds good, though, as french horns go.</p>
<p>do you think it would be something that would stand out amidst all the piano players, violin....</p>
<p>I couldn't say. If I were an admissions officer or music teacher, I'd rather listen to amazing piano and string instrument playing. But that's ME. On the other hand, I'd also hate listening to bad music by those instruments. I should never work in admissions because I would reject anyone who sent in a ****ty CD on piano or string instruments. Or trumpet or something. Uggh. I would really wonder how the person could be so naive to send in a bad musical CD. Like it would help. Ha. What an idiot, I'd say to myself, and I'd also say to myself that this person thinks he/she has talent in music or thinks he/she puts time into music when it's totally obvious to me that he/she doesn't, because I actually know what it means to be serious about music. And it's not 2 hours a week. </p>
<p>So, to answer your question, say I'm in admissions or the music department. A french horn CD would stand out more to me because of the bravery of it and the rarity of it, but then I'd still be able to tell if it's good or not. These CDs get sent off to the music departments for review and critique. They'd know if admissions doesn't. But admissions likely would, anyway. </p>
<p>Yes, a fairly good french horn CD would stand out, though. Can you play Schumann Adagio and Allegro? Now THAT is something I'd love to listen to if I were judging your app. Or something of similar goodness.</p>