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Molly Baughman

Mrs. McClendon

Prosper Career Independent Study

7 February 2024

EOL #4 - Baylor University Audition

On January 27, 2024, I had the opportunity to attend an event called Invitation to

Excellence at Baylor University. I also had my first college audition. This experience has only

confirmed my belief that I want to be a musician and a music educator.

During the event, we got a tour of the music school and talked to professors and students;

then, we saw some student performances and had a student interview panel. Throughout the

event, learning more about music education made me realize that this is what I want to do- no

questions asked. By talking to students who were part of the Bass Studio, I learned you have

many different opportunities outside of your major. Suppose you get a Music Ed. Degree, you

don’t have to be a music teacher; you can play gigs or do lessons, and you’re certified in K-12

for Choir, Band, and Orchestra. During the event, I got to reconnect with Dr. Alexander, whom I

interviewed last semester, to learn more about music education. It was great to reconnect, and I

got to learn about string-specific education. I learned more about his role as Associate Dean for

Orchestra and the student teaching portion at the end of the music education degree program.

After attending this amazing event, I had my audition for the school of music.

Throughout the audition, I could reflect on how much I had put into it, and Dr. Ostlund, the Bass

Professor, confirmed it was worth it. During the audition, I got to talk to him about the program

and how music education worked or how it is in the feild. Hearing his students talk about how

much they enjoy working with him and how much Dr. Ostlund enjoys working with them was
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incredibly inspiring and heart-warming. Seeing how joyful everyone was makes me want to

create that same feeling for everyone, inspiring me to become a teacher even more. My

experience at Baylor has only confirmed that I want to be a music teacher. Seeing teachers' effect

on their students inspires me to continue working hard and pursuing my music education goals.
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Work Cited

Baylor School of Music. Invitation to Excellence. Invitation to Excellence is a competitive

program showcasing many exciting academic opportunities Baylor offers. Through this

elite program, students have robust experiences and conversations with faculty

representing all nine schools and colleges. 27 January 2024, Baylor University, Waco,

Texas, United States of America.