"Rare" musical ability...supplement? Will they even care?

Colleges & Universities Yale University
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<p>I’ve got a somwhat “rare” musical talent of vocal percussion. I have had no formal training (I’m not sure it exists), picking up most of what I have learned from recordings and experimentation. I am not at a professional level (though I have had a few commercial offers, and honestly have heard no one better live) and I do not know of any gold standard for a “conservatory-level” vocal percussionist, nor do I know if the Yale music department would even care - I’m afraid perception of vocal percussion may edge toward “gimmick” rather than true “art.”</p>

<p>Would it be advisable to submit a tape? I should add that there’s no official repertoire for this, and that I’ve won no real awards for it (other than a talent show and participation in acapella groups), considering that the whole scene is relatively new and very quiet in my area. My searches on yale + vocal percussion seem to suggest its presence in acapella groups, but not officially w/in the department. </p>

<p>Thanks in advance.</p>

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<p>Actually, vocal percussion is not that rare and is, indeed, used in several of the Yale a capella groups. If you are not a professional or at at professional level, I do not recommend that you submit a tape or CD of this. The admissions officers, frankly, won’t have any idea who to send it to for review (they do not review these themselves, but send them on to appropriate departments), and, if they happen to find the world’s expert…and you are not as good as the world’s expert, they won’t be happy that you wasted their time.</p>