Okay, this has to be the most obvious piece of advice everybody reading is already aware of but it is still worth discussing, at least in some regards.
Many people assume if they apply to enough scholarships, at least one of them is bound to pay out. It’s a nice thought but it’s not necessarily true. You can’t half-ass anything because there will surely be someone out there who is giving it their all and doing everything possible to snatch the cash. So you need to do the same.
Whatever the organization behind the grant is asking for, you need to make sure you’re going to be the best, which can take a lot of time, effort, and practice. Many scholarships ask for a written essay and as a musician-in-training, this might not be your strong suit.
That simply means you’ll need to work even harder, writing and editing several times over and even handing off your essay to others to read in the hopes their input will make it even better. Don’t crap out and only give half of your effort just because you’re not looking to be a writer. There will be a potential music student who does convince them with both their essay and their performance. If you give it your all, it could be you.
Speaking of performance, since we’re talking about musical programs at colleges, there’s a pretty good chance you will also be asked to perform or audition in some way in order to be accepted, and the same might be true when it comes to scholarships — especially really valuable ones.
You may be more familiar with playing your instrument of choice or singing your heart out in front of an audience than writing a formal, persuasive essay, but you still need to practice, of course. Warm up properly, try and learn what those making the final decision are interested in and what they like the most, and prepare something that allows you to excel and which will really blow their socks right off.
If a video or recording is required in place of an in-person audition, make sure you follow their rules for submitting the audition so you don’t miss out on any important parts or find yourself disqualified.
As a professional musician, you’ll have plenty of important auditions in your life, and some of your earliest ones may be necessary to nail just to get into school (or to get the money to be able to afford such an education).