Anyone play an instrument?

[SitraAchra]

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Hey - I just wanted to see if anyone here plays an instrument fairly seriously (i.e. several years) and if so, what impact does this have as an EC factor?

Anyone play a unique instrument? Meaning not guitar/piano.

 

[kfilter1]

I played trombone for years. I put this on my ECs and you would be amazed at how many interviewers talked about it and what a good outlet for stress etc. music is

 

[caseofyou]

i sing in a choir, and the interviewers always seem to want to know more about it.

 

[funshine]

Well, I've played the piano for 13 years, but stopped in college...I still play in my spare time, but because I don't take lessons, I haven't really "accomplished" anything in the 4 years of college.
Violin for 7 years, but stopped in college....don't even play anymore.

You may be wondering why I stopped suddenly. It's not that I don't love music--I do. It's just that everyone who continued playing at my school is so outstanding, I felt very mediocre compared to everyone...like I wasn't worthy to play. I didn't make the Orchestra as a freshman, which I'm sure contributed to my decision to drop music.

I wasn't planning on putting it down as an EC--cuz only college ECs matter anyway-- but it seems like such a shame, since it had been a huge part of my life. Music was definitely a huge part of my identity and source of pride, because I came from a small state where it was relatively easy to shine as a musician and win competitions. I just sort of lost it in college. I REALLY regret this move, but honestly, in college you're so busy wanting to try out new things that sometimes you don't realize what you really WANT to do. And by the time I finally realized I missed music, I was just way out of loop w/ the music community, cuz everyone had already formed their little music groups (we have a lot of quintets here).

I dunno. That's not the kind of story med schools want to hear, is it.

Out of desperation (for mECs to put on med school applications), I am thinking about joining my school's "lesser" orchestra (which I was too proud to join freshman year). I'm a senior though, so it's kind of late, even for desperate moves.

So. Sorry for not answering your question, OP. I'm need advice as well...

 

[funshine]

hmm. upon reading the other posts, i've decided it's awfully stupid of me to not mention my music background.

 

[VCMM414]

been playing clarinet since 7th grade. continued in college. majored in music, honed skills through private lessons, played principal in university orchestra, gave 2 recitals, played in 1 musical, etc.

music did come up a bit in my interviews. to be fair, i made sure that it was well-represented in my application. i guess it more or less had a positive effect for me. i think any EC is great, just make sure to show your dedication and passion for it.

 

[VCMM414]

hmm. upon reading the other posts, i've decided it's awfully stupid of me to not mention my music background.

you probably shouldn't put it as an EC since, like you said, you didn't really go anywhere with it in college. however, you can always tie music into one of your essays.

 

[acidhouse303]

well i guess i play the "non-unique" instruments guitar and piano but i can also play bass, harp, and clarinet. i also sing and play harmonium. i put it down as an EC and stuff, i put piano competitions that i won awards at
i dont think instruments are a big deal but they show that you at least do soemething besides school n youre creative and relax and stuff
oh yeh and i was in a band in undergrad, sort of a tek house thing so i put that too bc i spent alot of time in studio. hope that helped

 

[UTKB]

Played violin since I was 11 (I'm 22 now), and played in orchestra all 4 yrs of college. I put orchestra as an EC and most of my interviewers have asked about it or what my fave piece of music is. I'd rather talk about orchestra than be asked some kind of ethical question!!! 😀

 

[myodana]

i play harp. i started in college and have taken lessons since (not too seriously, but at least fairly continuously). i put it as an EC -- it would be nice if they asked me about music - much easier to talk about!

 

[PreMedPoohBear]

I played the clarinet since 7th grade. I was never interested in learning how to play it until I had to choose between gym and band in middle school. I really loved it, especially going to competitions and such. I stopped playing in my senior year of high school because I wanted to slack off that year and not be in the marching band (we had marching band in the fall and symphony in the spring, and you had to do both). I'm considering taking it back up when I continue school in the spring, but we'll see.

