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Blog > Essay Advice , Personal Statement > How to Write a Great College Essay About Music (with examples)
How to Write a Great College Essay About Music (with examples)
Admissions officer reviewed by Ben Bousquet, M.Ed Former Vanderbilt University
Written by Alex McNeil, MA Admissions Consultant
Key Takeaway
Ask any admissions officer if theyâve read a college essay about music, and theyâll definitely say yes. Between music extracurriculars and academic interests in music, itâs is one of the most common college essay topics.
So does that mean that you shouldnât write your college essay about music?
Not necessarily. But as with any common college essay topic, some approaches are better than others.
Letâs get into it.
Why you should (and shouldnât) write your Common App essay about music
As we explained in our Stanford Items exercise , writing your college essay on a common topic isnât off-limits. In fact, most college essays share common topics and themes. Trying to find a completely unique, never-been-done-before topic is almost impossible. And writing about a quirky topic in hopes of coming across as unique usually backfires.
In other words, itâs likely that youâll write about the same topic as someone else.
The problem arises, however, when you write about a common topic in a cliche way . Cliches are always a danger in college essays, but in especially college essay topics that tend to surface again and again.
To avoid cliches, your college essay about music needs to be deeply personal, specific, and meaningful. Youâll want to let go of any over-generalizations or truisms and focus on the details of your own story.
Because youâll need to write meaningfully and vulnerably, you should only write your college essay about music if you have something genuine and significant to say.
The Best Ways to Approach Your College Essay about Music
College essays about music arenât off the table, but you should be thoughtful in how you write about them. The following two approaches will help you avoid cliches and find an authentic, meaningful story that fulfills all the requirements of a personal statement .
Writing about music as an academic interest
If youâre interested in studying music in college, then you can consider writing your college essay about music as an academic interest. A college essay about your academic interest in music can show fantastic intellectual fit with a school.
Letâs say you want to study music theory or composition. You might write about a topic you find compelling, a problem youâve solved, or even a recounting of your journey becoming interested in the subject.
Or maybe youâre an aspiring performer planning on studying music performance. As an admissions officer, I read outstanding essays about students performing their favorite pieces, creating emotional music projects, and teaching lessons to young children.
No matter your topic, your goal with this approach is to show an intellectual spark, a curiosity and passion that will demonstrate to your admissions officers that youâll be a great addition to the music community on their campuses.
Writing poignantly about a deeply meaningful extracurricular
The previous approach is great if you want to study music, but what if music is just an extracurricular passion of yours? Donât worryâyou can still write about it.
In that case, the best way is to focus on meaning. Remember: personal statements should be deeply-meaningful reflections on your personal strengths.
To start, reflect on your music extracurricular. Is it playing guitar in a band? Playing trombone in your schoolâs symphony? Learning piano from your grandma? How your love of poetry turned into a love of songwriting?
Next, think about what strengths you have to showcase. If you play guitar in a band, maybe you want to highlight your collaborative spirit. If you love poetry and songwriting, perhaps you focus on your creativity.
Writing about your love of music in a way that draws upon your strengths will make sure that your Common App essay avoids the following two approaches and gives admissions officers a reason to admit you.
Approaches to Avoid
While the following two approaches arenât necessarily bad, they are the most cliche ways of approaching a college essay about music. You might want to consider avoiding them.
An inauthentic tale of triumph
Let me tell you a cliche story.
When I was in fourth grade, I decided to join the school orchestra. I found it exceedingly difficult at first. No matter how hard I tried, I never could seem to place my fingers correctly on the fingerboard. Every sound I made mimicked a screeching cat. But I decided not to give up. I practiced every day after school and on the weekends. By the time I was in ninth grade, I had made it into my high schoolâs top orchestra.
Is that a lovely story? Yes, absolutely. Is it hearty enough for a college essay? No. While it tells a good narrative of growth and progress, it remains on the surface of the writerâs life. It comes across as a convenient way to brag about your strengths instead of exploring them in a genuine way. In this example, the story also focuses on events that happened way too far in the past.
A song that changed your life
This approach is by far the most common cliche in college essays about music. Weâve all been there: a favorite song that transports you to a moment in your life whenever you hear it. It makes sense that youâd want to write about yours.
But thereâs a problem with this approach. Too often, it reads as trite or unoriginal, and the end result usually doesnât say much about the writer. And when it does, the message an admissions officer gets doesnât typically give them any more reason to admit you. Since you want your college essay to be meaningful, even vulnerable, and strengths-based, youâre better off choosing another topic that better speaks to who you are.
