It’s a big decision studying music in college, right? It’s a clue that you are interested in pursuing music as a career. We support your choice to take the leap and pursue a different career!
In general, college degrees are definitely expensive. But that doesn’t mean you should leave college with thousands of dollars worth of debt! It is true that scholarships exist, but they cannot be quite a solution to lower college costs.
All that said, the music industry is very competitive. If you’re hoping to win a music scholarship, you’ll need some serious talent, along with experience on your side. It also helps if there isn’t an impossibly difficult competition right around the corner to worry about.
Can You Get a Scholarship for Music
Yes, there are scholarships for music. However, they aren’t as common as those in other areas like sports.
There are more songwriters in the independent scene these days. They’re often very competitive with one another and award the best musicians from across the country.
Students who excel in academics and strive to be professional musicians face strict competition from other students and must be prepared to rehearse every day.
Most music scholarships are awarded based on the result of a competition, so you first need to pass out of audition.
What Colleges Give Music Scholarships
If you’re interested in music or want to pursue a career in the industry, some top colleges offer scholarships that are worth checking out.
Berklee College has a lot of merit-based scholarships. They offer scholarships with partial tuition and full scholarships for the most exceptional students.
Yale School of Music has scholarships available for all future students.
The New England Conservatory is also very generous with scholarships. Students usually receive at least a scholarship of some sort.
What Music Instruments Get the Most Scholarships
Students who play on rare instruments have a better chance of winning a scholarship. Instrument scholarships like the bassoon, oboe, harp and tuba have good rates. It’s hard to find students who enjoy playing these instruments. Students prefer more popular instruments because they are easier to find afford.
Vocal Music Scholarships
Scholarships exist for students who possess the ability to make their voice heard. Here are some scholarships that vocalists may apply for.
- Music Scholarship for Undergraduate in Voice
The Generation Federation of Women’s Clubs of Massachusetts awards this scholarship to women in the MA area. In order to apply for this scholarship, you must be a MA resident majoring in Voice at an accredited college. The scholarship is worth $500!
- The Bel Canto Vocal Scholarship Foundation
Young opera singers may apply for this scholarship. They must be between the ages of 21-33. The amount of scholarships is not known at this time.
General Music Scholarships
These are some helpful scholarships musicians can apply to that may also fit your path.
- The BMI Student Composer Awards
Students in development of classical music will apply and can currently be under the age of 28.
- Young Musicians Foundation (YMF) Scholarships
The Foundation awards several scholarships. One scholarship is the David Weiss Scholar Award which is given to students whose financial need has been proven.
This program offers scholarships to students in the age range of 8-17. You must be a part of the Neighborhood Orchestra after-school program to qualify.
- Kerope Zildjian
You can apply for a scholarship that helps percussionists cover their college costs. One person gets a chance to win this scholarship. They also received a travel allowance to visit Zildjian HQ and get a sense of what’s going on there, as well as grab various cymbals made by them. Students must send their specific recorded performances and a resume to apply.
- Marine Band Concerto Competition
High school students who play woodwind, brass or percussion instruments may apply. A winner will be chosen to be a guest soloist with the US Marine Band. The scholarship provides you with the opportunity to make a career in Marine Corps writing. The runner up receives a $500 scholarship.
- VSA International Young Soloists Competition
Musicians who are between 14-25 years old and have a disability are encouraged to apply. Four $2,500 scholarship winners will also get the opportunity for professional development. John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts (JK) accepts soloists & ensembles of all genres. The audition process is free and open to anyone in music or dance who would like to try out, even if they don’t live in Washington, D.C.
- Jazz at the Ballroom Scholarships for California/Bay Area Students
You can apply to have three scholarship winners selected for $1,500 each here in the Bay Area. They get to perform with some of the world’s most talented musicians this month at Jazz @ Noon.
- Musical Theater Songwriting Challenge
So this is a national competition for high school students with a passion for songwriting. Six students are chosen to be semi-finalists & provided opportunities to learn from professionals in the field of music. One student is the National Champion and receives $25,000.
- Donald Runnicles Musical Arts Scholarship Competition
Wyoming, Idaho, and Montana high school seniors can apply to this program. They must plan to pursue degrees in music (classical, jazz, or other). First prize is $20,000, second is $12,500 and third is $7,500.
Final Thoughts
There are three types of scholarships available for students who have musical talent wish to pursue a lifetime of music: The Music Class scholarship, The Vocal or Instrumental study scholarship, and the Choir/Orchestra scholarship. The Jenson Memorial focuses on church work and a musical foundation in both piano and voice lessons, which are available for those who want them. Private Lesson scholarships can be found, too.
Playing music is a very competitive field, but scholarships are available for anyone who can show their talent. So if you’re one of the lucky ones, be sure to put in lots of practice and try to stand out visually so it’s easier for people to notice you. Be your best and carry out any activities you can to advance your skills.
At music school, it’s important to remain well-rounded. This is essential for winning scholarships, like merit-based scholarships which typically require a certain amount of musical skill.
FAQ for Instruments Scholarships
What are Instruments Scholarships?
Instruments Scholarships are a type of financial aid that is provided by the government to students who are studying music, dance and theater. These scholarships help them pay for their tuition fees and other educational costs.
