Personal Statement:Music 1

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Music Personal Statement

My interest in music was well established at the age of 5 when I won a National Composition Competition to compose a song for the Rainbow Guides. I began piano and recorder lessons shortly afterwards and was consequently able to perform with a renaissance ensemble, where I played a variety of renaissance recorders and crumhorns. Since then I have taken lessons on viola, singing and clarinet, also enjoying the challenge of teaching myself to play flute and guitar. Since the beginning of secondary school, when I was introduced to the concepts of musical history and analysis, I have thoroughly enjoyed studying the subject and thirst to further my study of these aspects of music

Having had experience of assisting in musical direction and conducting some ensembles in school, I am very interested in developing my skills in this area in the future. My work experience placement at **[Guitar Shop]** which involved helping and advising customers in person and over the telephone, gave me a valuable insight into the commercial aspects of music retail and the practical issues of instrument repair

Being elected Deputy House Captain at school as well as taking part in the leadership of a Christian Union, Junior Church and Girl Guide Unit has given me the opportunity to develop skills in leadership and organisation working with a variety of age groups. I aspired to broaden my knowledge of current affairs and develop my teamwork and public speaking skills, which I have largely realised by such activities as gaining the Guide Association Basic Leadership Certificate and taking part in the European Youth Parliament. My confidence in public performance has been greatly enhanced by my role in a string quartet, employed by the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Society to play at formal occasions

Throughout my seven years at **[School]** I have taken an active part in school life by participating in many extra-curricular activities including Chess Club, Handbell Ringing, Christian Union and a variety of House competitions. Being a member of the school Chamber Orchestra, Wind Band and **[Local]** Chamber Choir has enabled me to take part in the National Festival of Music for Youth, Llangollen International Eisteddfod, and Liverpool Festival. Outside of school I am also a member of **[County]** Schools' Concert Band, **[Region]** Youth Orchestra and **[County]** Youth Orchestra, with whom I have participated in a concert tour to Tuscany, Italy

In addition to musical activities, I have continued to extend my skills in other areas. Attending **[Local]** Trampolining Club enabled me to improve my fitness and gain the British Trampolining Federation Bronze award. Currently, I have regular Ice Skating lessons and have completed NISA Star Programme Silver Figure Skating. I have made use of my advanced IT skills in composing and arranging music, using Sibelius software, as well as designing websites using HTML. As a committed member of the Guide Association for 13 years, I have persevered with a variety of personal challenges to complete the Chief Guide's Challenge and Silver Duke of Edinburgh Award, which has been both exhilarating and rewarding and I am now working towards the Adult Leadership Certificate

I am a keen student who is looking forward to the challenges presented by higher education and university life. Having enjoyed participating in a wide range of extra-curricular activities during my time at school, I look forward to continuing these activities at university, where I can pursue my musical ambitions as well as taking an active role in wider academic life.

Comments

General Comments:

This statement has some interesting and impressive musical and non-musical activities but unfortunately the way in which music and non-musical things are interspersed makes these stand out less. This statement could have benefited from being less list-like and being structured in a way that makes it easier to read. (The_Lonely_Goatherd)

Comments on the statement:

The first paragraph is good in that it addresses why the applicant wishes to study Music. It also makes it very clear what the applicant's instruments are, which is useful for an admissions tutor. Some of the wording makes the statement slightly confusing. For example, an admissions tutor might wonder how a five year old can compose a song without playing any instruments! The statement reads as if the applicant has been playing in Renaissance (notice the capital!) ensemble from a very young age, which may not have been the case. It is not entirely clear as to whether the piano, recorder or neither are considered by the applicant to be the first instrument/principle study.

In the second paragraph, the applicant could have gone into slightly more detail about his/her interest in conducting. The sentence about work experience is very good. This paragraph would have worked better later on in the PS.

The third paragraph is very good in its content. It would have, however, been better to talk about musical extra-curriculars first and group them all together and then to mention the non-musical ECs and put them all together. The way in which the applicant discusses transferable skills is very good.

See third paragraph comments for the fourth paragraph. The applicant could have spoken more about the festivals, since the first two are prestigious.

The fifth paragraph is very good, though the Sibelius sentence could have gone with other musical things.

The final paragraph is good but the applicant could have reiterated why they're a good candidate more strongly. (The_Lonely_Goatherd)