Man when I read some of this stuff, I’m so glad my D is a vocalist. I’m quite sure when she was around 8 - 10 she was spending a good amount of time watching Sponge Bob and eating donuts. Listening to the Disney channel and asking me why I sang “that way” was her musical education. When I asked her “what way” she hesitated and then said “Bad”. Gee thanks…
LOL @bridgenail. Your story reminds me of my d, also a singer. Recently she heard her father sing at a local theater party. Her comment? Gee, dad , I forgot you could sing!
Funny stories…voice is very different, because the physical development for that kind of singing takes a long time to mature. There is a rough parallel in the music world, you can start kids on violin (ever see a 1/64th violin, they exist), or piano or cello at a very young age (drums, of course, seem to come naturally lol), but for example brass and woodwinds can’t be started before a certain age (roughly 8 or so), plus with those instruments (like voice) the amount you can practice is limited comparatively. It is another reason why music is subject to many myths, I have heard someone say “of course you can start music later on, I know someone who decided she wanted to be a singer, and started voice lessons in college, and is now a professional singer” (with the obvious caveats, of course are a)what kind of singer, classical or contemporary b)what does professional singer mean? Voice over for commercials, backing vocals in the studio, gigs, or singing Mahler 4 with high level orchestras?).
And what is important to take note of is the reality that many of the music conservatories are not well funded. Their survival is mainly based on tuition, so the concept of big scholarships at those schools is not possible. Mainly international full pays are keeping the doors open.
I just wanted to go back a little bit to the original question of the thread. You can still get scholarships for oboe (and other instruments) if you know where to look.
I am an oboist and I received full-tuition music scholarships at two different schools (I’m currently a college sophomore). I had a fair amount of awards though, such as winning concerto competitions, being first at districts, and being first at all state for english horn. I also had some relatively unique music activities, such as early music.
One scholarship was dependent on a music major and they gave 8 a year (this is the school I didn’t attend); I’m fairly certain being an oboist had something to do with it, since they really needed the instrument. However, the scholarship was competitive and I had to go through pre-screenings, live audition, etc. Definitely had to work for it and was not a guarantee at all.
The other, where I’m now attending, was dependent on a music minor. It’s actually technically an academic scholarship but they give out 6-8 a year for performing and visual arts (theater, dance, music, and visual arts are one designation). It was extremely competitive. I had to submit recordings, a personal artist statement, an arts resume, and then come to campus for a live audition and interview. I don’t think this one was as much due to my instrument, however, since the class above me has an oboist with the same scholarship.
My son, who plays cello, will not be a music major, but will still apply for music scholarships. Several of the small liberal arts colleges that he is looking at give music scholarships to non majors. He is looking on the west coast so YMMV with your school list. Just look under scholarships for each school your are interested in and see what scholarships are available. On his list there are only a couple that give scholarships. One gives free music lessons.