Necessities As A College Student: Music Edition

As a sophomore, I have definitely have learned the necessary tools one needs to have a successful academic life so I decided to share my thoughts and what I learned with those who may need the advice the most. I hope this list of items is a helpful tool for current and prospective students in a (hopefully) less stressful college life.

1. A Water Bottle:

No matter what your concentration is, you should always have a reusable water bottle. I have noticed from friends and myself that we always get very caught up in classes, rehearsals, work, performances, studying, etc that we forget to give ourselves a break and hydrate. Drinking water always makes me feel refreshed and awake and it is vital for us as students to take care of ourselves while grinding academically.​

​2. Snacks:

Always, always, always have snacks in your bookbag. During the day you will either be spending your time in class or doing work or trying to get to a class. You may find that there isn’t enough time during these short breaks to go back to your apartment, dorm, a restaurant, cafe, or the dining hall to eat a full meal to keep yourself going through the day. I know students who sometimes forget to eat or straight up not eat because they don’t have enough time, but please do yourself a favor and pack some snacks. Your tummy and mood will thank you later.

3. A Foldable Music Stand:

This one is particularly for those who practice their instruments regularly. A foldable music stand is one of those things where you don’t know you need it until the situation calls for it or you’re saying to yourself “ehh I don’t think I need it” until you do and you’re screwed. This is a small PSA that as a music student you probably, will definitely, need one. 

4. Writing Utensils/App:

Since we’re at school it should be required to have a writing utensil with you to take notes for class but also to write notes in music scores. For those who can, I recommend a tablet for taking notes or downloading pdfs of scores to not waste paper and to have it be more convenient to carry around. As a musician, one key takeaway I learned is to always write in your music. Trust me, it’ll help you in the long run.

5. Accompaniment Tracks:

This is very beneficial particularly to performing majors that have auditions. Using tracks has been very helpful this past year when there are times when you won’t be able to practice with an accompaniment. Youtube is a great resource to find free tracks, although there are times where the tracks are just so horrible. If this is the case, I would encourage you to contact your private lesson professors about meeting with an accompanist to record or practice.

6. Music Notation Applications: 

This is a must-have for music majors. It is a helpful tool to create music, transcribe, figure out rhythms and notes for homework. There are many great music notation applications out there and I would say the best place to start is to do some research. A great application is Musescore, free of charge.

7. Empty Sheet Paper:

Another type of way to make notes in music or compose. Most all music majors will have to take music theory and musicianship and having empty sheet paper will be very helpful. There are many on Amazon, a notebook of empty sheet paper sold at the Illini Union Bookstore, or you can print them out.

Audrey Adji​