Key Takeaways + Examples
College essays about music arenât for everyone. But when you get it right, you can strike the perfect chord with admissions officers (youâre welcome for the pun).
As you go, dig deep, find something genuinely personal, and try to avoid the most common and cliche ways of approaching the topic.
Want to see some examples of college essays about music before you get started? Check out our examples, The Time Machine and The Band .
Liked that? Try this next.
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Music Personal Statement Guide
Personal statements can be a bit of a paradox. On the one hand, they all need to do the same things as each other, namely describe your interest in a subject, your motivation for studying it at university, and your readiness to undertake the course. On the other, they have to be unique to you and to stand out from all the others. Itâs little wonder that students struggle to know how and where to begin.
Itâs also understandable if the prospect of putting pen to paper is daunting, but the best way to approach it is not to delay but instead to look at the writing of it as you might an essay. There are certain requirements that it must fulfil, it needs to follow a structure, and it should be interesting and entertaining to read.
To dispel any concerns you might have about what to do and not do when writing your statement, this guide will take you through the following steps:
- Why are Personal Statements Important?
- What Should I Include in a Music Personal Statement? Â
- What Should I Avoid in a Music  Personal Statement ? Â
- Advice on How to Start a Music Personal Statement
- Advice on How to Finish a Music Personal Statement
What Should I Avoid in a Music Personal Statement ? Â
Donât just focus on the one or two aspects youâre most interested in, e.g. playing jazz piano or analysing the works of lesser-known German Romantic composers. As the degree is a broad one, show that youâre willing to learn about other areas and to acquire new skills .
The language of your personal statement should maintain a polite formality and avoid casual language . You should also never rely on banal clichĂ©s or other peopleâs words, i.e. quotations, because this is your chance to talk about you in your own words and way.
Above all else, donât exaggerate and donât lie ; tutors can tell when abilities are overstated and books havenât been read. This is especially important if youâre going for an interview or have to give a performance as questions will be asked.
Register to access our complimentary e-book "So You Want To Go To Oxbridge? Tell me about a bananaâŠ"
Advice on How to Start a Music Personal Statement Â
One way to open your personal statement is to begin with why youâre compelled to study music at university and talk about how your interest has developed up to this point. Itâs not necessary to trace your deep interest in music all the way back to the first piece you ever heard. Itâs enough to mention a moment of recognition or realisation in your relationship with music that set you on this path.
If you don't want to begin at the chronological start of your musical journey, you could instead open with the area that most captures your interest. Use this as an opportunity to jump straight into an academic discussion and set the tone for the rest of your statement.
Universities want to see youâre going to maintain your interest and passion, but also that you can develop further as a musician and academic. It's difficult to encompass this in an opening statement, so sometimes it helps to brainstorm ideas around the âwhyâ and âhowâ of your choice, and only then begin to draft an interesting introduction.
Advice on How to Finish a Music Personal Statement Â
A degree in music is going to expose you to so much more than you have encountered up to now in this field, so universities want to know this wonât be lost on you. If you feel so inclined, you can talk about various modules you like the look of (as long as each university in your application offers something similar) and what you think studying those will bring you.
The conclusion to an effective statement brings together your ideas, interests, motivation, and ambition to reiterate your desire to study music to an advanced level and your suitability to do so.
- What are some Tips for Writing a Strong Music Personal Statement?
- How Long Should my Music Personal Statement Be?
- What Kind of Extracurricular Activities Should I Include in my Music Personal Statement?
- How Can I Tailor my Music Personal Statement to the Oxford/Cambridge Course?
Itâs likely that some of your music degree will involve working as part of groups, as well as independently. This reflects the music industry more widely as, whether itâs in a studio or an orchestra pit, musicians, composers, conductors, and sound technicians all have to work together to produce what you ultimately hear. Your statement should therefore reference the extent to which youâve collaborated with others to achieve common goals, as well as what your own independent endeavours have produced.
A degree in music relies on a range of skills, many of which youâll have started to develop at school. Examples of these include problem-solving, analysis, critical thinking, creative invention, an eye for detail, and performance under pressure. Itâs not necessary to list all your skills and how youâve acquired them, but mentioning how youâve come by some and the ways they could be transferable to the academic study of music will enable you to demonstrate your readiness for the degree.
The personal statement cannot exceed 4000 characters (including spaces), or alternatively 47 lines of the UCAS form. Itâs therefore paramount you make the most of all the available limit youâre given by working out in advance what you should include and exclude, based on how important you deem the information to be. When you start writing, it will become easier to work out how best to express your ideas concisely.
