You could earn a merit scholarship for private music lessons, our Suzuki Program, or our J@MS Program! Open to students of all ages who meet the skill requirements.

Our annual merit scholarship auditions are held each March for current students of The Music Settlement's Center for Music. Students interested in receiving a scholarship must complete an audition. All merit awards will be put toward tuition for the upcoming school year.  Details are posted in winter.

For more information about Suzuki merit scholarship auditions, click here.  

Community merit scholarship auditions, which are offered in the summer, are open to anyone in the community who meets the skill requirements.  Details are posted in late spring.

Merit scholarship auditions for the 2026 - 2027 school year are now closed.

Current students of The Music Settlement's Center for Music will be able to audition for 2027 - 2028 merit scholarships in March 2027. Community merit scholarship audition dates for the 2027 - 2028 school year will be posted in late spring 2027.

2026 - 2027 Audition Requirements by Department

• Brass & Winds (Intermediate and up) -- Two contrasting solos. Etudes/technical pieces accepted. Memorization optional.
  - Middle School: Major scales up to 4 accidentals, one minor scale.
  - High School and Up: All major scales, one minor scale.

• Composition (Intermediate and up) -- Audition by submission of two original works that demonstrate creativity and skill level in melodic invention, harmonic and rhythmic interest, and formal structure. Printed score and hand notated sample must be submitted if work is presented electronically. Composition applicants do not need to attend an audition.  All materials must be received by March 31, 2026.
  
  
• Fiddle (Intermediate and up) -- Two hoedowns in different keys and/or tuning, memorization required. All tunes should be played at or close to dance tempo in old-time fiddle style. Cross tuning is allowed. May play alone or with one accompanist.
  
  
• Guitar (Intermediate and up) -- Two contrasting solos, memorization required. Two major scales, one minor scale, two octaves.
  
  
• Harp (Intermediate and up) -- Two contrasting solos, memorization optional. Etude, appropriate to skill level. Arpeggios optional.

• Percussion (Intermediate and up) -- Snare drum rudiments, open/closed rolls, prepared snare drum solo, drum set (if studied). Optional: if studied -- mallet scales and solo, timpani tuning and solo.
  
  
• Piano (Advanced Beginner and up) -- Two contrasting solos, memorization required. Jazz, pop, and concerto movements are acceptable, as are cuts of longer pieces.
  - Advanced Beginner Level: One octave major and minor scale, hands separate.
  - Intermediate Level: One to two octave scale, hands together, plus one octave arpeggios (major or minor), hands separate or together.
  - Advanced Level: Intermediate level plus two-octave arpeggios (major or minor), hands together.
  
  
• Strings (Intermediate and up) -- Two contrasting solos, memorization optional.  Major scales up to three accidentals, one minor scale.
  - Intermediate Level: 2 - 3 octaves memorized.
  - Advanced Level: 3 octaves memorized.
  
  
• Voice (Intermediate and up) -- Two contrasting solos. Memorization required (except for oratorio arias). For current/returning students, one piece may be old repertoire and the other piece must be new repertoire within the last 12 months. Accompaniment is required either with a pianist, self-accompaniment, or an audio recording on a good speaker provided by the student.

*Suzuki Department Merit Auditions

Suzuki Department Merit Auditions are only available for current Suzuki students, held annually each spring.  For information about merit scholarship auditions for The Music Settlement's Suzuki Department, please visit our Current Suzuki Students page.