<p>My D is in the processing of applying early to her first-choice LAC. She has a strong art portfolio that she's submitting along with her application, and I've suggested to her that she send along a vocal recording of one of her original songs as well. She has been composing for years, and her creations have been performed at local schools by orchestras and choirs. She's not planning to pursue songwriting as a career (although I think she could make a go of it), but she's good enough that people at talent shows and open-mic nights have commented (and a record producer gave her his card once). She doesn't want to bombard admissions with extraneous "stuff," especially since she's not pursuing a BFA, but I thought they should know of her talent. She's balking, probably because she plans to be an art major. Thoughts???</p>
<p>Hi! My nyu ED studio art. D was planing to apply for the Filene’s music scholarship for voice at Skidmore. The CD was ready to go if she didn’t get into NYU. There were specific song requirements, but we were going to send the same recording to all schools along with her art portfolio. And music major older D send her art portfolio out in addton to music tape. Why not? Unless a school specifically says not to send supplements, why not? (Ironically NYU where they both went did not want supplements unless requested.). But college admissions s is not the time for modesty!</p>
<p>Sounds like your D had a professional recording prepared. Mine doesn’t! But I’m with you–no time for modesty here. </p>
<p>Younger D had a more professional quality CD made with her voice teacher using professional recording equipment. She recorded what was required for the Filene’s scholarship. For older D we hired an accompanist to play piano, used a digital voice recorder and it was transferred onto a CD. She put together a selection of musical theatre, classical and jazz recordings, plus some excerpts from the acappella group she founded and directed for 4 years. It was sent to all schools that she applied without a music audition. (Brandeis, Binghamton, Barnard and American.)</p>
<p>Schools won’t consider this extra “stuff”. Instead it adds insight into who she is and what she can add to the campus community. Even as an art major, D is still performing in films, taking voice lessons and uses music in performance art pieces. As a matter of fact, a big part of a letter of recommendation D got this past year from a Dean of NYU (who ran the scholars group she was part of) went into how they loved how D was the embodiment of the creativity that NYU stands for and went into how they loved that she excelled in theatre, voice and art.</p>
<p>She should definitely go for it!</p>
<p>My IR major DD with no plans for a career in the arts submitted both a photography and voice arts supplements to most of the schools where she applied. Whether or not it made a difference it was a sense of accomplishment for her to put together these portfolios of years of work.</p>
<p>OK, I’ve booked a recording studio for tomorrow. At the very least, she will finally have a professional recording of what she’s worked so hard to create.</p>