Scholarships & Grants to Help Buy Instruments

Teachers need instruments for teaching music classes for all ages.

Scholarships and grants can offset the price of musical instruments for music students and teachers across the United States, enabling them to continue their musical advancement. Some programs focus on instruments for school-aged students; others provide instruments for the teacher. Some programs fund the purchase of certain types of instruments, while others simply rely on the recommendation of the student's instructor and other evidence of the student's need and level of potential. Find a scholarship or grant that meets your needs.

Classics for Kids Foundation

The Classics for Kids Foundation provides grants to nonprofit organizations and schools for high-quality string instruments. Only organizations with a nonprofit status qualify. This matching grant program has no set matching requirement, but sets the amount of a grant based on the needs of the applying organization. Classics for Kids grants help provide quality stringed instruments for programs that work with students in grades 3 through 12. Submit grant applications quarterly by Mar. 31, June 30, Sept. 30 and Dec. 31 each year.

Potter's Violins Instrument Awards

The Potter's Violins program grants six instruments per year --- cellos, violas or violins of any size. String teachers apply on their students' behalf. The teacher must be a member of the American String Teachers Association (ASTA), and vouch for the student's potential and promise as a string pupil. Twice each year, on April 1 and October 1, three Peter Zoller brand instrument outfits are awarded to the grant winners. Each outfit is valued at approximately $2,500, and includes the instrument and bow, plus a Humitron (a humidifier), instrument bag, maintenance guide, pencil, polishing cloth and some rosin.

CodaBows for America

Each year, CodaBow International, a violin, viola and cello bow manufacturer, grants $5,000 worth of CodaBows to schools and studios. The ASTA member/applicant recommends the school or studio based on its needs and its promise. The applicant must be a member in good standing of the ASTA. The application asks how receipt of the bows would impact the students, how the bows would be used, if granted, and data about the program's financial situation. In addition, the application requires an ASTA state chapter letter of recommendation.

Music Opportunity Network

The Music Opportunity Network (moNET), the music education arm of the Legacy Music Alliance, offers 25 annual grants ranging from $250 to $500 each for the purchase of musical instruments. Exemplary students in middle school, high school, and college are better equipped to pursue their musical goals. Only students and teachers who are members of Legacy Music Alliance, or one of its divisions, may apply for these grants. In addition to the grants, moNET offers scholarships for high school and college students, as well as music educators.

References

• Music Opportunity Network; Scholarships and Grants; 2011
• American String Teachers Association; Potter's Violin Instrument Awards; 2011
• Potter's Violin Company: Peter Zoller Cello Outfit with Arcos Brasil Model 6011 Bow & Bobelock Cello Bag
• American String Teacher's Association: CodaBows for America Community Outreach Program
• American String Teachers Association: CodaBows for America Community Outreach Program Application
• Classics for Kids: Stringed Instrument Grants

Resources

• Classics for Kids: Classics for Kids Foundation Instrument Matching Grants Application; 2011
• National Association of Music Merchants Foundation: To Apply for a Grant and Scholarship
• Legacy Music Alliance: Musicians Opportunity Network