Music Scholarships at Independent Schools: Grades, Auditions and Awards

Music scholarships at independent schools are awards made on the strength of an audition, and the schools cited here describe them as free instrumental tuition, usually on two instruments, with some also naming a fee reduction where they say so. Candidates apply at 11+, 13+ or 16+, play prepared pieces for the director of music, take sight-reading and aural tests, and still need to meet the school's academic entrance requirements. Awards at UK independent schools are the subject here; university scholarships and athletic scholarships in the United States fall outside the scope.

Each school publishes its own expectations, so the grade, the number of pieces and the sequence of application and audition differ from one page to the next. Wycombe Abbey, Tonbridge School, Dulwich College and Latymer Upper School are quoted below for their own wording, and the music department's current page is the place to confirm details before a child prepares. Choral scholarships at cathedral choir schools follow a separate route, which has its own section further down.

What does a music scholarship at an independent school include?

At the schools cited here, a music scholarship usually brings free instrumental tuition, commonly on two instruments, together with an expectation of ensemble involvement. Wycombe Abbey describes Music Scholarships as providing free tuition on two instruments or one instrument and voice, Music Exhibitions as free tuition on one instrument, and Choral Awards as free voice tuition, with awards in any combination limited to free tuition on a total of two instruments. Dulwich College says successful candidates receive instrumental tuition on two instruments.

Fee reductions differ by school and by award, and the school's own page is the only reliable place to read the amount. Latymer Upper School says music scholarships can vary in amount, that all of them carry free tuition on two instruments, and that candidates not offered a scholarship may sometimes be given a Music Award of free tuition on two instruments. Tonbridge School adds that Music Exhibitions can go to candidates judged close to scholarship standard.

How do 11+, 13+ and 16+ music scholarships differ?

Music scholarships are offered at entry to Year 7 (11+), Year 9 (13+) and Year 12 (16+), and the instrumental standard schools describe rises with each entry point. Dulwich College names all three, referring to its Lower School, Middle School and Upper School, whilst Tonbridge School publishes separate information for Year 9 and Year 12 entry. The grades below are quoted from the schools named, and each describes them as a guide to the standard of the main instrument.

The sequence of application differs as well. Tonbridge School accepts music scholarship applications only from boys in Year 8 who have already accepted a place, and asks them to discuss the application with their current school because a supporting statement signed by the Headteacher and Head of Music forms part of the assessment. Latymer Upper says 11+ auditions follow the entrance examinations.

• Dulwich College: candidates for 11+ should be around Grade 5 on their first instrument, 13+ candidates at Grade 7 and 16+ candidates at Grade 8+.
• Latymer Upper School: roughly Grade 5 standard on the main instrument at 11+ and roughly Grade 8 at 16+.
• Wycombe Abbey: as a guide, at least ABRSM Grade 6 standard, or equivalent, on the first instrument for an instrumental award.
• Tonbridge School: at Year 9 entry, a minimum standard for the main instrument equivalent to Grade V-VI (Associated Board grading).

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What happens at a music scholarship audition?

A music scholarship audition usually combines prepared performance, sight-reading, aural tests and a conversation with the director of music.

Latymer Upper describes a similar format: two contrasting prepared pieces on the main instrument, a third piece on a second instrument if offered, the two or three pieces together lasting no longer than ten minutes, a short piece to read at sight, and questions on aural, theory and general music. An accompanist is available at the audition.

Tonbridge School adds a separate written test including theory and an essay question, invites candidates to bring a composition if they wish it considered, and holds an interview with the Director of Music. It says greater importance is attached to overall musicianship and potential than to the technical demands of the repertoire.

Dulwich College publishes a separate requirements sheet for each instrument. Its percussion sheet for 11+ includes a short unaccompanied piece prepared during the warm-up, aural tests similar in style to the ABRSM aural for the corresponding grade, and an interview about current music making, ambitions and wider interests, which the sheet says has no trick questions.

How do choral scholarships at choir schools work?

Choral scholarships come in two forms: choristerships at cathedral-linked schools, which run up to the end of Year 8, and choral or senior chorister awards for entry at 13+ and later. Exeter School, which runs the Exeter Cathedral chorister programme, holds voice trials for children entering Years 2 to 5, which involve singing a prepared song or hymn, playing an instrument if the child has one (not compulsory), and ear and musicality tests such as singing back notes played on the piano. Its choristers receive a Cathedral Scholarship and free instrumental tuition, and are expected to remain in the choir and at the school until the normal age of leaving.

Wells Cathedral School says its choristers rehearse each morning before school, alternate singing Evensong during the week, share weekend services and take part in special services at Easter and Christmas. Its process begins with a pre-audition, followed by voice trials and academic entrance assessments for successful candidates. The school describes its Choral Scholarship as non means-tested and says further means-tested bursaries may be available.

At 13+ and beyond, the awards sit at senior schools. Truro School describes senior chorister scholarships running from Year 9 to Year 13, with three rehearsals a week, a song of the candidate's choice at audition, and assessment of voice, sight-reading, ear and general aptitude. Wycombe Abbey asks Choral Award applicants for a strong background of choral singing in parts.

How does a music scholarship work with the entrance exam and bursaries?

At the schools cited here, a candidate must still meet the academic entrance requirements before a music award is confirmed. Latymer Upper says all candidates must first satisfy the academic requirements for entry, and Dulwich College says external applicants must meet its academic requirements at all points of entry. Truro School says prospective senior choristers must also pass its academic selection criteria.

Bursaries are assessed separately from musical ability. Dulwich College says a scholarship can be topped up by a bursary if there is genuine financial need, and Tonbridge School says Sixth Form scholarships can be held in conjunction with means-tested financial support. Wells Cathedral School separates its non means-tested Choral Scholarship from means-tested bursaries. Each school's admissions or bursary office explains how an award and a bursary are combined, and that is the question to put to it directly.

How should a child prepare in the year before the audition?

Preparation in the year before usually starts with finding the school's own audition sheet for the instrument and entry point, then building the programme around it. Dulwich College publishes separate requirements for each instrument and entry level, and its percussion sheet says the panel is looking for potential as much as for what a candidate can currently do. Choosing two contrasting pieces that fit within the stated total time, 10 minutes at Latymer Upper, gives the child a programme that can be rehearsed to time.

Sight-reading and aural work can be practised with the grade in mind, because Dulwich College describes aural tests in the style of the ABRSM aural for the corresponding grade. Talking about current pieces, ambitions and other interests prepares a child for the interview or viva that the schools above describe.

Practical paperwork matters too. Tonbridge School contacts the current school before the assessment day. Latymer Upper holds an open day for potential music scholars in the year before entry, which gives families a chance to meet the department before applying.

Music awards sit alongside the academic entrance exam, so for one-to-one help with the written papers and the interview, read about our scholarship exam preparation, or tell us about your child and the schools on your list and we will reply with tutor recommendations.

What should parents ask the music department?

Parents can use the music department's reply to fill in whatever the published pages leave open, and a short list of questions covers most of it.

• Which grade or equivalent is the guide for the first instrument at this entry point, and is a second instrument expected?
• Are scales required? The pages cited here do not specify them.
• Does the school provide an accompanist, and is rehearsal time offered before the audition?
• Are recordings, teacher reports or a supporting statement from the current school needed before the audition, and by when?
• What does the award include: tuition on how many instruments, and is any fee reduction attached?
• Which ensembles and choirs does a scholar join, and is music studied to GCSE expected?
• How often is the award reviewed, and what progress does it depend on?
• How is a music award combined with a bursary or an academic scholarship?

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