If you are considering choosing music, your post-secondary planning process should begin as early as high school. Music programs are competitive and rigorous. Therefore, it is important to plan your high school courses accordingly. Contrary to popular stereotypes, musicians need to be organized thinkers, so some of the courses you will want to take include English/communications, creative arts, music and math to ensure that you are well prepared for the schools and programs that make your list.
If you are still in high school and are thinking about studying theatre, there are several additional things that you can do to prepare and increase your chances of being accepted:
- Your audition represents you to a university or college. You can practice your skills by participating in your school band or in a music or musical theatre club at your high school. Your community may also have organizations you can get involved in.
- Consider attending a summer or spring break arts camp in music to develop your skills and expand your knowledge of possible fields of study.
- Undertake to read and study independently. Studying music is about more than just playing an instrument intuitively: reading up is therefore a good way to develop interests, expand your knowledge and improve your vocabulary and comprehension skills needed for school. This will also help you if admission requirements include an interview, since you will be able to impress the committee with the knowledge you have built up of terms and issues specific to the various areas of music studies.
- Validating your interest by volunteering and providing direct service to arts-based activities in your community is another good way to demonstrate your commitment and can make a difference to your being accepted into this competitive field.
- Consider how you can develop leadership skills while you are still in high school. Admissions committees value applicants who can demonstrate leadership potential. You can acquire leadership in school clubs, volunteer programs, and through an internship or summer job.
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