Do Colleges Give Scholarships For Marching Band

It’s no secret that attending college can be incredibly costly. Financial obligations are a major concern for first-year college students, and they frequently resort to grants and scholarships in order to reduce costs while still funding their education.

Marching band is only one of the extracurricular activities that many colleges and organizations honor students who participate in, whether or not they are majoring in music. Thus, students who are seeking scholarships for marching band are in luck.

Do Colleges Give Scholarships For Marching Band

The simple answer is, Yes. Scholarships are frequently provided by colleges all around the country to students who want to join their marching band, which further lessens the cost of a college education. All skill levels of musicians, twirlers, and color guard members should think about joining their college marching band and applying for scholarships specifically designed for young musicians, regardless of whether they plan to major in music or not.

Although not all colleges provide scholarships for marching bands, it’s still a good idea to get in touch with the marching band director or the financial aid office to find out about prerequisites, scholarship amounts, and other important considerations.

Marching Band Scholarships

1. Gene Thrailkill Award

Deadline: Varies.

Available to College Freshmen through College Juniors Award Amount Varies. The Gene Thrailkill Award is available to students at the University of Oklahoma, College of Fine Arts. You must be majoring in music and participate in marching band and a Spring Concert band to be eligible for this award. 

2. Stephen and Joanne Williams Marching Band Scholarship

Deadline: Varies.

Available to College Juniors through College Seniors Award Amount $850. The Stephen and Joanne Williams Marching Band Scholarship is open to upperclass students at Appalachian State University, Hayes School of Music. You must be a member of the Marching Mountaineers for at least two years to qualify for this award.  

3. Sun Devil Marching Band Scholarship

Deadline: Varies.

Available to College Freshmen through College Seniors Award Amount Varies. The Sun Devil Marching Band Scholarship is available to students at Arizona State University School of Music. You must be a member of the marching band to qualify for this award.  

4. Pep Band Scholarship

Deadline: Varies.

Available to College Freshmen through College Seniors Award Amount Varies. The Pep Band Scholarship is open to full-time students at Boise State University. To be considered for this award, you must have a minimum 3.0 GPA, be active in the pep band and attend an audition.

5. Mighty Sound of the South Scholarship

Deadline: Varies.

Available to College Freshmen through College Seniors Award Amount Varies. The Mighty Sound of the South Scholarship is available to students at the University of Memphis. You must be a member of the color guard, Tigerette, the marching band, or the pep band to be considered for this award. 

6. BSU Marching Band Scholarship

Deadline: Varies.

Available to College Freshmen through College Seniors Award Amount Varies. The BSU Marching Band Scholarship is open to full-time students at Boise State University. To be considered for this award, you must have a minimum 3.0 GPA and attend an audition.  

7. Lowe Family Mustang Band Scholarship

Deadline: Varies.

Available to College Juniors through College Seniors Award Amount Varies. The Lowe Family Mustang Band Scholarship is available to members of the Mustang Marching Band at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo. You must have been a member for at least two years and have a minimum 2.5 GPA to qualify for this award. Preference is given to students with financial need. 

How To Apply For A Marching Band Scholarship

It’s not that simple to receive a scholarship from your institution as a marching band member; just because you join the organization doesn’t imply you’re eligible for one; you need to go through a rigorous application procedure.

Here, I’ll walk you through the full application process for college marching band scholarships and share some tips on how to get ready for them. Now, let’s examine:

• Get Started Earlier

Joining the marching band as soon as possible is the first step you can take to get ready because, from an experience perspective, participating in the school marching band is crucial.

Talent scouts tend to favor applicants who have some marching band playing experience. Thus, you will benefit if you join the marching band at your school.

• Select an Instrument

Choosing and mastering an instrument for the Marching Band is another thing you can do to aid yourself. To join the College Marching Band, you don’t usually need to major in music, but you will have an advantage over other applicants if you can play an instrument.

• Choose The Ideal University

In order to receive a scholarship from your college as a Marching Band member, you must choose the ideal college. Choosing the correct college is crucial because many universities and colleges don’t offer their students any financial aid.

Therefore, thoroughly investigate the college marching band before selecting a college.

• Go to the college band camp

You must attend band camp on a regular basis in order to enhance your profile as a Marching Band member after selecting the college and joining the marching band. Summer band camps are offered by most schools and universities. You can sign up for these programs and converse with other band members who will provide you with guidance.

• Audition

Following your interview with the Marching Band director and admissions officers, you will be required to play the instrument you plan to play for the Marching Band during the audition process. They will notify you of your eligibility for the scholarship following the audition.

There are no requirements to audition for the Marching Band at many institutions, and if you’d rather not play an instrument, there are alternative positions available.

Conclusion

Aft going over all the information, it is evident that a number of factors, such as the position you will be handling, the instruments you will be playing, and whether or not you have experience with the Marching Band, will determine how many scholarships you will receive as a member.

I hope that this post has answered all of your questions regarding scholarships for college marching bands. To find out more about musical instruments, college marching bands, and other topics, subscribe to this site on a regular basis.

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