 

[docwannabe2]

I've played the piano for 15 years (including all through college, where I played in several shared recitals and one solo recital) and have been singing since high school. I had a lot of leadership positions in my choirs, and am singing in a semi-pro choir now that I've graduated, so music has definitely come up in all of my interviews, and in some have actually dominated the conversation. I've always sort of lived a double life (music/science) so I enjoy being able to delve into that other half... 😉

 

[fielight]

i played the violin for about 12 years, was concert master in high school then college. i don't think it really makes much of a difference as a line in your application, because there are many others just like you (though it definitely would be a big deal if you played at carnegie hall or was some prodigy who toured with the ny philharmonic at the tender age of 13). it makes more of a difference in the actual interview though... generally, interviewers are impressed with musical applicants (and they often ask about it), because it's different and it shows commitment. if you can speak eloquently about music in general and your instrument, it would also be a plus during the interview.

 

[SitraAchra]

ahh thanks for the replies. I wasn't sure how my application would be looked at. But it sounds like interviewers really like to talk about this sort of thing.

Oh and just to join in, I play cello and have been for 11 years in chamber and symphony orchestras and it's definitely a part of my identity. I gave it a little paragraph in my PS so hopefully it'll help me out.

now i just need the interviews to talk about it arghhhh

 

[VPDcurt]

i am a master pianist and occasionally toy with the ol' skin flute just for kicks.

 

[SitraAchra]

i am a master pianist and occasionally toy with the ol' skin flute just for kicks.

lol there need to be more master skin flautists in this world

 

[kappasigMD41]

Hey - I just wanted to see if anyone here plays an instrument fairly seriously (i.e. several years) and if so, what impact does this have as an EC factor?

Anyone play a unique instrument? Meaning not guitar/piano.

I can play a mean right hand.

 

[warrenb733]

all but one of my interviewers thus far have brought up music and musical instruments that I play...
I listed an AMCAS EC as "Musical Ambitions" and included and briefly described my "boring" instruments...Piano for 15 years, guitar for 10, as well as harmonica and singing. Makes for a good starting point for what I do as recreation and outside of schoolwork during interviews.

Thats my thoughts...

Brian

 

[stoic]

...i can play the guitar like a motha ****in' riot....

actually i do play in a couple local bands and listed this as an EC. it came up in my interview and the interviewers seemed genuninly interested in hearing about something a little different

 

[funshine]

all but one of my interviewers thus far have brought up music and musical instruments that I play...
I listed an AMCAS EC as "Musical Ambitions" and included and briefly described my "boring" instruments...Piano for 15 years, guitar for 10, as well as harmonica and singing. Makes for a good starting point for what I do as recreation and outside of schoolwork during interviews.

Thats my thoughts...

Brian

k guys, listen up--piano/violin/[insert name of instrument lots of people play] are NOT boring....there is A REASON why so many people play it, why so many of the best pieces of music have been written for those instruments

stop disparaging your own instrument--of all ppl, you should know piano/violin sound the best anyway. i have seen an alarming number of ppl in recent years choose to start "unique" instruments for the sole purpose of having it look good on their resume, and that's just plain idiotic to me.

 

[Tristy]

k guys, listen up--piano/violin/[insert name of instrument lots of people play] are NOT boring....there is A REASON why so many people play it, why so many of the best pieces of music have been written for those instruments

stop disparaging your own instrument--of all ppl, you should know piano/violin sound the best anyway. i have seen an alarming number of ppl in recent years choose to start "unique" instruments for the sole purpose of having it look good on their resume, and that's just plain idiotic to me.

I agree with you, piano is definitely NOT boring, I think that when you play from the heart the piano even sounds different, brighter, more powerful (or it is enhanced imagination from the 40oz I've been drinking, lol 😀 ). I've been playing since I was 8 (about 16 years) but only took about 2-3 years of formal lessons because I enjoyed learning on my own after I learned the basics (well, my parents were piano professors so they helped me 🙄 ) I didn't mention it in my personal statement but I did in some secondaries. I think that if you play an instrument, and you actually enjoy doing it no matter your level of skill, hey, why not say it in your app. Sorry for the rambling 😉

 

[SitraAchra]

i mean, you're right. those instruments sound great and the only thing that matters is what you get from it. however, I think it'd be more exciting to talk about an exotic instrument. I think the harp is just badass, but I'm not blonde nor a girl so that rules me out 😀

and as for people who pick up an instrument because they think it's cool at the time - I'm sure that won't get people very far if there's no accomplishment or duration of craft attached to it.

i don't think i picked cello in 4th grade to be the cool kid. at my school all the cool kids picked trumpet or percussion, then dropped out the following year.

you've got to admit though, everyone and their dog plays guitar.

