Can you recieve scholarships if you play the violin really good?

April 23, 2012 at 06:20 PM · How old are you/How long until you will be going to a music school? Most of the time it is when you audition for the college/university you are going to. I received a good amount of money after I auditioned at my school.

April 23, 2012 at 06:59 PM · Of course you can. But keep in mind that it depends very much on what school you're applying for. The big-name schools seldom lack for accomplished applicants from the world over, so scholarship $$ will be very competitive. But for small colleges and universities, string players are in VERY high demand. Remember that no matter the size of the school, they still have to have X number for the orchestra and they have a chronic need to fill slots (not only for the orchestra but for the studio of whoever teachers there). So the lower the level of school, the more chance of scholarship there is.

April 23, 2012 at 09:48 PM · So just after an audition you might get a scholar ship? I guess better start working really hard then. Don't worry I still have a lot of time before entering a college. Thanks!

April 24, 2012 at 01:10 AM · You can even get a scholarship for playing the violin really bad too.

April 24, 2012 at 01:54 AM · Ouch, Peter, I resemble that remark! I remember getting a $500 one-time scholarship for putting in a piano audition tape to my college. The "catch" was that I had to agree to join one of the ensembles, but as it turns out I already had my heart set on the jazz ensemble.

Angelica, don't get your hopes up too high. After all it's not like you're learning how to play basketball, or something really useful like that.

April 24, 2012 at 02:20 AM · Do well in High School. I got a $2000 a year after my audition, but I would have gotten a full ride from the Midland Symphony if I had a 3.5 GPA in High School... I had a 3.4, and they wouldn't budge on the rules. I will be paying off my debt for awhile now.

April 24, 2012 at 11:38 AM · I'd encourage you to investigate what it takes to get into top colleges. Very good grades, a long history of success in an "activity", which can mean your high school's music program, and community or volunteer work are all looked at these days. Your parents' economic circumstances have a lot to do with direct financial help from your college. There are a lot of other sources, including some pretty funky scholarhips, like those for girls with particular names, etc. Some of those require extensive applications and are relatively small, but if you search them out and can add up a few, it's still good money; certainly better than flipping burgers to build a college fund. Not to be unkind, but you need to work on our spelling and grammar. Yes, that counts, too.

April 24, 2012 at 11:54 AM · Paul

I suppose my remark was really about me as I got grants to study music by playing badly for them!

April 24, 2012 at 06:47 PM · I'd like to add one thing: remember that you don't have to go to a top school to study with a great teacher. Many teachers at lesser-known programs are wonderful and there are some famous teachers at conservatories who got where they are mainly by taking credit for the work of other teachers. Make sure you choose your teacher based on how much they can really teach you and what their background is like. Don't choose a teacher just for their fame and their school.

April 25, 2012 at 03:32 AM · True, but one advantage of a better conservatory or university music department, though, is that you will be surrounded by better students who you will be studying with. It matters.

April 28, 2012 at 03:39 PM · As a violinist, especially at the big conservatories, you are one of many. I would not depend on a violin scholarship to fund your education. If you're looking at a university or liberal arts school with a music department, you may be able to get scholarships for academics as well. You might also look to local arts councils and things like that. Find out about the financial aid situation at the schools during the application process - is it fairly common, or is it very rare? I'm at a school where funds are tight across the board, so less financial aid is being distributed.

April 29, 2012 at 11:25 PM · Speaking as someone who is on a full scholarship for music in college, you can definitely get scholarship and grant money to attend in school. Like said in a couple of comments before me, it depends on which school you'd be applying and in which aspect of music. Federal financial aide also factors into that , believe it or not. Even if you're a superb violinist, if you don't necessarily qualify for financial aide, you may still get scholarship money but necessarily as much.

April 30, 2012 at 02:07 AM · There are two parts to this-- financial aid and merit scholarships. If you're looking at liberal arts colleges and universities that happen to have good music departments, many of those won't give merit scholarships and if they do it might not for violin playing. You have to check each case for that one. On the other hand, many have endowments that will allow them to offer financial aid to many of their students based on need. And being a good musician might make you a more attractive applicant.

At many conservatories, scholarship money is part of the compensation given to star faculty. So if you get accepted to someone's studio and you're one of the better players in it (or if that teacher has a lot of scholarship money to dish out), then you might get a decent break on your tuition. Maybe even full freight. In that case, the way to get noticed is by auditioning and playing very well.