<p>enough said in the question...</p>
<p>How much of a hook do you need as a musician to greatly appeal to Harvard Admissions Officers?</p>
<p>Just do your thing, be passionate, get involved with as much music-related stuff as possible both within and outside of school. Winning stuff probably helps. </p>
<p>An idea might be to pick a really fiendish piece, or something which requires a lot of feeling like Chopin, and practice it until you are incredible. You can record it and send it in as part of your app.</p>
<p>Unless you are an absolute music genius though, you should probably do a few other ECs and study hard. The overall package would give you a strong application.</p>
<p>to have music as a hook, you need to be at the level where you are a competitive applicant at Curtis and a potential acceptee at Juilliard. Anything lower than that does not provide a hook. Awards aren't nearly as important as your playing ability, but are often correlated (but not always), so send a killer CD.</p>
<p>Music will be a strong factor (not hook) in your app if you meet sort of these qualifications:</p>
<p>Outstanding musician in a nationally known youth orchestra or conservatory prep programs: GBYSO, NYSO, PYO, COYO, CSYO, and those Cali Youth Orchs. Juilliard Pre-College, NEC Prep, Interlochen, Idyllwild, Settlement Music School.</p>
<p>Participation in a nationally known summer program: Interlochen, Aspen, Tanglewood, Eastern Music Festival, Brevard, Blossom, Yellowbarn, and ENCORE (the latter 3 for strings)</p>
<p>Or you could win concerto competitions with major orchs (Philly, NYP, BO, CO, or Cleveland) etc..</p>
<p>Consider the NFAA program too. Music "recruits," if you will, have talent of the Presidential Scholar in Arts Caliber.</p>
<p>Something that does NOT matter is how long you've played your instrument...or who you study with, etc..</p>
1 Like
<p>Or, if you are a strong potential resource for the choral groups, orchestras, or wind ensemble, you might communicate with the faculty member primarily responsible for the appropriate group(s). They would eventually be sent the supplemental materials (CD) that you enclose with your application and provide feedback on it to the Admissions Committee, so it would be good for them to be looking for your materials (or for you to make an appointment for a personal meeting if you plan to visit the campus).</p>
<p>Whats CSYO?</p>
<p>maybe they mean CYSO -chicago youth symphony orchestra -</p>
<p>oops, that's what I meant</p>