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What style of music comes to mind when you think of Texas? Most likely, you answered Country Western. However, the arts scene in Texas is far more diverse, leading to new and exciting opportunities, especially for aspiring music students. There’s no shortage of schools in the U.S. with excellent music programs, and the state of Texas is no exception.

While it’s crucial to know the basic requirements for both the Common Application and school-specific essays, it’s the elements of your writing that tell your story, that hit a funny bone or play on an emotional note, making your essay stand out. In all my years of consulting students on creating an effective and eye-catching essay, believe me when I say: Personality matters. 

Practice. It’s the quintessential labor of any artist who wishes to hone their skills and advance their abilities, but in my decades of experience counseling music students, I’ve found almost everyone struggles at some point to develop the routine that works best for them. That’s because there isn’t only one way to practice.

Passion for music extends far beyond passion for live performance. Many interweaving non-performance roles in the music industry make live performances and music releases possible. There are vital music industry jobs that don’t involve performing on stage, but still immerse the music lover into the center of the bustling music business.

Our goal at Inside Music Schools is to help students and parents navigate the college admissions process successfully. A large part of this is gaining an understanding of common words and phrases you might come across on a website or hear from admissions counselors. So, we’ve compiled a glossary of some of the most common terms.

I’ll never forget walking into my first cafe in New York City. Coming from Texas, everything felt like it was at lightning speed. I remember standing in the corner, my nerves on edge, waiting for a safe moment to enter the chaos. Over the next few days I would be auditioning at The New School, Manhattan School of Music, and The Juilliard School.

For Mila Mincy, even at 8 years old, singing “just felt right.” With a firm resolve that music was her true means of self-expression and the encouragement of her extraordinary parents, Mila vigorously pursued her passion. She immersed herself in a variety of styles and took advantage of every opportunity inside and outside of the classroom. Ultimately, it was pop music and vocal performance that captured her focus. Next stop: turning that passion into a music career.

Applying to college is one of the most exciting and stressful times in a teenager’s life. Although technology has made certain processes more convenient, it has done very little to quell the confusion and anxiety that accompanies the complex college application process. For aspiring music majors, the processes become even more challenging, often leading to aggravation – or even a reduced chance of acceptance. 

For most professional musicians, a music school degree is an obvious and ideal path toward working in the field they love. Specialized courses and private instruction mold students into industry-ready players, producers, composers, song writers, audio engineers, and business people. Each musician faces unique challenges after graduating from music college and the opportunity to mold a work-life unique to their musical strengths, interests, and goals. 

Students and parents ask me whether fanning out or focusing is better — and I’m here to say, well, it’s not that simple. What you should and want to concentrate on really depends on where you see yourself in five, ten or thirty years down the road. There’s a place for all these kinds of musicians as long as you remember one thing — you must be great at something to carve a space for yourself in what is a notoriously competitive career landscape.

As you prepare to leave high school behind and study at music school, numerous possibilities await you. At first, it may seem daunting when you think about how to juggle multiple responsibilities, like classes and student clubs while pursuing the best opportunities. Sometimes hearing nuggets of wisdom from peers who have been in your shoes can help you to manage your time and expectations while you prepare for this next exciting chapter. 

Auditions are an essential part of your career, whether you are studying vocal performance at a top music college or aspiring to be on stage performing your own songs. Regardless of the path you choose, virtually every single singing role requires auditioning, so the more comfortable you get with vocal auditions early on, the more at ease you will feel in the future.