Music Can Open Doors: Future You, Future College

Objective: Middle school students often think scholarships are only for high school seniors, but many opportunities start much earlier. By understanding the scholarship process now, students can learn how to set themselves up for success—whether in music, academics, or leadership.

Lesson Script for the Director:
"We talk a lot about practicing your music and showing up for rehearsals, but there’s another way you can prepare for your future in music—scholarships. Some of you might think that’s far away, but it’s not. Many scholarships look for students who have a track record of commitment and growth, even in middle school. Today, you’re going to practice researching scholarships just like you’d prepare a piece of music. You’ll read carefully, take good notes, and organize your information so that, when the time comes, you’ll be ready to apply. Think of it like learning the warm-up for a piece you’ll perform in a few years—you’re building skills now that will make you confident later."

Assignment:

• Research two non-institutional performing arts scholarships (not tied to a specific college).
• For each, list:
  1. Name of Scholarship
  2. Sponsoring Organization
  3. Who is Eligible? (age, grade, talent area)
  4. Award Amount
  5. What You Need to Apply (video, essay, recommendations, etc.)
  6. Application Deadline

Student Reflection Prompt:

• “Why do you think starting to prepare for scholarships now is a good idea?”
• “What could you do in middle school that would make you a stronger scholarship candidate later?”

Grading Rubric:

Grading Scale (30 points possible):

• A (30–27) — Excellent, thorough, and well-presented work.
• B (26–24) — Meets expectations with minor errors or omissions.
• C (23–21) — Adequate but with several missing details or unclear organization.
• D (20–18) — Incomplete or inaccurate work.
• F (17 or below) — Minimal effort or off-topic.

Understanding Scholarship Opportunities in the Performing Arts

Objective: Students will explore and compare various performing arts scholarships available to high school students, understand how they differ from athletic scholarships, and identify how scholarship flexibility can impact college affordability and access.

Assignment Instructions:

1. Research 3 Scholarships: Using the internet, research three (3) different non-institutional performing arts scholarships (not offered directly by a college or university). For each scholarship, answer the following:
   • Name of Scholarship
   • Sponsoring Organization
   • Who is eligible? (Include age/grade level, talent area, etc.)
   • What is the award amount?
   • What materials are required to apply? (e.g., audition video, essay, letters of recommendation)
   • What is the application deadline?
   • How does this scholarship differ from a typical athletic scholarship?

Helpful Starting Points:
Students may begin their search by visiting the following types of websites:

• Accoladi Non-Institutional Scholarship Directory
• National Federation of Music Clubs
• National YoungArts Foundation
• Music Teachers National Association Student Competitions
• The Kennedy Center’s VSA Program
• National Association for Music Education
• Live Nation Entertainment Scholarships
• Big Arts Classical Music Scholarships
• Glenn Miller Birthplace Society Scholarship Program
• US Marine Band Concerto Competition Scholarship
• Davidson Fellows Scholarship
• Isaac Yunhu Lee Memorial Arts Scholarship
• Carl’s Music Matters Scholarship
• Henry D. Teuteberg Memorial Music Scholarship

Grading Rubric

Grading Scale
(40 points possible — weighted according to multipliers in rubric)

• A (40–36 points) — Exceptional work; exceeds expectations in accuracy, detail, and insight.
• B (35–32 points) — Strong work; meets requirements with minor lapses in detail or clarity.
• C (31–28 points) — Adequate work; some missing information or limited analysis.
• D (27–24 points) — Incomplete or inaccurate work; weak research or poor organization.
• F (23 points or below) — Minimal effort, many inaccuracies, or missing major sections.

Dear ______________________________ Parents,

I know high school—and everything that comes with it—can feel a long way off when your child is still in middle school. But when it comes to preparing for their musical future, starting early is one of the smartest moves you can make.

You’ve probably heard about scholarships for athletes or top high school musicians, but here’s something many parents don’t know: some scholarships and awards are open to younger students—sometimes even in middle school. And for the ones that aren’t, the habits, skills, and experiences your child builds now can make a huge difference when they’re ready to apply in high school.

Scholarships come in two main types:

• Institutional scholarships – given by a specific college or university.
• Non-institutional scholarships – offered by outside organizations, foundations, and arts groups.

Here’s why this matters: performing arts students can combine multiple non-institutional scholarships with the aid they receive from a college, giving them a big financial boost. These opportunities are out there now, waiting to be discovered.

That’s why we’re going to start introducing students to the idea of scholarships this year. We’ll look at examples from organizations like the National Federation of Music Clubs, the National YoungArts Foundation, and local arts councils. I want my students to know that their hard work and dedication in middle school can set them up for real financial help down the road.

What you can do as a parent now:

• Encourage your child to participate in music festivals, contests, and community performances.
• Save programs, photos, and videos—these can become part of future scholarship applications.
• Talk about setting musical goals beyond “getting good grades” in class.

By the time your child enters high school, they’ll already have a strong portfolio of experience, making them competitive for opportunities they might not even know exist today.

We’re not just teaching music here—we’re helping students prepare for a future full of possibilities, on stage and beyond.

In Partnership and Purpose,
_________________________________________
[Music Teacher’s Name and Position]
____________________________________________________________
[Name of School]

Dear Parents,

I still remember the day I got my acceptance letter from my dream school. I was elated. My heart raced as I tore open the envelope, imagining myself in those practice rooms, surrounded by others who loved music as much as I did. What I didn’t think about—what I didn’t know to think about—was the scholarship package.

Back then, I assumed all scholarships came from the school. Period. I filled out the FAFSA, crossed my fingers, and hoped for the best. And while I did get some financial aid, and I got a music scholarship from the university, it wasn’t nearly enough. So, I soon signed loan papers with a shaky hand and the hopeful heart of someone chasing a dream.

Today, I’m still making monthly payments on that dream.

What breaks my heart isn’t the debt itself—it’s the knowledge that it didn’t have to be this way. If I had only known about non-institutional scholarships, I maybe could have saved myself from thousands of dollars in student loans. Organizations like The National Federation of Music Clubs, National YoungArts Foundation—groups that support students like mine every day—weren’t even on my radar.

That’s why I’m speaking directly to my students and their parents: don’t make the same mistake I did.

Please take a few minutes to read the article “Performing Arts Scholarships: The Untold Story of Unrestricted Funding” on Accoladi.com. (Oh and you are also going to want to check out on Accoladi.com the Accoladi Non-Institutional Scholarship Directory). It opened my eyes to something I never knew as a high school senior: that performing arts students aren’t limited like athletes are. They can receive multiple scholarships, not just from colleges, but from countless outside organizations.

In fact, for every dollar an athlete receives in institutional scholarship, performing arts students who know how to work the system can receive seven. That adds up to over $5 billion in available scholarship money every year. Yet too many students and families have no idea this opportunity even exists.

If I could go back, I’d research every local arts council, every national society, every private foundation that believed in the power of music and the potential of students like me. I’d apply early and often. And maybe—just maybe—I’d be telling a different story right now.

But here’s the good news: it’s not too late for you.

I’m making it my mission to make sure every student in my program knows about these resources. We’ll talk about them in class. We’ll look for them together. And I’ll do everything I can to help you graduate with opportunity—not future debt.

Don’t leave money on the table.

Read the article. Ask questions. Go after the support that’s waiting for you.

With Heart,
_________________________________________
[Music Teacher’s Name and Position]
____________________________________________________________
[Name of School]