Resources

Bridging the gap between middle and high school performers and collegiate opportunities, Accoladi.com’s Resources section provides the guidance you need to navigate the admissions journey. From selecting the right school to preparing for auditions and securing scholarships, our step-by-step tools and expert insights keep you on track. With comprehensive directories and essential tips, students and parents can make informed decisions with confidence. Whether you're exploring options or finalizing decisions, we provide the tools to help you stand out and succeed!

College-bound, but you’re unsure where to start?
This is the starting point!
From choosing the right school to applying, we’ve got you covered. Let us help you navigate the journey with confidence!

STARTING POINT

College Directory for Music Majors

Your all-in-one guide to 1,795 accredited music degree programs across the United States and Puerto Rico. This comprehensive, searchable directory empowers students, parents, and educators to explore music schools by:

Location (state or territory)
Institution type (community colleges, junior colleges, colleges, universities, conservatories, and institutes of music)
Special designation (Historically Black Colleges and Universities – HBCUs, religiously affiliated schools, public or private institutions)

Whether you're seeking a conservatory experience, a faith-based university, or a two-year college with transfer options, this tool helps you find your perfect match for a degree in music.

Repertoire Directory

Over 30,000 entries, each categorized by appropriate music grade level. Includes arranger and publisher information. Selections are primarily drawn from state music associations.

Excerpt Directory

Explore over 2,000 excerpts sourced directly from actual college audition requirements. Many of the nation’s most selective collegiate programs include orchestral and choral masterworks.

Majors Directory

Explore 12 traditional music major degree paths and 30 related fields of study—all in one place. This searchable directory is organized by U.S. state and institution type, including community colleges, colleges, universities, conservatories, and institutes of music. Each listing clearly identifies which degree types are offered per institution, helping students and families find the right academic fit for their musical journey.

Non-Institutional Scholarship Directory

Representing over 16,000 music, academic, and community service scholarships provided by private entities.

Musical Terms Directory

Your personalized roadmap to mastering the vocabulary used across auditions, entrance exams, sightreading excerpts, and performance literature. Categorized into five levels by usage frequency and institutional selectivity, this tool helps you focus your preparation and speak the language of music with confidence.

College Marching Band Directory

Featuring over 500 college and university marching bands—including member counts, auxiliary units, and scholarship/stipend opportunities. Showcasing a wide array of styles such as Midwest Quick-Step, HBCU Show-Stopper, Military Precision, Scramble, and Corps-style traditions.

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Let’s Talk Money

College is a significant investment, often the largest expense for many families in the United States. However, there are plenty of opportunities to ease the financial burden, and here you'll gain a clear understanding of how grants, financial aid, and both institutional and non-institutional scholarships can help make college more affordable.

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AUDITION
REQUIREMENTS

The audition requirements of any collegiate institution reflect its personality, academic standards, and performance expectations. The Accoladi Research Team has analyzed audition criteria from over 400 institutions, categorizing them into three distinct levels.

From auditions to scholarships, double majors to drum corps – Accoladi is your trusted source every step of the journey... this is your guidebook for navigating the complexities of college music admissions with confidence...transforms dedication into opportunity - with actionable advice on auditions, scholarships, and college decisions.

We've Got You Covered

Start your college journey with confidence!

Browse our library of helpful articles and directories made just for performing arts students and their families. Whether you're choosing a school, planning campus visits, preparing for auditions, applying for scholarships, or getting ready to submit applications—this is your go-to place for everything college.

Beyond Practice: The Strategic Advantage of Private Music Lessons

The Competitive Advantage Most Student MusiciansOverlook — and Why It Matters More Than Ever inCollegiate Music Admissions and Scholarships.

Double the Passion, Double the Possibilities: A Music Student's Guide to Double Majoring

Explore how combining music with another field can open doors to exciting career opportunities.

Dual Enrollment: A Prelude to Success for Music Students

Get ahead in your music education journey with strategic dual enrollment opportunities.

3 Smart Ways Future Music Majors Can Connect with College Music Departments

Discover proven strategies to build meaningful relationships with college music departments before you apply.

Contrasting Style Solos: Why They Matter in College Auditions

From Baroque to modern, fast to lyrical—contrasting solos reveal a musician's full range in college auditions.

Cracking the Code: Why Orchestral Excerpts Matter for Music Auditions

Discover why mastering just a few bars of music can make or break an audition and reveal your potential.

Etiquette Matters: What Not to Ask During Your First College Visit

Make a great first impression with proper college visit etiquette and smart questions.

From Application to Audition: Your Game Plan for Getting into Music School

A comprehensive roadmap to navigate the music school application and audition process successfully.

Gratitude's Melody: My Journey to My First Collegiate Rehearsal

Sometimes the smallest gestures-like a simple thank-you -- open the biggest doors. Discover how one note of gratitude changed everything.

Hitting the Right Note: Navigating College Fairs for Aspiring Music Majors

Discover how college fairs tailored for music students can open doors to top programs and help you make meaningful connections before you ever audition.

How Private Music Lessons Help You Nail Auditions and Win Scholarships

Private music lessons do more than sharpen skills — they unlock opportunity. Discover how one-on-one instruction builds confidence, hones performance, and opens doors to college auditions and scholarships.

