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Music Performance Scholarships Reward Talent, Practice

By WTOP Staff

Just about everyone picks up an instrument at some point in their early education. Maybe it’s a toy tambourine in kindergarten, a recorder in third grade or piano lessons after school.

For many students, that experience is the beginning of a lifelong passion for music. And if you’re a high school or college musician, you know how deep that passion runs. And fortunately, whether you’re a band geek, a church organist or a garage guitar player, you can use your talent with musical instruments to find scholarships.

It’s important to keep a couple things in mind before you start seeking music scholarships. First, check the scholarship criteria to see if recipients are required to pursue a specific major. Many awards are available to musicians no matter what their field of study, but others are open only to music performance or music education majors, so spend your application time accordingly.

[Find scholarships that reward performing arts students.]

Second, know that scholarship applications will sometimes come with a fee. Ordinarily, we advise students to be wary of any fees associated with scholarships, but they’re sometimes a necessary evil when it comes to music scholarships.

Unlike typical scholarship programs, awards for musicians often require live auditions, accompanists, performance space rentals and professional judges who spend several days listening to submissions, and your fees are generally used to pay for these extra necessities. It’s still good to be careful, but don’t look at application costs as a deal breaker.

One program where a $35 application fee can pay off with a big award is the Sphinx Competition, aimed at young black and Latino string players , which awards almost $100,000 to its six annual winners along with the chance to perform with the Sphinx Symphony Orchestra and other national orchestras.

Violinists, violists, cellists and bassists can enter in the junior — ages 17 and under — or senior — ages 18-26 — division from now through Nov. 11. The video audition process is arduous, so get started early.

[Check out these additional scholarships for aspiring music majors.]

String players should also be aware of the Strings magazine Edith Eisler Scholarship Award. One college player who demonstrates financial need will earn this $3,000 award. Applications are open through May 15, 2015.

If drums and percussion are more your thing, don’t miss out on the Kerope Zildjian Concert Percussion Scholarship. Sponsored by the well-known cymbal manufacturer, the program asks applicants to record snare drum and cymbal etudes and a marimba solo.

In addition to the $5,000 tuition award, the scholarship recipient also gets a trip to the Zildjian factory and the chance to hand-select complimentary cymbals. Applications are currently closed, but the deadline is usually in May.

The Percussive Arts Society also provides percussion awards. In addition to general scholarships, the organization provides instrument-specific scholarships for drum set, timpani, vibraphone and more. Applications for all awards will be available in November.

[Learn how to use your talents to earn money for college.]

Thousands of drummers and wind instrument players devote their summers to marching in competitive drum corps. If you’re a corps member and a college student, your summer fun can turn into scholarships. Drum Corps International’s Friends of DCI Foundation offers two $2,000 scholarships to marching students with any major.

Applications in recent years have opened in April and closed in mid-May. In addition, the Sponsors of Musical Enrichment provide the $3,000 Jim Ott Scholarship for corps members majoring in music.

Finally, if you’re an instrumental performance major, no matter what instrument you play, you should check out the Blackwood Theater Organ Society Scholarship.

The society was established to help preserve classic pipe organs from silent movie theaters, and proceeds from their annual concert series go to fund scholarships worth $3,000 to $5,000. The application process is open to all performance majors and requires a live interview and performance in the Pittsburgh area. The extra effort is worth it to participate in this unique program.

These regional and national scholarships for instrumental music are just the tip of the iceberg, and we encourage you to check with your band director, orchestra conductor and your college’s music department or school of music for more options.

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Music Performance Scholarships Reward Talent, Practice originally appeared on usnews.com

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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