Naturally, your extracurricular engagement with music should be given space in the statement, but itâs not enough just to list what you do and to what level. Universities want to see how youâve learned and grown as a student and musician, and whether you have the potential to develop even further. Over and above your musical competencies, itâs always worthwhile talking about instances where youâve done something out of the ordinary, which might be leading a youth orchestra, playing the piano in a care home, or teaching music to toddlers. Finally, your reading and thoughts around the subject should always feature in the statement as this is a surefire way of demonstrating intellectual curiosity and independent thinking.
Whilst you cannot be too specific (since the same statement is sent to all your university choices), there are some styles and techniques you can employ to ensure your personal statement is Oxbridge-appropriate.
A main consideration to make is that the Oxford and Cambridge courses are expectedly broad, but give you scope to tailor your path to suit your interests. This means you have free rein, within reason, to choose modules that suit you. That said, the universities will want to see your willingness to learn what might not initially appeal to you, as this is a mark of a dispassionate and intellectually free approach to study. You shouldnât, therefore, rule anything out either in your statement or interview, but rather maintain an open mind and be prepared to throw yourself into all that the course can offer.
Furthermore, Oxbridge personal statements should be incredibly discerning on content, and should only mention academically-relevant experiences or resources which prove either your interest, motivations, or skills relevant to the music degree course.
Book your Music Personal Statement Package
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Essays, Personal Statements, and Résumés for Music Students
Essays, personal statements and résumés for music students can be daunting. While the audition is a key component in the acceptance process, admission reps want you to keep in mind that the paperwork side of the application is also important.
by Caitlin Peterkin
âWe have a small interview component to our audition process and we review recommendation letters and a studentâs music history (typically via the rĂ©sumĂ©),â says Megan Grady, music recruitment coordinator and assistant director of Admission at the University of Puget Sound School of Music. âWe also like to see what else students do and if we think theyâll fit in well with our liberal arts university, not just the School of Music.â
Applying to music school is a highly-competitive process. Brittany Jimenez, associate director of Undergraduate Admission at USC Thornton School of Music , encourages students to be genuine and to put their best foot forward in all parts of the admission process.
âThere are many parts of the application and admission process you cannot control, like who else is applying,â she says, âso carefully managing the parts you can control (like the writing supplements and portfolio submissions) will be very important.â
Catch the attention you want
An essay, often referred to as your personal statement, is required by many music schools. Each school posts its own guidelines for these. If youâre uncertain about what theyâre asking for, contact the admissions office.
The Common App streamlines the process of applying to several schools, although not all schools use it. Youâll find out whether colleges and universities that use the Common App require a personal essay once you create your Dashboard on the Common App website. The Common App provides a list of âpromptsâ or ideas to write about and you are given the option to edit your essay after you submit your first application. Even if schools donât require a personal essay, youâll have the option to submit one. Â
Music schools within universities as well as some colleges require you to apply to the university or college as well as to the music school. A separate school of music essay may also be required. Schools will indicate the word count as well as prompts or a specific theme they want you to write about. This may be referred to as a âsupplemental essay.â
You can also choose to apply directly to schools instead of using the Common App. A request for supplemental materials including writing requirements is built in to these applications.
Note that these requirements may be different for transfer students.
So how do you make sure your essay and personal statement stand out from the crowd?
Here are suggestions from recruiters and admission representatives for creating essays theyâll theyâll be eager to read:
1. Do your research.
âIt is beneficial to research the school and program and speak to the specific aspects and opportunities you find most relevant to you and your interests,â says Jimenez. âGetting to know the specific programs and faculty is important because every school is going to be unique in the type of experience they offer.â
Patrick Zylka, assistant dean for Admission, Financial Aid and Graduate Services at Northwestern University Bienen School of Music, agrees. âWe want to know an applicant has done the research on our institution, not just that itâs a top ten ranking, or that their best friend goes here, but that theyâve really dug a little bit deeper and understand what the institution offersâŠ.and whether weâre actually a good fit for them.â
But he adds the caveat to not just regurgitate whatâs on a schoolâs website: âDonât tell us weâre a beautiful campus next to Lake Michiganâwe already know!â
2. Donât copy and paste.
Faculty and staff recognize that youâre probably applying to multiple institutions. Make sure to write a unique statement for each one, tailoring each essay to the specific program youâre applying to. Schools do not want to see a generic, cookie-cutter answer as to why youâre choosing their particular program.
