Schools don't want robotic regurgitators and copiers. They need people who are also creative, something few of them are. They are great at memorizing and cheating for sure, but when it comes to creating new ideas, they seem to fail spectacularly.
If they made themselves more well rounded instead of just focusing on grades and test scores, perhaps they would increase their chances of being admitted to where they desire to go. No, playing an instrument copying old classical music is not the solution. They all do that. Playing an instrument and creating their own music probably would be a plus.
Let me add to this...
The top schools want to see
applied learning. Especially for future STEM majors. State/National science fair winners, robotics champions, international mathletes, etc. They want the truly exceptional, forward-thinking students who aren't looking to get stuck in entry-level or middle management purgatory; but rather build their knowledge base so they can found the next multi-billion dollar company.
I have a cousin who just accepted to Stanford. She had a high GPA, great test scores, etc. But what made her stand out was how she solved the flooding problem on the roads in her town by discoving that the culverts were too small and were easily clogged. She and her classmates made a presentation to the town hall, who then invested in upgrading the roads.
That's the type of student they're looking for. Want to get into the top schools? Go out and do something to effect real change in a positive way.
Definitely not in practice 
