I’ve been playing violin since 4th grade and playing in the school orchestra since 6th. It was always one of my favorite things in the world until high school. I’m in 10th now and have had bad experiences in the class (mostly my fault) but I still really like the instrument. I’m no where near the best, and I don’t know if I should continue something I’m not incredible at. I’m not doing music in college obviously, but it would be sad to ditch an activity that’s always had a huge part in my life and that I still enjoy. I’m afraid I’m going to regret quitting if I do. I’m in the 2nd best group out of 5 so I could audition for the top one? I’m just really upset over a recent performance so I may be letting my feelings influence my decisions at this point so I need some outside opinions. Any experiences in doing music in high school? Did it benefit you even if you didn’t pursue it in college? Does the commitment look good on apps? Does it look bad if I quit? If I quit, I would most likely replace it with AP seminar or AP Psych. If I stay in orch, I still would have taken 9-10 APs throughout HS.
I would continue with orchestra because colleges would rather see commitment I think.
Then you should continue. Music can be a great companion through your entire life.
You should continue for two reasons: 1) it’s something you really enjoy and would regret later should you quit now; 2) whether you excel at it or not, it’d show your long-term participation and commitment.
In order for the musical skills to be on par with an advantageous “hook” for college admissions, you’d have to be at a conservatory level performer. From your own description, that doesn’t seem to be the case. So, do it for the above two reasons, especially for the reason 1).
If you so enjoy the orchestra, why should you already decide that you will not participate in it once in college? I’d encourage you to reconsider.
If you enjoy orchestra then stick with it. You don’t have to be an amazing talent to enjoy playing. My D always found orchestra to be a nice respite from a day filled with challenging academics (and FWIW she continued to play in her college orchestra).
If you don’t enjoy HS orchestra you may want to see if you can find another way to continue playing (ex. an orchestra in your community, your place of worship etc.)
No, no, no, no, no, no, NO!
There are also many many great reasons for a young person to continue to engage in playing a musical instrument for the benefits that this provides to their mind, their mental health, their emotional and spiritual growth.
THOSE are reasons to continue with orchestra. NOT what “colleges would rather see”.
Taking classes, doing ECs, spending every moment of one’s years until the age of 18 doing everything because it is “what colleges would rather see” is a waste of a life.
@knaga11, @happy1 provides good advice. If you like orchestra, but don’t like playing it is your school, find a different place to play. Playing music provides so much more to you than would adding two more APs. Besides, despite whatever you have heard, 9-10 APs is enough to demonstrate that you have class rigor.
If you want to continue playing your instrument in an orchestra at college, that would be great. perhaps you will find that you prefer playing in different types of setting - I don’t know which instrument, so I can’t provide examples, but off hand i would think of things like a small jazz band for most instruments, or a different type of band.
Over the many years I have lived, I have not yet heard somebody who said “I really regret learning how to play an instrument and playing it”. Well, once, and that person was tone deaf, but their parents didn’t believe them. I have heard many kids regretting taking a couple more AP classes instead of doing something more interesting or useful.
tl:dr Don’t drop orchestra, or play your instrument in a different orchestra or setting. In any case, continue playing your instrument. You won’t regret it.