âEssays that are clearly âcut and pasteâ versions of an essay youâve sent to a dozen schoolsâŠare not very persuasive,â says Christina Crispin, assistant director of Admissions at Eastman School of Music .
3. Show your personality!
As faculty and admissions reps review hundreds of applications each year, they want to read thoughtful statements from prospective students to get a better sense of each individualâs personality.
According to Zylka, admission reps view the essay as an applicantâs only opportunity to really show who they are as an individual, more than what any transcript or test score can reveal. âSpeak from the heart,â he says. âIf youâre funny, be funny. If youâre serious, be serious.â
Grady agrees: âWe are looking for students to tell us more about themselves. We like to see creative essays that tell us something we may not be able to learn from the rest of their application.â
4. Proofreadâmultiple times.
Not only are essays a good way to show your personality, but theyâre also a chance to demonstrate that you can write in a clear and coherent way.
âThe essays that we are least impressed by are those that have typos, grammatical or punctuation errorsâanything that screams, âI didnât proofread this,ââ says Crispin.
Some other no-nos: run-on sentences and âwriting one big paragraph instead of a thought-out essay,â according to Grady.
Your rĂ©sumĂ© – the right way
Nearly all applications for music schools require a rĂ©sumĂ©. Â
âThe rĂ©sumĂ© is the place for applicants to highlight their musical accomplishments and experiences,â says Crispin. âIf they want us to know about other extracurricular activities, leadership, volunteer work, etc., the rĂ©sumĂ© is a good place to capture that information.â
âItâs important to tell us about any honors, awards, summer festivals, private lessons,â adds Zylka. âThings that show us you didnât just go to high school from a certain time in the morning to the afternoon.â Â
âą Make it clean and organized.
There is no one right way to format a rĂ©sumĂ© unless specified by the schools youâre applying to. They should be easy to read. Include your contact information plus music-specific information and experience.
âPresent your rĂ©sumĂ© in an organized way so it is easy to review what you have done and when,â says Jimenez. âThe rĂ©sumĂ© is typically 1-2 pages in length and mostly focuses on accomplishments and activities during high school.â
âClean rĂ©sumĂ©s are bestâfor musicians, that involves what youâve performed, competitions youâve won, ensembles youâve performed along with chair placement (if applicable),â says Grady. Â
âKeep your activities limited to your high school achievements,â she adds âunless thereâs something particularly outstanding (like a performance at Carnegie Hall) that took place before high school. Show that you play multiple instruments and for how long, who youâve studied with, ensemble directors, etc.â
âą Proofread.
Edit your rĂ©sumĂ© multiple times, and have a trusted friend, family member, or teacher look it over. âWe never want to see typos, misspelled words, or grammatical errors,â says Jimenez.
Final thoughts
Crispin advises all students to start their application early. âWe often hear from applicants that they were surprised how much time it took to fill out their applications, and you donât want to be rushing and risking errors right before the deadline,â she says. This also includes reaching out to teachers for recommendations well before applications are due.
Just like no two music programs are the same, no two application processes are the same. Do the research on what exactly is needed for each program youâre applying to, and make a checklist with deadlines for each one.
Finally, utilize all the resources available online and in admission offices. âOur website should be your best friend throughout the process,â says Jimenez. âYour other best friends will be the people in the office of admission. Applicants are always encouraged to ask questions anytime! We want our applicants to be successful throughout the admission process and are here to help however we can.â
Caitlin Peterkin is a writer/editor and arts enthusiast currently based in Portland, OR. She has worked as program manager for Earshot Jazz (Seattle) and has written for BestNewBands.com , Chronicle of Higher Education , and Paste Magazine . She graduated from Indiana University Bloomington with a B.A. in Journalism and a minor in Music. Â
Photo credit: Mimi Thian
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How to Draft a Creative Music Grad School Personal Statement
Table of Contents
Are you considering pursuing a graduate degree in music? Writing a personal statement for your application can be an intimidating task. It is, after all, the one piece of writing that will give admissions officers insight into who you are as a person and musician.
Letâs dive into how to write an effective music grad school personal statement without further ado.
Steps to Writing a Music Grad School Personal Statement
Brainstorming.
Before you begin writing your personal statement , itâs essential to take some time to brainstorm. Reflect on why you want to pursue a graduate music degree in the first place. Consider what experiences have led you to this pointâwhat has been meaningful for you about past musical endeavors? What made those experiences unique or special? What do you hope to experience in the future after attending grad school?
Explaining Your Passion
Your personal statement should also explain how your passion for music has evolved and how it drives your decision-making process . You may choose to discuss any challenges faced along the way or successes achieved that demonstrate a solid commitment to the art.
