<p>I realize that there are tons of scholarships and financial aid programs based on race and parents' income(s), but what other scholarships are out there? From what I've seen, there are very few other scholarships. Where can I find information on scholarships not associated with race or the income of one's household?</p>
<p>My son is a junior and I've started a spreadsheet of 9 college "possibilities." Most are small, private schools in Texas or Oklahoma. All but one of those says it gives music scholarships. I am assuming they give them to music majors.</p>
<p>One of my law partners had a daughter who went to Ole Miss as an out of state student. She got a scholarship (I think it was to only pay in state tuition) for merely singing in their choir. She was not a music major.</p>
<p>THAT would be a great scholarship! I don't know how you find out about those types of scholarships. I went on the Ole Miss web page and it said that the various departments have "discretionary" scholarships.</p>
<p>Private, generic music scholarships are a little hard to find.</p>
<p>There are some that are accessible through the web via fastweb and other searches. Many are competition based.</p>
<p>There are often competition based scholarships for hs aged students offered through community, regional, second-tier professional and major orchestras.
The amounts can range from a few hundred dollars to $10k. Competition varies widely be locale, instrument, and award amount.</p>
<p>Local music clubs and organizations often sponsor community specific scholarships for music students. See your hs guidance office. Another source of info is your youth orchestra.</p>
<p>School specific talent awards vary widely. In audition based conservatory level type BM programs, talent awards are normally directly related to your audition. The better your audition, the higher $ amount offered. The amounts can be very school and instrument specific, ranging from a grand or two to full tuition (over program length). Colburn is full ride for all admitted; Curtis is full tuition for admits. Expect top competition across all instruments, disciplines.</p>
<p>Instrument type can also play a role. If the school needs a bassoon, tuba or viola to fill a position in a studio or round out an ensemble, they may dangle a very attractive carrot.</p>
<p>Lower level programs, schools with good BA rather than BM programs, non-audition based programs tend to give lesser amounts but it could be a grand or more per semester for a committment to play in an ensemble.</p>
<p>Academic merit aid (GPA/rank based) may also be included, but normally does not factor in at the conservatories. At university and LAC programs, it may or may not be a factor. Policies are school specific, so ask.</p>
<p>insanepianist- As an aside, it might make sense to direct your music specific questions to the music major forum.</p>
<p>There's a wealth of collective knowledge of a pretty specialized discipline (across many sub-categories) available there.</p>
<p>I would heartily recommend you start by reading the excellent overview post here: <a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showthread.php?t=258796%5B/url%5D">http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showthread.php?t=258796</a></p>
<p>My D was an all-state musician in high school but did not want to major in music in college for a variety of reasons. Most colleges and conservatories require a music major to get a music scholarship of any significance...enough to put a serious dent in the private college tuition out there. But not all of them require you to be a music major. There are a few out there who do NOT require anything more than to play in the school orchestra, marching band etc. But the major schools with serious Schools of Music require you to major.</p>
<p>That is reasonable in my book.</p>
<p>Deciding to major in music is a big commitment of time and a big decision professionally. Becoming a professional musician is daunting and only the very, very best get the best jobs that pay enough money to make it worth their time. Though, there are stories out there about some music majors getting into Med School....I actually heard that story from the admissions people at WashU-St. Louis.</p>
<p>My D chose to attend a school that did not require a music major to play in the Orchestra and also offered a small scholarship/stipend to her. This will allow her to follow her professional/career goals, using music as a healthy stress outlet and keeping up her skills for enjoyment. If she decides to play in a community or regional orchestra after graduation that is her choice....but not a career choice.</p>
<p>We support musicians and artists because we believe in a balanced world, not one full of digit heads and marketing mavens.</p>
<p>But we are also pragmatists...and my D has many passions, including but not limited to music.</p>
<p>Make a list of the schools your kid wants to attend (starting with about 20-25) and then make a simple inquiry whether they require you to major in music to play in the orchestra and/or get a music scholarship and then decide from there what you want to do, and ultimately what 6-10 schools you will make application.</p>
<p>Good luck.</p>