Music at college/scholarships

[hoedown_j]

I'm applying to the University of Washington (to be a freshman next fall, I'm a senior in HS right now). I had not wanted to major in music, but have realized that I can still major and music and still fulfill pre-med requirements at the same time.


I'm lost as to what I should be doing to prepare. I've only played DB for about two years, with only a few lessons. I have played electric for 7 years, though am a bit weak in music theory for having played that long.

Does it sound like if I go in and audition I will have a shot at being accepted to the music school? What about getting a scholorship? How good would I have to be to even have hope of getting a scholorship through the UW school of music? Their website says about 100 people in the whole music school there are awarded scholorships each year.

http://www.music.washington.edu/pros...cholarship.php

I'm mostly interested in Jazz type stuff as opposed to Classical. This is what it says for audition repetoire:

For admittance:
Jazz Double Bass/Electric Bass: 1) Perform walking bass lines based on the following chord progressions: 12 bar blues in all keys, Rhythm changes in B-flat, How High the Moon (Ornithology) in G, Cherokee in B-flat. 2)Play the following melodies: Any standard based on 12 bar blues, Any melody based on rhythm changes in B-flat, How High the Moon or Ornithology in G, Cherokee in B-flat. 3)Be prepared to improvise a solo on above chord changes 4) Prepare 2 octave scales in major, mixolydian, dorian, dimished and auxilary dimished 5)Preapre the follwoing arpeggioes in at least one octave: Major, minor, diminished, augmented and dominantseventh

For scholarship: Jazz Studies: Contact Tom Collier at [phone number/email removed] for specific repertoire for your instrument. [I'm going to send an email soon]

Also from their website: Basic knowledge of music theory, ear-training, and keyboard skills is required to begin the music core curriculum.

I need to learn keyboard??


Please help me out with whatever you know that could be helpful to me. I'm really lost. And I need to know if there is even a chance that I could get a scholarship, because if I want to be able to audition for scholarship, I have to have my application in by thursday, and right now I'm in a dillemna between doing schoolwork and practicing music or working on my application (essays mostly). Thanks again.

[CamMcIntyre]

That is a lot more intense than my audition was. I'm at Roosevelt University in Chicago for their Chicago College of Performing Arts. I think all of us bass players [9-including 4 freshman], have at least a partial scholarship. Mine is pretty low-i'm getting about 1/8 of my tuition a year paid for by the school.

FWIW-i had been playing DB for 4 years, but never quite studied it. The first semester thus far for me, has consisted of unlearning and relearning a ton of stuff.

If you have any questions-feel free to hit me on AIM @ Ray5Cam.

Take it easy.

[tzadik]

Sounds like a pretty big thing, but if you put in the hours of playing, you'll make it.

I definitely recommend digging into some piano stuff, no matter what. The more familiar you are with the keyboard, the better off you'll be. Mark Levine's The Jazz Piano Book is a great place to start.

Good luck to you and keep us posted. Remember, you can do whatever you want, and you can always change your mind, as many times as you want, and don't let anyone tell you otherwise.

[Sam Sherry]

Originally Posted by hoedown_j

I'm applying to the University of Washington (to be a freshman next fall, I'm a senior in HS right now). I had not wanted to major in music, but have realized that I can still major and music and still fulfill pre-med requirements at the same time.

I'm gonna approach this from the other angle.

Pre-med is perhaps the most intensely competitive undergraduate major because it is so damn hard to get into medical school. Everybody in every class knows that getting a B could knock them off their life's path of curing humanity's ills and becoming outrageously wealthy.

Point being, if you want to double-major in business and music, God bless you and have at it. If you really want to go to medical school you might need to make that commitment before you set foot on campus.

Good luck, hombre.

[tzadik]

Ya know...

I agree with what Sam said.

[hoedown_j]

thanks guys


I've done quite a bit of research regarding pre-med requirements and major chosen, I only need a few extra science classes. Academically, I am top-notch. I'm confident I can do this.

I have been thinking of also taking up tenor sax, but I think instead of asking for a sax for Christmas I'm going to ask for a new bow (right now I have a Glasser fiberglass) and spend a bit of time on a keyboard since I already have one. I'll likely resume bass lessons too.

[PaulCannon]

Univeristy of Washington is one of the best medical schools in the country, and, frankly, one of the lamest music schools. I wish there was a great music school in my home state, but I've resigned myself to moving far, far away for a better education.

I'd would heed Mr. Sherry's advice and keep music as a hobby if you really want to go into pre-med. I'm sure you're a "top-notch" student, but it isn't exactly potheads taking these courses.

[Freddels]

Additionally, getting a 4.0 in music is very very difficult b/c there are factors besides your hard work of studying. There's a talent aspect to it as well. If your transcribing skills aren't the best then you may not get the best grade in ear training. If you're not a piano player, there's the difficulty of having to play well enough for theory class. The performance aspect is graded. The profs generally do not compare you to just your other classmates but to a standard that they have in their minds. My profs used to say that in music an "A" is excellent, a "B" is good, and a "C" is average and in music average is not good enough.

I had a friend that worked in admissions at a medical school. She told me that it was unbelievable b/c the students that were accepted had a 4.0 gpa or better (b/c of honor classes).

Just be very sure of what you want to do before you jump in b/c many of the music students are there b/c music is all they want to do.

my .02