Managing Performance Anxiety : A Comprehensive Guide to Shining in Auditions

Packed with proven strategies, expert insights, and inspiring real-life stories, it empowers musicians to turn performance anxiety into confident, expressive auditions.

Marching Band Scholarships: A Hidden Avenue to College Funding

Discover how marching band can do more than make music—it can open doors to scholarships, leadership roles, and life-changing opportunities.

Master Class Magic: How to Stand Out in College Music Applications

Where nerves meet opportunity, growth begins. Discover how one powerful experience can elevate your student’s talent—and their college application.

More Than Talent: How to Be the Student They Want to Teach

Professors don't just admit talent—they choose students they won't mind teaching every Tuesday morning before coffee, touring Europe with next spring, and introducing to their colleagues without bracing themselves first.

Music Scholarships 101: How to Get the Most Help Paying for College

Think a music degree is out of reach because of cost? Think again. Whether you're aiming for college scholarships or exploring grants from arts organizations, this guide helps you uncover the many ways to fund your passion — and shows why applying early and often is the key to making your musical dreams a reality.

Navigating Audition Day:Crafting Your Path to Success

From nerves to notes, this guide helps student musicians face audition day with clarity, confidence, and control.

Performing Arts Scholarships: The Untold Story of Unrestricted Funding

Shedding light on the financial freedom performing arts students deserve—and the billions in performing arts scholarships many never knew existed

Study Music Abroad Without the Debt: A Smart Alternative to U.S. Colleges

Talent is just the beginning. Learn how the right moves today—owning your child's UTL name, building their brand, and shaping their story—can set your young performing artist on a path to lasting stardom.

Telling Your Musical Story: Building a Strong Solo Repertoire

From first solo to final audition—how a carefully curated repertoire list becomes a student’s personal record of growth, readiness, and artistic identity.

Traveling to Your Audition: A Guide to Smooth and Stress-Free Transportation

Don't let travel troubles ruin your big audition! This guide has everything you need to ensure you and your instrument arrive.

Unlocking the Secrets of Musical Composition Titles: A Key to Audition Success

Discover how decoding a composition’s name can elevate your performance, impress adjudicators, and help you stand out from the competition.

Want a Great College Reference: Start Here

How one meaningful connection with a music teacher can open doors to college, scholarships, and a lifelong mentorship — starting now.

What Colleges See First: 8 Pre-Screen Audition Tips Every Performer Should Know

You don’t need fancy gear to capture talent — just these smart, affordable tips that could turn an audition video into a scholarship-winning performance.

Why a Liberal Arts Education Can Be Your Child's Ticket to Success as a Musician

Discover why a liberal arts education isn’t just about academics—it’s a powerful launchpad for aspiring musicians to thrive in every stage of their careers.

A Matter of Degrees :Navigating Undergraduate Music Programs

Choosing the right music degree isn't just about a major -- it's about mapping the future of your artistry. Discover the key differences between BM, BA, BFA, and BS programs and find your perfect path.

Why Music Majors Might Out-Earn Doctors (No, Really)

From educators, performers, and industry insiders who got tired of hearing “music isn’t a real career” and decided to answer with Broadway box-office receipts, royalty checks, and Grammy paydays.

Serve, Study, and Succeed: How the College Corps Fellowship Funds Your Education and Elevates Your Music Career

Where Purpose Meets Performance: How Service Can Help Pay for Your Music Degree.

Where You Go Isn’t Just Where You Learn: It’s Where You Launch

For those navigating the leap from talent to training and tuning both heart and mind to what’s next—this is your guide to finding the path that fits, connects, and inspires.

Charting Audition Success: A Six-Month Senior Year Preparedness Plan

A month-by-month roadmap designed to help aspiring music majors confidently prepare for college auditions—one scale, solo, and strategy at a time.

Choosing Where Undergraduate Music Majors Really Thrive: College vs. University Demystified

Beyond the Name: Finding the Place That Helps You Find Your

Coaching the Dream : Is an Audition Coach Right for You?

Discover the real perks, the hidden costs, and how to tell if coaching is the right

Deadlines Are for Real: Navigating College Application Deadlines

Mastering college applications means mastering deadlines. Success hinges on precision, preparation, and unwavering commitment to each institution’s unique demands.

Don’t Panic: Paying for College Starts Here and Now

Because affording your dream school shouldn't be a dream.

Music in Uniform: The Real Path to Becoming a U.S. Military Musician

Where passion meets purpose — discover how talented musicians turn their love for music into a professional career serving their country.

Great Performer – Not Enough Anymore: The Evolving Demands of Collegiate Music Department Recruiting

The music industry fuels the U.S. economy, driving schools to recruit creative, business-savvy students. Scholarships now target songwriters.

Take the Stage, Not the Debt: Global Gap Year Opportunities for Musicians and Musical Theater Performers

How young artists can launch their careers and travel the world — without a college degree.

Backstage Bucks: How Work-Study Can Help Fund Your Music Degree

Because your talent deserves more than applause, it deserves a paycheck.

Rewind to Win: The Secret Strength of Simpler Solos

It’s not about impressing—it's about expressing.

Browse All Articles

The Accoladi Research Team is constantly tracking trends in performing arts collegiate recruiting, documenting scholarship procurement processes, and uncovering new resources for students and families. From the latest audition requirements to insider tips on securing funding, we’re always expanding our library— so, you can make informed choices with confidence.

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