One of the not so common majors students will pursue is music. Music majors range  from music performance to jazz composition, including music therapy, music business and management, music education, and music theory. This year at Monte Vista, a handful of seniors have decided to commit to their musical dreams with an upbeat enthusiasm.

If you sweat buckets at the thought of applying to or choosing a college to attend, imagine having to audition for members of the admission staff in order to just be considered for your desired major.

Students who applied to certain schools as music majors – or to receive music scholarships – are required to audition as part of their application. Some schools will ask each musician to prepare a specific song, while others will have them prepare a song(s) of their choice. Most schools will also recommend the musicians to have scales prepared but may not ask them to play them during the audition. Also, depending on the school, musicians will have to do sight reading (playing a song they’ve never seen before on the spot) or aural testing (hearing a note and having to sing it back).

With that being said, it’s an understatement to say that these auditions are stressful and beyond important.

“Knowing that there are so many people on the same instrument as you, gives you so much pressure and stress, because everyone has their own skill level,” senior Patricia Li said. “I feel like part of getting into the school you want depends on how confident you’re feeling during the auditions.”

The skill levels of different musicians playing different instruments vary so much, that it seems impossible to know whether or not you will make it into a program or be offered a scholarship.

“They pick people who are dedicated. A few teachers at schools asked me if I’m willing to take private classes and stuff because a bunch of kids would just slack off after getting accepted,” Li said, “and of course they look for potential.”

Much like a usual college alumni interview, auditions can be stressful and make you want to drop off the face of the earth. However, as many seniors have learned this year, the more interviews or auditions you do, the easier it gets.

“It’s cliche but practice makes perfect,” Li said. “I didn’t do too well on my first audition, because I didn’t know what I was doing or how everything worked. But as I kept practicing for my next auditions, I started to gain more confidence in my abilities.”