Should I get a Rec Letter from this teacher?

Applying to College
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<p>So I've almost gotten my list solidified for the teachers I am going to ask for a recommendation letter. One I'm still throwing around though has to do with my music directors. Here is the situation:</p>

<p>First is my choir director. Between the two directors, he clearly knows me in the best context. I have worked with him since day one of freshman year, and he has seen me grow the most as I came in as primarily a piano player and a timid singer and turn into one of the strongest singers in the choir. He not only knows my heavy knowledge of music (I've played piano since I was six years old), but he has also seen me as take in what he teaches and improve myself. I have worked more closely with him, since I took voice lessons from him for a while and two years ago he helped me extensively with an audition portfolio as I applied for a summer music camp. While I've never had a formal leadership role in choir, he knows that I serve as one regardless and how I am always able to take charge in rehearsal. Overall, I feel I have a slightly stronger connection with him than my band director.</p>

<p>Here is the issue I have with asking him. Very recently, he and I had a very important discussion over the summer. The subject was regarding a choir camp that is required of students that make it into the most highly selective group in the school. Because of how busy I was with other music events (such as band camp, summer musical, etc.) I had very limited time to visit colleges. Not to mention, prior to summer, I had only visited two colleges. I talked with him because my parents emailed him that I needed to miss the camp, which he was VERY unhappy about, in order to go on these college visits. I went in one day during the summer to explain the situation a little further, it turned very emotional (for me at least), and it was a bad situation...also during that discussion, I had to inform him that I would no longer be going to college for music (which I planned to do for the first two and a half years of high school), and I'm unsure as to how he took this.</p>

<p>Now, on to my band director. I started band (officially) in my sophomore year when I joined jazz band. However, he has known me since freshman year but in a different context. He was my pit orchestra director for the spring musical for which I played piano, and I also occasionally participated in band concerts when he needed a piano player. I also had him for a music theory class I took in sophomore year. Finally, in junior year, I joined marching/concert band as a percussionist (after he convinced me). Therefore, I believe he knows me in a different sense because he has seen me have to make a tough transition between classical piano, to jazz piano, to concert and marching percussion. In addition, he also has seen me more in a "formal" leadership position, since I am section leader for marching percussion this year. In this way, he knows how strongly I can lead other peers and how I can take charge in an environment in which there is little adult authority. He also has witnessed my power to lead because I often give very motivational speeches to my section, and he hears about this a lot.</p>

<p>Both directors know of my dedication to what I do and my knowledge and abilities. But each knows me in different ways. My choir director has a more personal relationship with me, but we have had more disagreements along the way. My band director knows me in more formal settings, but he also has seen me in more social settings as I interact with other students.</p>

<p>Anyways, sorry for the long explanation! Based on these descriptions (and I can also include others if needed), which would be better to ask for a recommendation letter?</p>

<p>I realize I am not going into music (actually, mechanical engineering will be my major). But I feel they both would be able to explain qualities about me that are important regardless of major. And they can do so better than any other teachers in the whole school. What do you guys think (for those who took the time to read all of this)? :)</p>

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<p>Which teachers are writing your other recs? Music teachers should be an additional rec (not one of the required ones) because they are not academic teachers. Honestly either one would work, but my vote is for the band director.</p>

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<p>@guineagirl96. My other recs will come from my junior year physics teacher and potentially my junior year Calculus teacher. I still talk to both of them and they know me very well. The physics teacher wrote me a recommendation letter for an internship I applied to (I didn’t get it…) and I was able to read it. So I know he can write me a good one. I’m also thinking about my Spanish teacher in the upcoming senior year. Her daughter is my age and she has known me for as long as her daughter and I have had classes together. She also helped me out for a few months in finding an option for me to continue with Spanish (since I could for third year Spanish into my junior schedule, but I wanted to go on to AP Spanish).</p>

<p>I was planning on using one of them as an additional recommendation. As I mentioned, that can’t really attest to my STEM background, but they can comment a lot on my personality, dedication, leadership, and integrity.</p>

<p>Both of them have very different personalities. My choir teacher is very formal, while my band director is more laid back. My choir director wrote a rec letter for me for the summer camp, and it was an AMAZING letter. But that was two years ago, before a lot of changes in me happened and some situations (like those stated above) happened…</p>

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<p>The problem is that I won’t really be able to see the letters. They will be through Common App, so I basically just choose the teachers and they write the letters. It’s not like I can read the letters and then pick between them.</p>

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<p>i’d go for the band director. . </p>

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<p>@theanaconda. Any reason for picking the band director over the choir director? I’m just curious and trying to make a good decision.</p>

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<p>He seems like he likes you more and still has seen your growth and work as a leader.</p>

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<p>@theanaconda. Make sense. Do you think it would be wise to get letters from both of them and if I get the chance to read either of them, choose from them? A few of them will be done through Common App (so I won’t be able to read them), but some other schools may allow me to read them (though I’m not sure). </p>

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<p>Are you planning to submit a music supplement with your application? If yes, then complement your music supplement with a letter/note from the appropriate teacher in the music area you choose. That letter can be open in that it would need to focus on your musical training and talent. There should be no drama with such a letter since it would need to focus explicitly on your musical skill. You can of course choose to submit two music supplements, one in each area of talent.</p>

<p>If however you don’t plan to submit a supplement then a reference from either teacher doesn’t seem especially compelling.</p>

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<p>@fogcity. Do you think it would be a good idea to submit a music supplement? I won’t be going into music in college, but mechanical engineering. Should I submit one anyway?</p>

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<p>No, music supplements are for those who plan on majoring or minoring in music, or have extraordinary planning ability, proved through awards (placing in a concerto competition, all state, etc).</p>

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<p>@guineagirl96 Many of the activities I do for music are through the school now, but I do quite a few other things. I teach private piano lessons (basically my own business), I play piano at the local hospital (music therapy), I have participated in my state’s Music Educator’s Association festivals (district festival for two years, all-state for one year, all in choir), and I’ve done a lot with solo and ensemble as well. </p>

<p>Based on this, would it be a good idea to submit a music supplement, or should I just leave the awards be?</p>

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<p>I’d leave it be, unless you are truly prepared already. The tapes have to be stellar to have any effect on your app. Think about it this way, there are students submitting tapes that have played in carnegie hall, won national concerto competitions, soloed with orchestras, etc. How would your tape sound next to theirs? Im exaggerating a bit, but people don’t realize that colleges aren’t interested in hearing a recording from your average or above average high school player- they have enough paperwork to look at (im not saying you are, i’ve never heard you of course). Just be sure to note the awards on your app, because those will show your playing abilities and commitment, which add to your application! </p>

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<p>@guineagirl96 Thank you very much! That makes perfect sense. </p>

<p>As far as the teacher recommendations go, I would still really like to include at least one of my director’s recommendations into my applications. Since music is a huge part of both my curricular and extracurricular life, I believe their words would create a great bridge between the activities I put on paper (or the Common App…) and my true character.</p>