Friends of Music Applied Music Scholarship Program

This scholarship program helps Stanford students pay for private lessons in the Department of Music. There are over 100 awards granted each quarter in support of private lessons to musicians in degree programs across all schools of the University.

April 24, 2023: The Spring Scholarship application period is now closed. For questions, please contact Rowen at rleigh [at] stanford.edu.

 

Lesson funding basics:
 

  • Please wait to request aid until you have been approved to enroll in a lesson studio by the instructor.
  • To request funding for more than one lesson studio per quarter, submit a separate request for each studio.
  • Matriculated Stanford students from all student careers are welcome to apply, subject to the aforementioned conditions.
  • The application is open from the first day of each quarter through the final study list deadline.
  • Aid requests are reviewed following the final study list deadline. Everyone who is enrolled in private lessons and completes the application gets some amount of aid.
  • This scholarship is available for private lessons only. There are no fees for group lessons.
  • Undergraduates are eligible for scholarship on a sliding scale. Students in advanced degree programs may receive funding for up to half the cost of lessons.

Scholarship Options

If the scholarship option you requested is not available, your application will default to the "QUARTERLY SCHOLARSHIP" category.

ANNUAL SCHOLARSHIP

Students who can commit to a year (three quarters) of private lessons. Students will be paired with an active donor for all three quarters in an effort to provide continuity for our scholarship donors, and further networking opportunities for students. This aid award is open to all students. This is a full scholarship for Music majors and minors, and a partial scholarship for non majors.

QUARTERLY SCHOLARSHIP

Awarded based on demonstrable need and Department of Music citizenship, such as involvement in the Department through ensembles, volunteer work or high levels of achievement in individual instrument areas. This aid award is open to all students. This is a full scholarship for Music majors and minors, and a partial scholarship for non-majors.

ARTS MARKETING SCHOLARSHIP

Instead of scholarship thank-you notes, students will be required to submit materials that can be used for advertising department concerts and recitals. Examples include: photographs of concerts or rehearsals, press release text, live tweeting, or Facebook posts. Students will be given one assignment per quarter based on personal skill set. This aid award is open to all students, limit 20 per quarter. This is a full scholarship for Music majors and minors, and a partial scholarship for non-majors. Quarterly.

ENGINEERS IN THE ARTS SCHOLARSHIP

Sponsored by the School of Engineering to encourage engineering students to continue their music studies while at Stanford. Applicants must be declared in Axess in the School of Engineering (graduate or undergraduate programs). Students have the option of committing to three quarters in an autumn quarter. (See below.) This is a partial scholarship.

ENGINEERS IN THE ARTS SCHOLARSHIP – ANNUAL

Sponsored by the School of Engineering to encourage engineering students to continue their music studies while at Stanford. Applicants must be declared in Axess in the School of Engineering (graduate or undergraduate programs). For a quarter-by-quarter arrangement, refer to the preceding option. This is a partial scholarship.

Scholarship Requirements

The requirements for receiving a Friends of Music Scholarship are:



  • Approval from an instructor to enroll in a lesson studio, one-on-one instruction only
  • Enrollment in a lesson studio in Axess
  • A scholarship application form, submitted in the first three weeks of the quarter

  • A thank-you note or approved arts marketing assignment by the deadline in your award notification email from the Department of Music
  • An invitation sent to your scholarship patron to all of your performances, and a thank-you to your patron in your recital program



Your Friends of Music Scholarship amount will be determined by any of the following:


 

  • Financial aid ranking (i.e., how much aid you receive from the University)
  • Level of involvement with Department of Music ensembles, classes, and other activities
  • Other need (contact Rowen with any concerns: rleigh [at] stanford.edu (subject: Friends%20of%20Music%20Scholarship%20application) )