Is it possible to go to college on a Band Scholarship?

[gm]

I am trying to start looking into scholarships.

My son is in 11th grade and he is in band (wind ensemble which is the highest band they have in their high school). He plays alto saxophone and is first chair and he is also in marching band.

Here is the situation, he has to take a required course in 12th grade that is required to graduate here in tx but he would have to give up either Band or Computer Science IB. If he continues Computer science he would be in the third year of computer science and if he continues band he will be in his last year of band as a senior and he is in marching band. He does not know if he should give up band because he wants to go to college on a BAnd scholarship if he can get one.

Any of your kids or any one of you received a band scholarship at a great college? was it a full or partial scholarship?

I know he will also try to get an academics scholarship since he is top 5% of his class in rank and is in the International baccaleaurate program at school but that is so competetive.

What do you all think, should he continue band in his senior year and based on your experiences do you think he would get a band scholarship for playing in college?

I am so confused for him. I am hoping he at least gets a Marching Band Scholarship.

 

[ducklite]

I have several friends who got full and partial scholarships to Berklee based on their musical ability, but it's unbelieveably competitive and they are all world-class musicians.

I'm not sure if that's what you are looking at, or more like a marching band/general ensemble type thing.

Good luck to him!

 

[Nikel]

I went to East Tennessee State (ETSU) on a full scholarship. First, I got the music scholarship that Dolly Parton or her foundation or whatever gives to one Sevier County student each year. It was a one time $1500, spread out to $7500 per semester for my first year, which paid for room and board. My tuition was covered by a full academic scholarship. I was also offered a full tuition scholarship by the music department. I went with the academic one though because the music one required participation in more ensembles than I wanted to. (I was not a music major.) Instead, I also got a $500 music scholarship, which was all they could offer me based on my other aid. It only required participation in the marching band and auditioning for the wind ensemble.

FWIW, I started playing with the top high school concert band (we had 2) in 8th grade, as well as started marching with the high school band in 8th grade. I was a band officer in 9th-11th. Jr Band clinic 7th-9th, All-State East 10th-12th, concert band section leader 9th-12th, governor's school for the arts alternate 11th, band captain 12th, all state alternate 11th, all state 12th.

My dh, who also attended ETSU, was offered a 1.2 tuition music scholarship. The only other school I auditioned at was University of TN, Knoxville. They only offered $400 to every student from my high school that auditioned. My band director declined for me and told them that was just offensive. He was awesome.

 

[babytrees]

Both my husband and I were given partial music scholarships...his was a bit bigger because that was his major.

The big question to be asking is what does he want to do when he gets to college? Is it more geared toward the computer or the music?

He also needs to think what would give him more happiness.

 

[poohandwendy]

Unless people are knocking on your door and making a huge deal out of his talent...I would not place too much hope on a band scholarship. (not that it wouldn't be nice and could happen, just not expect it)

 

[Cindy B]

I'm told it also depends on the type of instrument.

My son plays oboe. He has been playing oboe for four years now and does all the wind ensembles and such at school.

If you are a bassoon or oboe player, scholarships are available. If you aren't a bassoon or oboe player, your changes are fairly slim to none.

We have had many people tell us for him to stick with it because he knows what he is doing and needs to keep it up because he is possible scholarship material.

BTW, I would do the IB class. My son is in an IB middle school and I love the program. I would love nothing more for him to continue IB until high school.

 

[Galahad]

If he's not going to be a music major, then getting a scholarship to play music at a college WITH a music school will be rare. But, if a college is smaller or has a music program without a "music school" then it certainly does happen (though not a full ride). This is more common if they play a string instrument. I know several kids that want to study something other that music but the play cello or viola, which are often in short supply. At a smaller school they may offer some $$ for helping them fill out their ensembles. But if it's a major school with a major music program they aren't likely to have any shortages. A scholarship just to be in the marching band will be very rare - certainly at a larger or more prominent school.

 

[Nikel]

Oh, and FWIW, I played clarinet in marching band, bass clarinet in concert band, and tenor sax in jazz band. I was not a music major at any time, nor was I planning to be one when I was auditioning. I was a math major.

 

[Cindy B]

Galahad--

Great info.

My university has a music college and a teaching college. I know many music students that are doing a dual major (music/teacher education) so they will have a teacher cert and a music major. The only complaint I have heard from the music students is that they have tons of classes which are only one credit each. -- that may just be the program, but the music students have 6-10 classes a semester, whereas most ed majors have 5-7.

Our state requires a dual major of teacher education and another academic major. For example, my majors are Elementary Education/Writing Arts/Special Education. I'm going for the trifecta!

 

[Galahad]

Galahad--

Great info.

My university has a music college and a teaching college. I know many music students that are doing a dual major (music/teacher education) so they will have a teacher cert and a music major. The only complaint I have heard from the music students is that they have tons of classes which are only one credit each. -- that may just be the program, but the music students have 6-10 classes a semester, whereas most ed majors have 5-7.

