<p>From the SCEA thread, though I feel as if this is easier to find for more musical folks and everyone in general.</p>
<p>Hey guys, for my winter drumline performance last year I wrote the battery parts (drumline parts) for a transcription of Power Rangers. This was my only real composition and, while not exactly drum corps material, was pretty tough to play for my group and introduced them to a much harder piece of music, which actually made me feel great as they really wouldn’t have experienced anything with that rigor otherwise. Should I include this in my application or would it hurt me since I’ve never really composed before that or after that and since it isn’t exactly “truly outstanding for a high school musician [or] a strong and important part of [my] application?”</p>
<p>To be honest, my recommendation is to not send it unless it’s part of a larger collection of musical excerpts, examples and so on. Do you any experience with other percussion instruments? Have you played any substantial work on the marimba or timpani? If so, some compositional work–even if it’s just some arrangements for drum corps–can add an extra dimension to your profile as a percussionist. </p>
<p>If not, drumline arrangements alone will seem very, very bare compared to what other applicants might send along with their Yale apps. You have experienced composers/swongwriters who will have written string quartets, piano concertos and orchestral works, full R&B albums, one-act musicals etc. While much of these will not really be mature or genuinely original/groundbreaking artistic work, they will still be impressive in scope and polish. There will undoubtedly be composers who could get into Juilliard and comparable music institutions as undergrads and many will have received a number of accolades for their work. </p>
<p>Just my 2cents.</p>
<p>I do have experience with other percussion instruments but I only wrote the battery parts, having a pit part already written by my tech to work with. I understand what you are saying though. Would it hurt my application to include it if so?</p>