<p>I am applying to a prep school that, on the admissions documents, specifically asks for a list of musical instruments that you are learning. It has about five slots to fill. I only play one instrument! Not only that, but I haven't joined a choir or been in a musical or anything in three or four years. I do have eight or nine extra curricular activities listed (not as impressive as it sounds, they're all quite minor, once week, once a fortnight type thing) but I'm worried about the music question. No other category has a specific question (not even sports). </p>
<p>It may sound a bit of a strange thing to be so hung up on but it is really bugging me. Should I start learning another instrument? Or should I just sit back and relax?</p>
<p>No, don’t take up another instrument for the sake of trying to impress the AdComs! For EC’s, the AdComs are more impressed by depth rather than breadth, i.e, doing an activity passionately and doing it well, rather than dabbling in a dozen things superficially.</p>
<p>Relax</p>
<p>You’re fine. Just because they leave five slots open doesn’t mean that they’re expecting five instruments. I think they just leave extra spaces for the applicant here or there that is really intensely focused on that particular thing. Obviously, not every student at their school is going to play an instrument in an ensemble. Just focus on what you enjoy doing and try to get some leadership experience in those areas if you can.</p>
<p>Indeed, depending on the application, some of those slots are for musical <em>activities</em>—not necessarily separate instruments. For example if you play a single instrument in your school orchestra, a chamber ensemble, and a community orchestra, that’s three different activities, each of which takes time and commitment. This speaks to “doing an activity passionately and well”, as GMT noted in #2. </p>
<p>But it’s also okay to be a recreational musician, and certainly many boarding school applicants don’t play any instrument at all.</p>