teacher recommendations for prospective music majors

College Majors Music Major
1

Most music schools seem to require one or more music-related recommendations (DS has that covered) and one or two academic teacher recommendations. The standard advice on CC seems to be to get junior year teachers, ideally one in a STEM subject and one in a humanities subject. Is this advice important for music majors, too? I think DS should at least initiate a conversation or email with teachers about possible recommendations before junior year ends, so I’m asking him to give it some thought now.

DS doesn’t really know any STEM teachers from jr/soph year very well and they are his least favorite subjects so he hasn’t really stood out in any of those classes. His two best options for recommendations are 1) his junior year Spanish 4 teacher - she likes DS, is aware of his commitment to music, DS participates a lot in class and does very well or 2) his sophomore year honors World History teacher. The history teacher liked him a lot and his history research project won the school history fair and went to regionals that year, so she could talk about that. That is his most significant academic honor or award, most of his other honors and awards are music related, so it might be good to call attention to it. History is his favorite non-music subject, but his junior year US history teacher doesn’t know him as well, and I think his sophomore year teacher would write a better letter as she is a very upbeat and enthusiastic person. She has written a recommendation for him before for a leadership position.

Would either or both of those possibilities be good enough for an academic recommendation? Is a sophomore year teacher acceptable? He is not likely to have any teachers senior year that he already knows other than his band directors. For schools where he only needs one academic rec, which would be the better choice, or do the academic recommendations not matter as much for music?

As far as music recommendations, DS has at least 5 good choices (private teacher, two HS band directors, and two extracurricular ensemble directors) , but I assume it is typically the private teacher that’s usually the first choice, right? His teacher is very well regarded, has a track record of students getting into good programs, has known DS for 5 years and will have been his private teacher for 3 years. His private teacher is also the sectionals coach at his school, so has observed DS in leadership roles during marching band season, too. Primary HS band director probably would be his best choice for a second music recommendation when required. Does that seem like a good plan?

Thanks in advance.

2

When applying for a BM type performance degree, my D did not request an academic reference from a STEM teacher. She simply picked teachers she felt understood her and would write a positive academic reference.

You don’t specify the type of music degree or schools. But “in general” if it’s performance degree the audition is king. The academic references simply need to be done and solid (and any high school teacher should suffice). A STEM teacher would not be necessary.

And I think you’re on the right track for music references as well.

3

Thanks for confirming what I expected. Yes I am talking about for a BM performance degree or possibly music Ed or both, so I know the audition is most important, but some of the schools like Michigan and Northwestern are academically rigorous, as well, so I wasn’t sure what kind of weight academic recommendations might carry.

4

None of the schools S applied to requested more than one academic recommendation, but a couple of them specified that the academic recommendation come from an English teacher, or one who could attest to writing skills. S got his recommendation from his Sophomore ELA teacher because he had a great relationship with him and knew he’d write an enthusiastic letter. In your case, the history teacher would probably work, but be sure to read the recommendation requirements carefully.

S asked his teachers for recommendations at the end of his Jr. year as well, but none of them, (except from his private bass teacher), were submitted until the days they were due the following fall/winter. I’m sure it was a good thing to ask well in advance, but it didn’t eliminate the last minute nail-biting and reminders!

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I definitely will make sure we check out requirements, @indeestudios - I hope the history teacher will work for most schools, especially since his history projects have involved quite a bit of writing and research (more than his English classes, even). His junior AP Lang teacher would not be a great choice for a variety of reasons. I struggle to remember anything at all about his sophomore English teacher.