by Inman Hebert
Have you scrambled recently to locate and update your resume for a last-minute opportunity? As April brings reminders about spring cleaning, music students should take stock of their preparedness to quickly provide application materials.
Are you considering where to start? Select an electronic location (computer, cloud, etc.) and create a folder to save your application materials. As the metadata can change when documents are uploaded or migrated, include the last date modified as part of the file name so that you can easily find the most up-to-date documents. (Example: FirstNameLastName_DocumentTitle_YYYY_MM_DD [or the reverse to sort by date])
Since your contact information lies prominently at the top of your resume, could your email address be perceived as unprofessional or immature? Establish a professional email account separate from your student college account for communication, preferably one distinct from the one used for subscriptions and spam. Creating this account provides continuity as we move into graduate school and the professional world. And remember, at some point, we lose access to our university accounts.
Create a master document with a complete record of everything, including non-musical activities. This comprehensive list should include full-time, part-time, and volunteer work with details such as organization name and location, position title, start and end dates, and detailed job descriptions using active verbs. Instead of only focusing on descriptions, do not forget to list your achievements in those positions. This source file may be a document, a spreadsheet, a database, or other file type, but format—as long as it’s tidy—matters less than providing a chronicle of your professional life. Think about your education and training; teaching; performance and ensemble experience; festivals, camps, and workshops; competitions and performance awards; professional auditions (if advanced); teachers with whom you have had extensive lessons; master classes; repertoire; professional memberships, leadership roles; honors and awards; and publications.
Always be accurate and specific but understand that gathering this information may involve locating old files, digging through emails, and talking to those who can jar your memory. Use the time to be proud of your accomplishments. If feeling dubious about your experiences, understand you are at the beginning of your professional journey and think about the next steps in your continued growth as a horn student.
Research music resumes online to find a template you can adapt, and understand that certain formatting expectations apply to all resumes. In searching through templates, find one that is easy to read and allows the reviewer to skim through it in their limited time. The layout needs a balance of white space and clear category alignment. 11 to 12-point font allows easy readability. A larger header at the top includes your name and contact information.
The last step involves using that master file to tailor your resume for the experience, which could be an application for college, graduate school, music festivals, K-12 schools, a college position, orchestras, or arts organizations. While graduate schools may be interested in a more complete picture, an audition will likely focus on your relevant performance experiences. Always read the complete description of what is being requested and be selective. Before hitting that send button, remember to proofread for errors in spelling and grammar. Name the file as listed in the description or, if not specified, with your name, the position, and the title of the document. Finally, save it as a PDF and send it off knowing you put forth your best effort.
Finally, look at it often, and update it regularly.
Never be afraid to reach out to more experienced graduate students, mentors, or professors for guidance in preparing your resumes and applications. Proofreaders can catch things that our eyes may miss from constant review or familiarity. Put in the effort, and the next time you receive a last-minute opportunity, you will find yourself calm and prepared to present a professional resume.
