Department of Music
Department of Music

Arts Supplement

Music Portfolio "Arts Supplement" Submission

Students who exhibit truly exceptional talent in music may submit a supplemental Music Portfolio through the Common Application. Music portfolios are reviewed by Music Department faculty members. The Music Portfolio is an optional part of the application process and is intended for those who plan to engage seriously in the Music Department as students. Completed Music Portfolio evaluations are shared with the admission committee and are considered as part of the overall application review.

Submission Deadlines

Early Decision: November 1
Early Action: November 1
Regular Decision: January 1
Spring Transfer: October 1
Fall Transfer: March 1

Important Note

We are currently unable to review arts supplements the following instruments:

Digeridoo, Dulcimer, Guzhen, Lute, Pipa, Ruan, Sitar, and Zither

Please ensure that you list your involvement in these instruments in the Activities section of your Common Application to ensure they are considered during application review.

Submission Instructions

Submissions must adhere to departmental guidelines and be submitted by the appropriate decision deadline to guarantee review. All audio or video recordings must be "live" recordings without overdubs or edits. Ensemble recordings must feature the applicant who must be clearly audible.

Our department prefers video submissions, if possible. Please ensure that your media appears right-side up after you have uploaded it into Slideroom. Again, there should be absolutely no editing. Please submit live performances, not studio-produced work.

In addition to video [up to 250MB each], audio [up to 30MB each], and PDFs [up to 10MB each], you are welcome to submit a resume and/or letters of reference. You may also link to media from YouTube, Vimeo, and SoundCloud.

Submission requirements for individual program areas:

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Classical Voice

Three selections are required:

  1. One Italian art song or aria (can substitute German or French)
  2. One English language art song or aria
  3. One song, aria, folk song, or musical theater selection of the student's choice
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Brass and Winds: Bassoon, Clarinet, Flute, Oboe, Horn, Trumpet, Trombone, and Tuba

Please submit complete movements from two contrasting pieces from the standard solo repertoire, or orchestral excerpts, representing different styles and/or time periods.

Provide 2-5 items.

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Cavalier Marching Band

Please submit at least two pieces of contrasting musical content approximately five minutes total in duration. Students may elect to perform on more than one instrument if they play a secondary instrument for marching band purposes. Brass, winds, percussion, colorguard, and twirler supplements will be accepted (no drum major conducting). Colorguard recordings should be a close-up camera view from a winter guard or marching band performance. Twirler videos should be a full, unedited routine set to music. Please also submit a PDF resume of achievements related to your experience in band. Include your high school, personal email, and phone number on this resume.

Provide 2-5 items.

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Jazz Instrumentalists

Please submit three selections:

1) one blues; 2) one standard or classical jazz composition (i.e., a George Gershwin or Cole Porter song, or a Charlie Parker or John Coltrane tune); and 3) one ballad — for extra credit, one original composition by the applicant.

Performances should feature the applicant's ability to play a melody, improvise on the changes and, for pianists and guitarists, comp.

Provide 3-5 items.

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Other Classical Instrumental Performance: Guitar, Harp, and Organ

Please submit two or three contrasting pieces. Preferably, one of the works will be from the classical period and the contrasting piece will be of the student's choosing. Please identify instrument.

Provide 2-5 items.

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Other Instrumental Performance, Except Jazz: Non-western, Bluegrass, Pop Instrumental Performance

Please submit a selection that demonstrates facility on the instrument and fluency in the improvisational language within the chosen genre. Please identify instrument.

Provide 1-5 items.

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Percussion

Please submit two or three contrasting solo pieces. Of these, at least one piece should be on a battery instrument and one on a keyboard instrument.

Provide 2-5 items.

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Piano

The camera should be positioned so that reviewers can have a clear view of your hands and the keyboard while you are playing. Memorization is required.

Please submit the following three works:

  1. A Prelude and Fugue from the Well-Tempered Clavier, a toccata; OR three contrasting movements from a partita, French or English Suite by J.S. Bach; OR two contrasting sonatas by Domenico Scarlatti; and
  2. A fast outer movement of a sonata by Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven (except Op. 49); OR Schuber; and
  3. A significant 19th, 20th, or 21st century solo work (no concerto)

Provide 3-5 items.

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Strings: Bass, Cello, Viola, and Violin

Please submit two contrasting pieces/movements, such as movements from a standard concerto, standard sonata, Bach suite, or equivalent.

Provide 2-5 items.

Contact Us

If you are interested in finding out more about the music program, fill out the music interests and information form and let us know your academic and performance music interests.

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Additional Information & Websites