What are some small schools with good music programs?

So I’m looking to go into school and major in music performance on tuba, but I’m not good enough to get into the top music schools like Eastman and Juilliard. I’ve had a lesson with a college tuba professor, and he reccommend I apply to a college that is easier to get into musically but also has a good music program that I could learn under. He suggested some state schools, and Ohio and Penn State are on my list. However, I have good academics and my dad wants me to apply to a school that would give me money for going. My chances for getting money because of my academics are a lot higher than for my music.

So I’m wondering, are there any schools that I could get into academically and would receive financial aid, but also have good music programs?

give us your standardized test scores, classes taken, and grades, including overall GPA.
that’s the only way we can help you.

1480 on SAT
3.8 GPA
APs: Lang, Calc BC, US History, German, Physics, Literature, Chemistry

did you take the PSAT and score above your states NMSF cutoff score?
And what AP test scores did you get so far?

here are some colleges that offer merit scholarships- the lists are broken out by state.
some are “automatic” , some are highly competitive.

http://competitivefulltuition.yolasite.com/
http://nmfscholarships.yolasite.com/

I’m confused because in the first paragraph you ask about merit aid and in the second paragraph you ask about financial aid. Can you clarify?

“I have good academics and my dad wants me to apply to a school that would give me money for going. My chances for getting money because of my academics are a lot higher than for my music.”
I think the OP is asking for colleges that give merit $$.

Not sure how much merit money you’d need, but Loyola NO would probably give you some. Might invite you to compete for their Ignatian scholarship (full tuition). My D had similar stats and interviewed for Ignatian. Didn’t get it, but she did get a merit scholarship.

I think what the OP means is going to a school where he could do a BM degree but because of his academics in high school, get academic merit aid. In general, that would mean going to a music school inside a university (stand alone music schools don’t give academic merit aid…). That said, I don’t know what the chance of getting academic merit aid are at places like Penn State and Ohio State, Penn State for example is a pretty competitive school academically to get into, so I don’t know how the OP’s numbers would translate into aid. One thing, you can always call a school’s admissions department and ask if you went there, majored in music, do they give academic merit aid to people like yourself , assuming your grades and stats qualify? They won’t tell you an amount (they don’t know), but they at least can tell you “yes, music students are eligible for academic merit aid”…

In the end, apply to schools that say they offer academic merit if you want to try and get it, audition, and see where the chips fall.

Susquehanna and Gettysburg in PA might be worth taking a look at.

Doesn’t have to be a BM program to meet your goals. You can consider many colleges, based on aid, location, size, academics, music and “vibe.” You can do a BA in music or a BA in anything you like and continue lessons, practice, performances in extracurriculars. I really think that many schools would serve you well. The main question perhaps is whether a state school or private would be more affordable, if the private offers merit aid to you. Look into each school carefully.

Try St. Olaf or Case Western, both offer good merit scholarships. St Olaf has a music scholarship that is stackable with merit aid. I think College of Wooster might as well.

Suny Potsdam and SUNY Fredonia. Both have strong music programs, stackable music and academic scholarships. Also, SUNY Purchase but I’m not familiar with their scholarship awards.

SUNY Purchase is a competitive music school, but relatively affordable so worth a look. I hope you will consider some of the smaller schools suggested, for a BA rather a BM. Clark University in Worcester MA has a good music dept. and gives merit aid. And there are LAC’s with BM’s as well.

And if you’re looking at St. Olaf, take a look at Concordia College (Moorhead) also; lower cost & more aid typically than St. Olaf, offers the Bachelors in Music degree, and definitely has the option for low brass concentration.

Western Michigan and the University of Arizona are both worth looking at. Excellent tuba teachers, known for great $$$, although neither school is small. Because your instrument is in demand though, you really should cast a wide net when you’re looking because you have something they want and it can work to your advantage.

Crane School of Music at SUNY Potsdam. The College of St. Rose in Albany, NY is not especially known for music but my son currently has music lessons (sax) from a music graduate of CSR and he is amazing. My son has worked with many different instrument teachers and is quite impressed with this young man - he is talented and the best instructor he has had.