My daughter is a junior. Her #1 choice is ND (her brother graduated '23 and had an amazing experience, performed extremely well and made his mark) She loves every aspect of ND and can’t see herself at any other school. She is an All State violinist and is interested in applying as a music major. My understanding is they are looking to grow their music dept. She has met with professor in the music dept and lessoned multiple times with him on campus over the past 2 years. She was invited to attend a summer music camp run by professor, which she will be attending.
She is a strong candidate (academics, etc) My question is does the music dept ‘recruit’ for lack of a better word? Do they have the same influence as a coach does with admissions?? Any insight would be much appreciated…thx!
Both of our kids are very talented musicians. Let’s just say…music majors are not recruited the same way as athletes!
My professional musician son wasn’t really recruited anywhere, and as a performance major, his audition was the number 1 thing when his admission was considered. He went to Boston University where he had to meet the academic bar for university acceptance as well.
Our daughter played her “endangered instruments” all through college. She had a private lesson prior to applying. The applied teacher and department chair both told her that they had zero influence with admissions.
Your daughter should contact the music department chairperson, the orchestra director and the applied violin teacher. See if she can get a lesson with teacher. Your daughter can tell them her music goals, and discuss ND with them.
Good luck to her…
But a simple answer…musicians are not recruited.
I am sure you will get the a similar response multiple times. I do not know about ND specifically but many LACs, Ivys and research schools will give music applicants a big boost. Meeting with the professor, sending in an outstanding music supplement and meeting with the department will help her application greatly, but they arent recruited. If they need and want her it will greatly help her application, especially if she applies early decision. My S24 is attending a highly selective LAC and we are 100% sure that his music is what made him stand out.
What kind of music major? Performance? A BA? What?
If a BA in music, I completely agree that a music supplement, if allowed by the college, could boost her application.
But if she is music performance, it will be all about her audition.
It looks like Notre Dame doesn’t offer a BM or a performance degree and doesn’t require auditions for music majors.
I don’t know Notre Dame specifically, but I’ve just done college admissions with my music kid who is still deciding between a BM or a music major at a non music school, so what I’d say is…maybe. There are two very selective schools where we’re pretty sure his music supplement was a big factor in his admission. At both of those schools, music faculty reached out to him after his acceptance, and at one the orchestra director straight up told him, “I advocated for your admission.” But there are plenty of places where he didn’t get in as well, and at a lot of his acceptances music really didn’t seem to be a deciding factor, as far as we could tell…like I’m sure it was seen as a strong EC, but nothing more than that. So I think it’s tough to predict; some schools really prioritize music and filling orchestra seats, and some don’t…and of course some years there are more openings on a given instrument than others. If Notre Dame is indeed looking to grow their music department, it could be a very good time for your daughter to be applying, and a music supplement could help a lot.
I agree. She should reach out to the music department…see what they have to offer.
This sounds like a BA in Music…and yes, a music supplement could help (it needs to show she is strong on her instrument…something to discuss with her private teacher).
@compmom has good advice when it comes to music supplements, etc.
I would suggest posting on the music major forum 
Moved to the music forum.
@PLO1967 no, schools generally do not “recruit” musicians in the same way that coaches recruit for athletes. Someone at ND may encourage her to apply- seems likely.
She can apply with a music supplement that includes recording/video (preferably solo), a music resuime, and 1-2 letters of recommendation related to music.
This can help with admissions, for sure, if the talent justifies the supplement (sounds like it does). It seems she has a good chance via academics as well.
BA programs usually don’t have auditions for admission. Her contacts with ND music already may also be helpful. BA programs will generally have auditions in the fall of freshman year for extracurricular music.
Is she considering any other schools?
@PLO1967 if this screen name is your real name, I would urge you to change it.
You will have to email the admins and tell them what you want it changed to.
I see she has done these things. Great to keep up the contacts but without being pesky. It sounds like she would have a good chance at ND, but just in case, she should look for other options as well.
I apologize, a BA (not performance)
will do, thx!
Thanks for your reply and the info, very helpful. She has toured other campuses (BC, Univ of Chicago, Tufts) but honestly, she is all in for ND
What does she hope to do with her BA in music? I think this is a great major…but what are her future plans (if any) and why a music major?
But to your point…she has made good contacts with ND, but I would suggest not putting all her eggs in one basket!
Interesting program at ND for music. A 36 credit academic music degree and a 39 credit performance degree, both BA’s, no BM Many BA degree programs in music rely a lot on extracurricular performance.
It’s great that she has a school she loves and already knows and has contacts at. This summer she will do a program linked to the ND professor. I do hope she considers a few other schools (that list was great, and she also needs safeties). But fingers crossed for Notre Dame for her!
She is unsure exactly what she wants to do (she is only 16!) She does not want to be a music teacher. She just knows she wants music to be part of her life. And yes I agree about not putting all her eggs in one basket as we all know with the college admission process there are no guarantees.
Notre Dame is a great college. If she gets accepted (
), I’m sure she will have an academic advisor who can guide her in some way, and offer advice.
My younger child, as I mentioned above, can’t imagine her life without playing her instrument. She did so for all four years in college as first chair in the orchestra at her college. This was one of her criteria for colleges…but she didn’t want to major in music. In addition to the college orchestra, she took lessons and also played in the pit orchestras for her college and a couple of civic theater musicals. She did have to take some time off during professional school, but is now playing again. As soon as her schedule is settled, she plans to approach a couple of civic orchestras where there seems to always be an opening on her two instruments. It’s part of her life…so I really understand.
Good luck to her. I’m sure her music brings her a lot of joy. We need people who are committed to the arts…so wonderful.
As thumper1 says, it is possible at many colleges to major in something other than music and still have a rich musical life, with lessons and extracurricular performance.
At Notre Dame, it does look as if students can combine music and another area of study pretty easily, if that ends up being a direction she wants. And they added a music minor.
By the way, I know students with doctorates in music who haven’t played an instrument in years! Many ways to be involved in music.