UCAS: Personal Statement for Music
Music is an incredibly competitive degree in the UK, so how can you make sure you stand out in your application?
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When it comes to your music personal statement, you should ask yourself: what first interested you in music? Are there any extra-curricular achievements you want to mention? What style of music are you most passionate about, and why? Making rough notes and 'free-writing' your initial thoughts are just a couple of ways you can tackle writer's block, and get your creativity flowing.
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For more practical advice that's specific to music, read on.
Tips To Write Personal Statement for Music Programme
Describe your musical enthusiasm
List your extra-curricular music activities
Elaborate your teamwork skills
Provide wider reading around music
Explain why do you choose music
Highlight your skills in music
#1 Describe your musical enthusiasm
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Provide detailed, engaging examples of your musical experiences, interests, and your academic and musical aspirations.
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Examples: performance, composition, music history, analysis, etc.
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#2 Provide wider reading around music
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Mention additional reading you’ve done around the subject and what you’ve learned from it.
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Prepare to expand on this during an interview.
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#3 List your extra-curricular musical activities
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Provide reflective descriptions about the insights, skills and knowledge you’ve gained from a select few experiences.
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#4 Explain why do you choose music
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Write clearly and engagingly about the subject and your reasons for wanting to study it at university level.
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Demonstrate your current knowledge, skills, passion, and suitability for the course.
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#5 Elaborate your teamwork skills
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Provide examples inside or outside of your studies where you’ve demonstrated your abilities to work well as part of a team.
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#6 Highlight some of your skills, knowledge, achievements, or experience relevant to the field
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What To Not Write in Your Personal Statement
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Clichés: Avoid the likes of ‘music is my life’ or ‘music is a universal language’.
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Replication: Including information on additional music qualifications and grades you have is important, but put these in one of the qualification boxes on your application form so you do not waste valuable space on it in your statement.
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Ignore course content: Ensure that your statement shows you have researched your courses carefully by mentioning your practical and academic interest in these areas.