Since the introduction of the instruments scholarship program, talented musicians can focus on their craft in Canada. In other countries, they may try to earn more money by playing an instrument and leave Canada to pursue that opportunity.
What music instruments get the most Scholarships?
It’s more likely a student will win the scholarship if they play instruments like the harp, oboe, tuba, or bassoon. These instruments have the best chances to win a scholarship.
Can you get a full ride Scholarship for music?
Searching for scholarships can help reduce the amount of money you will have to spend when entering school. When looking around, remember that full-ride musical scholarships may be difficult to find, so keep your search open and consider other opportunities.
What’s the hardest instrument to play?
French Horn – Hardest Brass Instrument to Play. Violin – Hardest String Instrument to Play. Bassoon – Hardest Woodwind Instrument to Play. Organ – Hardest Instrument to Learn. Oboe – Hardest Instrument to Play in a Marching Band. Bagpipes. Harp. Accordion.
What is the most difficult brass instrument to play?
For brass instruments, mastering the French horn is really tough. However, this task is made substantially easier when you’ve reached a certain level of ability on other types of instruments. So even if you are brand new to this kind of music and instrument – practice with one or two complementary skills until you can master it!
What is the most needed instrument?
Alternative Press just pointed out that a study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences in America has revealed that bass is the most important instrument in a band.
What is the easiest instrument to learn?
Ukulele – Easiest Instrument To Learn For Everyone. Harmonica and Cajon – Easy-to-learn instrument to learn on your own. Keyboard/Piano – Easy-to-learn instrument to learn for a child. Acoustic Guitar – Easiest-To-Learn Instrument for Adults.
What is the coolest instrument to play?
Violin, Cello, Double Bass, Saxophone, Flute, Clarinet and Trumpet are some of the brass instruments. Drums is also on our list. It’s a great instrument to learn how to play and the most fun too!
What is the most expensive instrument?
The MacDonald Stradivarius Viola is the most expensive musical instrument of all time. It has a price tag of 44.5 million dollars.
Do colleges like music?
Music study is valued equally to language studies and is more relevant to college and university admission. Students in junior high and lower should still choose to only take music classes. It’s important for them to learn an instrument or at least get really good with their voice.
Does playing an instrument make you smarter?
Playing an instrument is good for your brain. Learning how to play a specific instrument can help improve important skills like memory and abstract reasoning. These are crucial for math and science learning!
Does playing an instrument help you get into Harvard?
The simple truth is that your instrument doesn’t guarantee you admission to Ivy League schools. You would need to be highly talented or have a rich experience of music to get in. However, being able to play well an instrument would definitely give you an advantage over others.
What GPA is required for Harvard?
Harvard’s 5-point grading system states that in a 4.0, they will give you an A, while a 3.99 is an A+. This grading system differs from the “common sense” method of GPA by weighting GPAs differently and being possible to misinterpret so remember not to solely rely on it when deciding who deserves admission into your school.
What are types of Scholarships?
There are many types of scholarships. Some that are common are academic scholarships, community service scholarships, athletic scholarships, and even some scholarships for hobbies and things such as extracurriculars. Scholarships based on applicant’s identities include those based upon race, gender identity, etc. There are also need-based & employer scholarship programs that may be available to students who qualify.
How hard is it to get a Scholarship?
The odds of winning a scholarship are 14.4% for White students compared with 11.2% for minority students. The odds of winning a scholarship are 11.4% for Black or African-American students, 9.1% for Hispanic or Latino students, and 10.5% for Asian students.
What are the requirements for obtaining an Instruments Scholarship?
Instruments Scholarships are administered by the Instrument Society. The scholarships are awarded based on the student’s academic merit and their interest in instruments.
Each scholarship has a set of requirements that must be met before they can be awarded. These requirements include:
- A minimum GPA of 3.0 or greater
- Completion of at least one semester of college in a major related to the instrument for which they are applying
- A letter from their current faculty advisor stating that they have taken the appropriate courses
- A letter from their current music instructor stating that they have completed a year of lessons and practice
Will a 4.0 GPA get you a Scholarship?
GPA Isn’t Everything, But It Helps It’s important to note that you don’t need a 4.0 GPA (grade point average) to get scholarships (though it would certainly be beneficial)! Scholarships are awarded to all types of students for all sorts of reasons.
Can I get a Scholarship with a 2.5 GPA?
If you have a 2.5 GPA, don’t waste your time applying to scholarships which require a minimum GPA of 3.0. There are many scholarships that require a lower minimum GPA. Many scholarships award creativity and don’t take into account an applicant’s grades.
How many Instruments Scholarships are available in the UK?
There are over 3,000 Instruments Scholarships available in the UK. These awards are for people who have a passion for music from any instrument.
There are a number of different types of instruments that can be studied at university level, including:
- Piano
- Violin
- Flute
- Harpsichord
- French Horn
What are the eligibility requirements for Instruments Scholarships?
The eligibility requirements for Instruments Scholarships are quite simple. You just need to be a student in the US who is enrolled at a college or university. The application is completely online and you can apply from anywhere in the world.
Instruments Scholarships are available for students who want to pursue their education at the graduate level and get a chance to expand their knowledge in fields such as engineering, computer science, or applied mathematics.
Are Instruments Scholarships available in the US?
No, Instruments is only available for students studying music in Canada, Australia, New Zealand and United Kingdom.