Our state requires a dual major of teacher education and another academic major. For example, my majors are Elementary Education/Writing Arts/Special Education. I'm going for the trifecta!

Yep. A music education program is one of the most rigorous there is but most will be surprised to hear that (my undergrad is music ed). DS is a senior and plans to do music ed and we are planning for him, up front, to take 5 years instead of 4. Actually, his will be a "trifecta" too as he wants to include music theory and composition as a concentration as well.

 

[Tinijocaro]

Yes, there are band scholarships, but for a full ride, you have to be VERY good. You said your son is at the top in band at his school. How does he compare in his county or state? Has he gone to any music competitions? If so, and if he's had success at the state level, he might have a chance at a scholarship. Is he looking for a career in music?

Also, it depends on his instrument- some are in more demand than others. Flute players and percussionists are a dime a dozen. If he's oboe, bassoon, or tuba, he might have a better shot.

I would think with your son's academic record AND being a good musician combined might help him in general.

DH and I are both music teachers. We both got full scholarships/ assisantships for graduate school.

 

[Simba's Mom]

I am trying to start looking into scholarships.

My son is in 11th grade and he is in band (wind ensemble which is the highest band they have in their high school). He plays alto saxophone and is first chair and he is also in marching band.

Here is the situation, he has to take a required course in 12th grade that is required to graduate here in tx but he would have to give up either Band or Computer Science IB. If he continues Computer science he would be in the third year of computer science and if he continues band he will be in his last year of band as a senior and he is in marching band. He does not know if he should give up band because he wants to go to college on a BAnd scholarship if he can get one.

Any of your kids or any one of you received a band scholarship at a great college? was it a full or partial scholarship?

I know he will also try to get an academics scholarship since he is top 5% of his class in rank and is in the International baccaleaurate program at school but that is so competetive.

What do you all think, should he continue band in his senior year and based on your experiences do you think he would get a band scholarship for playing in college?

I am so confused for him. I am hoping he at least gets a Marching Band Scholarship.

Marching Band in Texas, Hmmm! I'm trying to remember (DS is a long time "band geek"). I think that a couple of his friends got partial marching band scholarships at Abilene Christian (or maybe it was some other college in Abilene) and at Mary-Hardin Baylor (no relation to Baylor University). Of course, the best school for music performance is right here in our state-University of North Texas-not that I'm biased.

 

[Talking Hands]

Daughter went to college and graduate school on a full music scholarship. Have friends who went on a band scholarship with majors other than music.

 

[gm]

wow!! thank you so much for all the info. I knew my disney family will help me sort and think this out.

It helps me think which way he may want to go. I know that he will not major in music and I definitly have no idea what colleges look at.

I was under the impression that colleges need kids to play in their bands for football and they give out scholarships for that while they study for whatever they want to study lol!!

He plays tenor saxophone and no he has not won any competitions on his own since they really do not have any competitions for solo but he has with the whole band performing in state competitions.

academically he is doing great in the IB program, I just dont want him to stop band in his senior year after being in band since 6th grade and oh all those fees I paid thru out the years(band parents sound familiar )

Right now he is working on taking the PSAT and is studying for it. The IB program is very rigourous and hard along with playing in the marching band .

 

[AZMickeyfans]

yep, my husband got a marching band full ride scholarship. Of course that was back in the day.......

 

[The Mystery Machine]

It helps me think which way he may want to go. I know that he will not major in music and I definitly have no idea what colleges look at.

If he is not majoring in music then he probably will not get a music scholarship.
He also has not won anything? I would say no. He really has to be a "stand out" student.
What about Leadership roles in band? Section Leader or Drum Major?

It is OK to let him drop band for his Senior year to get ready for college if he wants.
Look at what he wants to take instead of band and colleges he wants to go to.

 

[PlutoPony]

Here is the situation, he has to take a required course in 12th grade that is required to graduate here in tx but he would have to give up either Band or Computer Science IB.

Is there any way he could take this required course in summer school or at a local community college and transfer it back to HS?

 

[Cindy B]

Yep. A music education program is one of the most rigorous there is but most will be surprised to hear that (my undergrad is music ed). DS is a senior and plans to do music ed and we are planning for him, up front, to take 5 years instead of 4. Actually, his will be a "trifecta" too as he wants to include music theory and composition as a concentration as well.

I have some dual music majors in my core education classes. Some say they will be lucky if they finish in 5 years-- because of how some of the classes fall and how the education courses are situated.

As for the OP and the IB school-- do the IB route. My son is in IB and I love it.

 

[biras jim]

my sister went to school on an oboe scholarship (full ride)

where does your son's REAL interest lie ? If it is music, I'd say drop the 3rd computer course -- plenty of time and opportunity for those courses in college

 

[dhcoffey]

My niece went to Troy State on a full music scholarship, was majoring in music, had a problem, switched majors to a non-music major, was able to keep her scholarship. She played clarinet and sax both in marching band and concert band at Troy.

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