A question high-school musicians often ask themselves as they turn their eye to college: should I pursue a career in performance at a music conservatory or attend a more traditional college? Especially if a student has academic interests outside of music, the choice of which path to take isn’t always straightforward. Let’s break down what your educational path could look like, as well as what it takes to apply to college as a musician.
The Postsecondary Options Available to Musicians:
- Attend a conservatory, or school devoted entirely to music and the performing arts (e.g. Juilliard School, The New England Conservatory of Music) and focusing intently on music performance or composition,
- Major in music performance, composition, music recording, or music education at a traditional four-year school (e.g. USC’s Thornton School of Music),
- Attend a traditional college and either minor in music or get involved in extracurricular activities like the school orchestra, band, acapella group, etc.
A conservatory is best for students who have little doubt in their mind that they want to pursue a career in music. Particularly for those set on making it in the fields of classical music or jazz, a conservatory gives students the time to practice music hours a day, to work with musicians at the top of their field, and to make the connections needed to land jobs after graduation. Students at these schools will often graduate with a Bachelor of Music (BM) or a Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA).
A music school set within four-year university might be just as rigorous as a conservatory, but will also give students the option of having a more traditional college experience. It’s good to keep in mind that music majors often have a heavy course load (including private instruction, orchestra/band, music theory, and general education) and might feel torn between the demands of their musical education and the endless social and academic opportunities offered at a university. On the other hand, this track is less restrictive than a conservatory. A student might begin as a music major and then, say, switch to political science (as did Condoleezza Rice at the University of Denver). Or, the truly ambitious student may double-major in music (BM) and an academic subject (BA or BS) (it can be done!).
There are many ways to pursue music in a university setting without choosing music performance as a major. A student might focus on music education or recording, or choose another major and find other ways to keep playing or singing. No matter what track you choose, you can switch if it is not a good fit. And no matter what field you decide upon, music can serve as an inspiration and a creative outlet.
Applying as a Music Performance Major:
Now, if you choose to apply as a music performance major, you will have additional application elements to incorporate into your admissions process.
Pre-Screens & Auditions
The most important elements are the pre-screen recordings of your playing and the in-person audition that may follow if you pass the pre-screen. It’s important to work with your music teachers to select pieces that best reflect your talent and abilities and practice them sufficiently before recording. When you record your pre-screens, you will want to make sure you follow all guidelines about backing tracks and other elements – some schools have specific requirements that you must adhere to in order for your pre-screen to qualify for consideration. You will also want to film in a space with good lighting and a pleasant background, and make sure that it’s quiet so that your playing is the focus of the video. You would benefit from dressing professionally, too, and don’t forget to film horizontally! These can be done on your smartphone — no need to hire a professional to capture your performance, but make sure the quality shows you in the best light.
Once you capture your pre-screen performances, you will need to upload them to either Slideroom, Acceptd, or whatever platform the school uses to receive your videos.
Each school may have its own requests for the pieces in your pre-screens: some may want scales alongside two pieces from different time periods/genres that they define for you, while others want different pieces. It’s important to organize yourself when selecting and preparing your pieces for pre-screens.
Often, the audition will then ask you to play the same pieces live for the admissions committee if you make it past the pre-screen, so you want to choose pieces that you really excel at and show your range.
Repertoire List
Most music programs will also ask you to provide a repertoire list with your application. This should list all of the songs that you are capable of playing, but you really want to make sure that you could play them immediately if requested, as the admissions committee may ask you to do so during your live audition. Any song on your list is fair game, so don’t get overly ambitious and add songs that you aren’t comfortable playing on the spot!
Music Resume & Headshot
While a standard academic application asks for your extracurricular activities and honors, the music resume is focused specifically on your music-related experiences and achievements. It should include classes you have taken, summer programs, teachers you’ve worked with, performances you’ve done, compositions you’ve written, and perhaps venues you’ve played. You should also have a headshot, which you also can have taken on your smartphone. Make sure you dress professionally and are against a neutral background.
Musician’s Statement
Most programs will ask you to write an essay (or multiple essays) outlining your experience as a musician, your musical inspirations, your goals, and perhaps your reason for wanting to attend their school. Depending on the type of programs you’re applying to (a conservatory versus a program within a larger academic institution), you may also need a personal statement for the application, and these two pieces of writing should not repeat the same information, so you may have to strategize if you plan on writing about music for both.
Other Elements
If you are applying for composition, music production, electronic production, experimental music, etc., you may also be asked for work samples in your chosen field.
The Interview
Assuming you make it through the pre-screen round, alongside your audition, you may be interviewed by the admissions committee, so you’ll want to prepare answers to why you want to attend their institution, what your goals in music are, and how your experiences have prepared you for higher education. You’ll also want to prepare a few questions to ask in return.
While this may seem like a lot, many of these elements can be used for multiple applications (many a music applicant in past cycles have been able to use pre-screen recordings for more than one conservatory or university). So, once you decide on the route you want to take in college, review the requirements, get organized and collaborate with your music teachers, and practice until you are ready to shine in your audition pieces! If you do, your acceptances to the programs of your choice will be music to your ears!