Providing Specifics
It is essential to be as specific and detailed as possible when writing your personal statement. This will give admissions officers a better understanding of who you are as an individual and musician. Try to include specific examples from past experiences demonstrating why you are uniquely qualified for the program. State how your skill set has grown over time.
Once youâve completed the first draft of your personal statement, itâs time to do some editing! Read through it carefully, looking for any typos or errors in grammar or punctuation. Ensure the content is clear and conciseâyou donât want to overwhelm the reader with too much information. Finally, review it for style to ensure that the tone and voice are consistent throughout the statement.
Music Grad School Personal Statement Examples
I have been passionate about music my entire life. As a child, I was constantly listening to and playing various instruments. After attending Bachâs Brandenburg Concertos performance, I was deeply inspired and decided to pursue music as my career path.
I attended college and earned a degree in Music Performance, where I honed my skills as a musician. I performed with many renowned ensembles during this time and developed close relationships with experienced musicians worldwide. My education has given me an appreciation for all genres of music, but classical music truly drives my passion for performing.
Now that I am ready to pursue a graduate degree in music, I am looking to expand my knowledge and skill set. A graduate program would provide me with the opportunity to learn from accomplished mentors. It will give access resources that will allow me to pursue unique performance opportunities.
My love for music began when I was very young. I started singing at an early age and eventually progressed to playing several instruments, including piano, guitar, and drums. Music has always been an outlet for meânot just as a means of expression but also as a way of understanding myself better.
I have had the privilege of studying with some fantastic musicians throughout my collegiate career. My professors have always encouraged me to push myself beyond my comfort zone and have helped shape me into the musician I am today. After receiving my undergraduate degree in Music Performance, I am ready to take the next step and pursue a graduate degree. This will help to expand my knowledge of music theory and composition.
Grad school will open up many unique opportunities for me as an aspiring musician. I am excited to learn from experienced teachers and peers who can help me reach new heights as an artist. I can achieve great things in this field with hard work, dedication, and commitment.
Final Thoughts
Writing a personal statement for music grad school is no small feat! However, take the time to brainstorm, explain your passion, provide specifics from past experiences, and edit thoroughly. You can craft a compelling personal statement that will make a great impression on admissions officers .
Good luck with your application process!
Abir Ghenaiet
Abir is a data analyst and researcher. Among her interests are artificial intelligence, machine learning, and natural language processing. As a humanitarian and educator, she actively supports women in tech and promotes diversity.
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Music and Popular Music Personal Statement Example There are many reasons why I want to study music and why I believe that I would make a great asset to the University of Liverpool. The earliest musical memory I have is singing along to ‘Puff The Magic Dragon’ and crying my heart out...
On this page you'll find a collection of real personal statements written by students applying to study music and related courses at university. These personal statements are written by real students - don't expect them all to be perfect!
Writing a personal statement for music? Whether your musical interests lie in performance or music history, think engaging, detailed, and relevant to strike the right note with music admissions tutors.
When writing a college essay about music, it's important to avoid cliches and approach the topic in a deeply personal and meaningful way. Whether you focus on music as an academic interest or a significant extracurricular, you should show off your intellectual spark or personal strengths.
Music and Popular Music Personal Statement Example There are many reasons why I want to study music and why I believe that I would make a great asset to the University of Liverpool. The earliest musical memory I have is singing along to ‘Puff The Magic Dragon’ and crying my heart out.
My main instrument is the alto saxophone, in which I have achieved a distinction at Grade 8. My love of woodwind instruments extends from playing the clarinet, in which I have achieved a Grade 7, while my broader interest has allowed me to gain both Grade 5 Music Theory and a merit in Grade 2 Piano.
Academic Music Personal Statement Example Like many, my love of music was first cultivated through my love of performing. However, over time I realised that my true interests lie in studying music as an academic discipline.
What are some Tips for Writing a Strong Music Personal Statement? How Long Should my Music Personal Statement Be? What Kind of Extracurricular Activities Should I Include in my Music Personal Statement? How Can I Tailor my Music Personal Statement to the Oxford/Cambridge Course?
An essay, often referred to as your personal statement, is required by many music schools. Each school posts its own guidelines for these. If you’re uncertain about what they’re asking for, contact the admissions office.
Writing a personal statement for music grad school is no small feat! However, take the time to brainstorm, explain your passion, provide specifics from past experiences, and edit thoroughly. You can craft a compelling personal statement that will make a great impression on admissions officers .