Hey guys, I must lament that I sincerely struggle with finding scholarships to apply for; and the reason being is that they are so utterly specific! I am an adult–just a mild mannered gay white male–looking to return to school in order to study Music Education since I want to teach piano, music theory/ musicianship, and voice! Yet, finding a scholarship that I can apply to has been fraught with difficulty because, once I think I have found one, I am barred from applying because I do not meet their minute qualification of either being a different gender, or being a particular ethnicity, of being from a specific area within a certain state, or even going to a particular school–there are enormous strings attached!
Personally, i love to write and teach, and I was hoping to to find a variety of basic scholarships to apply for that would allow me t tell my story through an essay as to why I want to pursue Music Education! After all, when I needed and desired an education in music the first time around, I was given the worse possible education! Yet, when I think that I have found a scholarship that I can apply to, there are a variety of hurdles about who or what I am or where I live and want to study that prevent me from applying. Still, I want to ensure that my students are given a better eduction than what I received.
Is anyone else facing this dilemma?
Do you mean private scholarships that are not attached for a particular school? Your best options for scholarships are going to be directly from schools for either strong academic background and/or a music audition. Also, especially as an adult, what are your local, instate options? Are you looking for free tuition? Are you currently studying piano, voice, and theory?
To hit your latter question first, I am wanting to study piano, theory, AND voice, since my former Voice Teacher was such an inspirational figure.
Anyhow, I really don’t want to attend an instate college because, well… Have divided community college music programs into few categories: 1.) the program doesn’t offer an Associe. Degree in music; 2.) the program seems sketchy (whether or not it offers an Assoc. Degree in music); 3.) it’s out in the boonies in some small town/ corner area of the state where I do NOT want to live for even a week; and 4.) of all the schools that fit my criteria, only one offers an Associe. Degree with an impeccable program and in an area where I’d enjoy living since it’s a stone’s throw away from a large city where I have friends, but…this program requires a formal audition for anyone studying voice, which crosses it off my list since it has been several years since I have sung, let alone had the fortune to work with a new teacher and prepare an audition piece! That was extremely frustrating. In fact, I’ve noticed that quite few community colleges have an audition requirement these days, whereas they wouldn’t have twenty years ago. In fact, my thinking has always been that one shouldn’t have to formally audition to get accepted into a music program or to take private lessons since it is the role of these schools to prepare one for editions into a Bach. program.
And, while I’m thinking about it, every audition for a music program I’d ever auditioned for has always come down to the beauty of my voice compared with others that have taken lessons far longer than I! Yet, one can be an amazing Voice Teacher without having the most beautiful voice in the room. Therefore, i take it personally when I am turned down simply because one may not like my voice, personally, even though I am usually spot-on in terms of technic and intonation, etc.! Why should whether or not someone likes or dislikes the sound of my voice be an impediment to getting my Master’s Degree in Voice so that I can teach the subject to interested students? To me, that seems like an unnecessary road block to folks who would be amazing voice teachers! In fact, my former teacher passed on much of what he knew to me, and taught me how to modify my vocal exercises so that that I could teach others. Granted, I had attained the level of vibrato like Linda Eder or Streisand under his tutelage, but it is always stage-fright that causes me to not shine as brightly as when I sing during my private lessons.
Personally, since I want to go into teaching, I was hoping their might be a music scholarship that relies upon an essay since I have a very unique story to tell, rather than one that always requires an audition.
If you don’t want to audition, then I don’t see how you are going to do music education or performance programs. You can do an associates or bachelors in any subject, including music, in a non-audition associates or bachelors degree, continue to practice and learn, and ultimately teach privately.
Apparently what I said went right over your head. 1.) I don’t want to audition for a scholarship, which is different altogether than preparing for auditions for a Bach. Program. And, 2.) what is the purpose of auditioning when those judging each student tend not to judge you based upon technical merits, but whether or not they like your voice (I differentiate between the two). After all, a college music program isn’t, nor should it be “American Idol”! I’ve been to plenty of auditions at Universities that seemed to have nothing to do with technique, etc. and everything to do with judging me based upon whether or not I could sing like Barbra Streisand or Kelly Clarkson! That has nothing to do with whether or not someone can learn, or even has learned and ca teach successfully!
Not much goes over compmom’s head, and I don’t think that rudeness will be helpful in any of your endeavors, regardless of how you believe you should be accommodated.
" but…this program requires a formal audition for anyone studying voice, which crosses it off my list since it has been several years since I have sung, let alone had the fortune to work with a new teacher and prepare an audition piece! That was extremely frustrating. In fact, I’ve noticed that quite few community colleges have an audition requirement these days, whereas they wouldn’t have twenty years ago. In fact, my thinking has always been that one shouldn’t have to formally audition to get accepted into a music program or to take private lessons since it is the role of these schools to prepare one for editions into a Bach. program…"
The above quote would certainly seem to indicate that you don’t want to audition. You wrote “editions” instead of “auditions” which may have blurred meaning, but the last sentence is unclear even with the right word.
I think you need to write more clearly and perhaps more concisely if you want advice that fits your situation-or any advice at all since you are getting few responses.
I would add that in 11 years of trying to be helpful on CC, I don’t think I have ever run into a tone like that. AsMother is right in urging you to consider that tone so that you can be more successful.
I don’t think the sort of scholarships you are hoping for exist, unfortunately.
Scholarships primarily come from the Colleges themselves. In music, they tend to have auditions attached and we have no way of knowing what the professors are looking for.
What about trying for a regular music Ba and getting the education certification afterwards? Or a joint degree (BAmusic+ education minor)?
If you live in a state with a resident schozrship, do you qualify for it - zell Miller, bright futures, promise, Cal Grant, Excelsior…?
Or what about Mansfield, which is fairly low cost and excellent for music education?
Do you have an sat score?
A music ed major needs to pick an “instrument” since it is a performance degree. It seems that it can be voice or piano in your case. But schools will require you to audition. The Choir teacher in my daughter’s high school is exceptional–he teaches voice very well–but does not have a good voice himself. He studied piano performance as a music ed major in school and can compose as well.