My music teacher thinks that making a CD recording of an advanced song I am playing will help in terms of college admissions. However, I’m not sure if colleges will even care. I play the viola and am in my school’s chamber orchestra. I’m not exactly amazing at viola and have not participated in any competitions or anything. I do not plan to be in an orchestra in college either. Will making a recording help a tiny bit?
<p>Yes, if you have a musical talent, it can't be put down on paper, you should show them a recording.</p>
<p>I've been a pianist for 12 years, and I'm pretty darn good, but hey, no matter how good I tell you I am, you really wouldn't know until I either performed for you or showed you a recording</p>
<p>sorry, I can't be of help, but I was wondering this too. I've been playing piano for a long time, but I'm nothing fabulous and I don't plan to be a music major...are they expecting me to submit a tape if I put it down under EC? I think it could hurt my chances because I can't play anything extremely impressive...I'm probably behind in skill for how long I've been taking it. Especially for places like Vassar that offer a specific sheet for music/art submissions...I feel like I should submit but then I think about it and it wouldn't be a good idea.
I guess if you're fabulous, submit, if you're not, just put it under EC's, maybe.</p>
<p>They don't EXPECT you to submit a tape, but if you're "nothing fabulous" as you say, then just put it under EC's and don't submit a tape. If they ask you how good you are, just tell them the truth.</p>
<p>This was addressed in A is for Admission. The answer according to the book was no, only send a tape if you're exceptional.</p>
<p>It sounds like a good EC, but unless you are applying as a music major, they won't want you to send a CD. Actually, it is very similar to being an athletic. Playing on your high school football team is a good EC, but unless you are being recruited by the school to play college ball, you would not send them a videotape of one of your games.</p>
<p>Thousands of kids have music as a EC. This is not a bad thing. More importantly is that you show devotion to it, not just like a year and called it quits. You could always send anything you want to colleges. If they care to listen to it or read it is really up to them. Unless they say DO NOT SEND EXTRA MATERIAL (then youll just **** them off). If they dont say anything about not sending a tape then go ahead. But really, most people only send in recordings/ extra material when they area applying to a college where they want to major in that specific area (art, or play college sport etc etc). I guess its more of an ehhhhhh answer than anything because it can't exactly hurt you because if you arent exceptional and they listen to it, theyll just smile wryly and think your trying really hard. If you ARE exceptional then wow theyll take you. Point is, if your going to send it then make sure you address it in your application essay somewhere or one of the queastion answers to give it signifigance or it will seem like "another EC" your just slapping around to get into college (whether you are or not). Soooo Good Luck</p>
<p>Any suggestions for what to do if you play the drums. Should you send in a recording of yourself playing with a combo or send in a solo? Thanks.</p>
<p>drummerboy: most likely a recording of your playing in its natural setting...(ie. as you would play on a daily basis)</p>
<p>Does anyone know for UCs?? Will sending in a CD increase chances?</p>
<p>bump........any other opinions?</p>
<p>If you're the sort of person who hangs around music conservatories all day long and practises for hours a day, send a tape. I did, and I don't know if it helped, but since I got in to some good schools, it certainly didn't hurt. If you're the sort of person who picked up your instrument three years ago and plays for fun in your school orchestra, probably don't bother. It's great that you do it, and I applaud you, but it's nothing exceptional. Just being frank.</p>
<p>i've basically played violin for 5 years and then switched to viola for another 3. well i've made my mind. Since i've already started this song a while ago, i'll just complete it. It shouldn't take more than 2 weeks to practice and prepare. thanks everyone</p>
<p>Can submitting a CD of myself playing the trumpet hurt me if I don't sound good on it? (I've been playing for eight years)</p>
<p>Also, it's alright if I'm recording different sections of a piece separately and then just putting them all together in the end, right?</p>
<p>put it on kazzaa</p>
<p>You're going to send them a CD of you playing a trumpet that you sound bad on in order to improve your chances?</p>
<p>At this point, everyone is posting about making CD's. If you are not going to college as a performing arts major or if you have not won at least state or regional recognition, do not send a CD. The adcoms request that such things not be sent. They won't listen to it. They might get confused about your major and send it to the music department for a review, but that doesn't make sense unless you are a top performer applying to the music department. Some adcoms get 15000 applications per year.</p>
<p>usually if u send a tape and they think ur really good they want you to play in their department... i think</p>
<p>how do we send them the tape? do we include it with the application?! This seems weird...</p>
<p>u can send it separately in a package if u want, although some offices require that whatever u send can fit into one of those big envelopes. if that's the case, u could send them a CD.</p>
<p>oh, to save time for the admissions officers, since i think they're overworked and underpaid, send the tape directly to the music department with a note that says that ur applying for undergrad, the music guys will evaluate u and tell the admissions what they think</p>
<p>When I applied last year, I had a CD made professionally (I would highly recommend doing this if you have the money because it makes the process and quality of the sound so much better) and sent it to my ED school as well as the other schools I was applying to. On the CD I had Oboe, English Horn and Alto Sax.</p>
<p>It doesn't hurt to send in a CD. Whether or not it gets sent off to the music department, gets listened to and they write an evaluation and send it back to the admissions office is unknown by just about everyone. </p>
<p>Typically the CD gets sent to the admissions office and they send it out from there. I did get into my ED school and would like to guess that the CD played at least some role (although what I am not sure).</p>
<p>Best of luck to all applicants next year with their CD's!</p>
<p>-Jaug1
Columbia College, Class of 2009</p>