Could this be a spike?

Applying to College
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An accompanist is absolutely an institutional need. When you reach out to your first choice college and their piano instructors, absolutely make sure that they know about this. Accompanists are definitely more desired than other pianists. If you share more about you we may be able to help with schools to target, maybe also move this to the music forum so you have more advice from those of us who have experience with this.

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OP is a freshman
.not sure if this is a good idea.

OP. You’re too young to worry about this. Please just do the activities you love and do well in school and you will end up at the right school for you.

Worrying will only hurt.

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If that is true I agree. Freshman should not be thinking about this.

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If you are already an accomplished accompanist as a HS freshman, then keep working at it. If this and the international and national awards are hopeful things, please clarify this on this thread.

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Yes I am a freshman. No those things were not hopeful; I have won competitions and accompany.

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Then keep it up! What wonderful accomplishments! If you can prove yourself an accomplished collaborative pianist, you likely will be an attractive applicant
those are needed. Even where there are a LOT of piano majors, accompanying isn’t what many do well.

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Yes! Please enjoy your music and high school career! Check back with us at the end of your junior year and the music forum will be happy to give you advice! Congrats!!

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Okay, thank you :grin:

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I see your point. In all disclosure, my son has excellent academic metrics
4.0 UW, 6.0 Weighted (his school uses a 6.0 weighted scale). If his school kept rank, he is #1 (they stopped keeping rank this year). He also submitted ACT score of 36, in a single sitting. But outside of academics, music and music-tangential activities was his major area of strength. Stanford has thousands upon thousands of perfect GPA, valedictorian, perfect standardized test applicants, so I believe his music activities really helped him get in. He also applied from one of the most difficult states in terms of competition
endless top candidates.

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Yes. Why?

  • First and foremost, it shows commitment and discipline over a long period of time.

  • Some people have positive stereotypes that they associate with musicians. I know, for example, that the data science team I work with affirmatively looks for college grads who have musical talent - they see a link between math/data science/music.

  • Colleges that have orchestras will love to have an accompanist on campus. Would suggest that even though you don’t want to major in music, reach out to the orchestra director at the colleges you want to apply to and let them know your background and that you are applying.

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