 

[funshine]

I agree with you, piano is definitely NOT boring, I think that when you play from the heart the piano even sounds different, brighter, more powerful (or it is enhanced imagination from the 40oz I've been drinking, lol 😀 ). I've been playing since I was 8 (about 16 years) but only took about 2-3 years of formal lessons because I enjoyed learning on my own after I learned the basics (well, my parents were piano professors so they helped me 🙄 ) I didn't mention it in my personal statement but I did in some secondaries. I think that if you play an instrument, and you actually enjoy doing it no matter your level of skill, hey, why not say it in your app. Sorry for the rambling 😉

So do I!! (in reference to how the piano sounds best =)

my mom teaches piano too, so that might have something to do with it 🙄

 

[funshine]

i mean, you're right. those instruments sound great and the only thing that matters is what you get from it. however, I think it'd be more exciting to talk about an exotic instrument. I think the harp is just badass, but I'm not blonde nor a girl so that rules me out 😀

and as for people who pick up an instrument because they think it's cool at the time - I'm sure that won't get people very far if there's no accomplishment or duration of craft attached to it.

i don't think i picked cello in 4th grade to be the cool kid. at my school all the cool kids picked trumpet or percussion, then dropped out the following year.

you've got to admit though, everyone and their dog plays guitar.

I don't play the guitar!!! i need to find someone to teach me....it's like a necessary skill every college student should have

 

[SitraAchra]

piano is such a solo instrument. i like playing w/ other instruments and the ensemble it creates. but i'm sure we're all biased towards our own instruments. not gonna lie though piano solos rock the hizzy along with some piano concerti

 

[SitraAchra]

haha i know you don't play guitar - but you were defending guitar and piano when i called them ordinary or something like that.

i like classical guitar but i think there are SOOOOOO many people who are like "i was in a band once"

 

[riven5]

I've played violin for 13 years...interviewers were interested in it even though I don't have time (or the money) to take private lessons anymore. It's part of what makes you a more well-rounded candidate I guess. Anyways, I'm proud of it and definitely mentioned it in my apps.

 

[ellia08]

Well, I dont do anything interesting (piano 15 yrs, flute 8yrs, Chorale Singing 6 years) but I guess it has come up during a lot of interviews. Weird. I never thought about that until this minute.

 

[FERDInand]

clarinet for 13 years. was given free music theory lessons at 7 on by an old chek man down the street. when i turned 16 he said he was done with me and i needed to move on. i played in the high school band (allstate for jazz and classical) but had a falling out with my hs band director and quit, losing my eligibility for all that stuff. I was set up with some lessons from the #1 in the state philarmonic, but he was an ass and too full of himself. that and he could only come around every few weeks. since then ive just played for myself, i dont have the commitment to practice all the time with my college orchestra, and havent found anyone to start up a nice jazz ensemble with some actual talent. 2 years ago i did have the opportunity to play a little bit with pete fountain, that was great. Ive considered hooking up with a group in the city, but i have to much elso going on to commit to things like that, music just isnt my top priority, its something i do to relax. I'll probably work something out when im older.

 

[SitraAchra]

what state are you from FERD

 

[FERDInand]

what state are you from FERD

louisiana

 

[musiclink213]

i played piano for about 14, 15 years, flute for 7 years, alto sax for 6 years, and oboe for 3 years. the oboe is such a fun instrument, i started playing that my senior year of high school because i was in the orchestra for the musicals, and i was sick of transposed parts, and the oboe had a big part in that show we were doing, so i offered to learn to play the oboe. i love the reactions i got, my favorite: is that a broken clarinet?

in college, i've taken beginning classes in a string class (i took the viola) and guitar. i'm thinking of taking a beginning brass class for next semester, but i'm not sure if it'll fit in my schedule.

 

[UTKB]

My mom was a Texas all-state flautist, and my dad a Texas all-state french horn way back in the day. They're partial to band instruments, so they still call my violin a "horn."