Musical Scholarships: Advice for Parents

Music scholarships to private schools are highly sought after. It should therefore go without saying that a dedication to music making is essential for success. Further to this, it is vital to prepare early and thoroughly.

Before Applying

It is important to research several schools, learning about their musical opportunities and ethos. Think carefully about how your child would fit in and if the environment is right for you. Schools offer open days and it is worth starting to visit at least two years before applying. Apply to several schools. Each school's criteria is different and what they are looking for in a music scholar will vary from year to year too. Most directors of music encourage visits, or pre auditions, where your child can play to them informally. They can offer valuable advice to maximise your child’s chance of gaining a scholarship.

Remember that the information on schools’ websites is usually generic and broad. For example, a school may state that they expect candidates to be at around Grade 5 standard on their first instrument. In reality, this can mean that a pianist would actually need Grade 7 and a tuba or viola player, Grade 4, to be successful.

If there is sufficient time, it is definitely worth taking up a second instrument, if your child has not done so already. Players of oboe, tuba and viola are advantaged, due to the relatively low take up rate of these instruments. Schools love singers. They are vital to the success of their choirs and musicals. Anyone can sing and good instrumentalists should be excellent at sight singing, with a little practice. It’s an attainable extra skill and will strengthen your child’s application.

Applications

Give yourself plenty of time to complete application forms, request references and prepare any necessary audio or video clips. It is a good idea to build a portfolio, recording your child’s achievements such as exam results and festival success. Musical experiences can also be recorded such as playing in orchestras and ensembles, workshops, participation in choirs etc.

Preparing for Auditions

Your child should be ready to play their chosen pieces perfectly, as a strong performance of a slightly easier piece is considered better than a flawed performance of a difficult one. It is a good idea to practice playing the pieces to an audience at concerts, festivals or informally at home. Sight reading will also be assessed in the audition and aural tests conducted. Directors of music set a great deal of store by good aural ability, as this indicates musical potential as well as musical achievement.

Remember to prepare also for the interview. Anticipate questions about your child’s musical background and ambitions. They are bound to be asked about favourite pieces of music and composers and famous musicians associated with their instruments. More generic questions about why they consider music important and what they have learnt about themselves from performing, can be asked.

Before Accepting a music scholarship

Although it is exciting when a school considers your child worthy of a music scholarship, it is important to consider the offer carefully before accepting. Firstly, there is the question of whether realistically you can afford it. Few schools now offer a percentage discount from the fees. Instead, parents have to apply to the school's bursary fund; in competition with academic scholarship holders and those in sport, art, drama etc. Given the huge hike in school fees over the last year, even a very generous 50% music scholarship with bursary, will leave parents with a substantial commitment for at least five years. Before accepting an award, carefully check the terms and conditions to ensure you and your child are willing and able to meet the required commitments.