Every candidate is judged on their own merits. Some will say you must.... It all depends. My DS did band for 4 years, squeezed in indoor track for 2 years, never earned a letter. He had mid 700 SATs, Eagle Scout, solid scores on CFA. He is now a Cow squad leader at Beast. Do what you are good at, make choices you can live with, realize that there are many facets to a candidate and check some other good criteria that you like. If you become someone you aren't just to get in, you may not be happy in the long run. As it turns out, a really old grad pays for a piano maestro from NYC to come up and give lessons to a few cadets at no charge. It is a fantastic experience that continuing music in HS helped facilitate. Be you.