Taking Mr. Y's approach tends to thin out all but the most experienced of resumes:
Here are a few suggestions for writing that most important document.
1. Your resume should CONTAIN THE TRUTH.
2. Your resume should contain only RELEVANT INFORMATION.
3. Your resume should be ONE PAGE LONG.
4. Your resume should be impeccably NEAT.
5. Your resume should be COMPUTER GENERATED OR TYPED.
6. Your resume should be on WHITE NON-ERASABLE PAPER.
That a resume should be truthful and relevant would seem obvious, but it is painfully evident that players, especially ones who are young and inexperienced, stretch the truth and pad their resumes a great deal - to their own embarrassment. A resume must contain only information that is vital for an audition committee to assess your playing experience, training and ability, to wit:
NAME
ADDRESS
TELEPHONE NUMBER with area code
PRESENT POSITION(S) WITH DATES
PAST POSITION(S) WITH DATES
EDUCATION - Schools from which you received degrees and the date of graduation; other post-secondary schools attended and dates
PRINCIPAL TEACHERS with their positions
ONE OR TWO REFERENCES with their positions and telephone numbers
Unless the orchestra specifically asks for it, NO OTHER INFORMATION IS CONSIDERED RELEVANT! As to what constitutes a present or past position, common sense and honesty much prevail. Non-musical positions should not be listed, nor should any high school all-state band or orchestra memberships. Among other things that should stay off a resume: Membership in the International Trombone Association, Phi Mu Alpha or MENC, the fact that you are in the top orchestra in school, the dates of your solo recitals, who your teacher studied with, a listing of summer camps you attended (unless it is a highly prestigious and nationally competitive festival such as the Tanglewood Music Center). A committee wants to know what significant musical experience you have. If you have no experience, your resume should show it. A padded resume fools no one and looks bad.
