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 for the following instruments:

  • Bansuri, Digeridoo, Dizi, Dulcimer, Guzhen, Hulusi, Lute, Pipa, Ruan, Sitar, Venu, 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 Piano

Your supplement should include at least two pieces and contain 15-20 minutes of music. Individual movements of larger works are completely acceptable. We want to hear you perform the works that best represent your artistic personality and encourage you to explore beyond the standard piano repertoire.

Please submit only works for solo piano (no concertos and no chamber music). You are welcome, but not required, to include an artistic resume that may include details of your ensemble experiences.

Please record each piece or movement in a single, unedited take, and make sure the camera is placed so that we can see both you and the piano. All recordings should have been made in the 12 months prior to your submission.

Provide 2-5 items.

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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

Provide 3-5 items.

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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

You may also submit one original composition.

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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Jazz/Non-Classical Voice

Please submit three contrasting selections:

  1. a song from the "Great American Songbook" (Berlin, Porter, Gershwin, Arlen, etc.);
  2. a ballad; and
  3. a selection of the student's choice (e.g. jazz, blues, rock, pop, musical theater, etc.).

Applicants may submit an original song in place of #2 or #3, if applicable.

The selections must demonstrate vocal facility and fluency in the musical style and/or improvisational language (e.g. scat singing or re-composing using the words but changing the melody and/or rhythm) within the chosen genre. Please submit unedited recordings where we can clearly see and hear the applicant.

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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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