To an individual that shows exemplary potential in their given area of musical study. Merit scholarships are available to students pursuing any style/discipline of music and open to students of: banjo, guitar, bass, piano, voice, flute, piccolo, drums, trombone, trumpet, French horn, saxophone, oboe, clarinet, violin, viola and cello.

• 2 openings each year (one Fall and one Winter/Spring).

• The Award(s): A 16 week full lesson scholarship. This scholarship covers all lesson fees for a period of 16 weeks. It is not transferable to any other individual or party. The scholarship covers lesson costs only and is not applicable toward any other musical materials or fees. Spring term scholarship: The 16 week Winter/Spring Merit Scholarship starts the first week of February and extends to the week before Memorial Day. Fall term scholarship: The 16 Week Fall Merit Scholarship starts the first week of September and extends to the week before the end of year break. (Dec. 24th - Jan 1st)

• Eligibility Requirements: Applicants for the Merit Scholarship must be between ages of 14 to 17 years old, must have been taking music lessons previously for a period of not less than three years, and have the intention of continued musical study. Applicants must have access to the instrument that they are studying from the beginning of the scholarship term. Applicants must live within reasonable commuting distance of the NJSM branch they will be attending.

• Application information and procedures: Fully completed Helping Hands Scholarship Application must be received at the New Jersey of Music (located at: 10 Union Street, Medford, NJ. 08055) by the application deadline stated in this section. Applicant must be available for an audition during the audition period as stated in this section. Failing to meet application deadlines and audition scheduling will result in disqualification of consideration for the Helping Hand Scholarship award.
  Application deadline for the Winter/spring scholarship is the 3rd Monday of January. Auditions for the Winter/Spring will be held the last week of January. Application deadline for the Fall scholarship is the 3rd Monday of June. Auditions for the Fall Scholarship will be held the last week of June.

• 1]All major and minor scales played two octaves up and down (hands together for pianists), 2] All major and minor triad arpeggios played two octaves up and down (hands together for pianists), 3] One performance piece in your area of study including: Pop/rock, Jazz or Classical. This piece must be at least 2 minutes in length but no longer than 5 minutes. This performance piece must be a written piece of music. Please no improvisation. You can study improvisation with an awarded scholarship but not use improvisation as part of the audition process. 4] One performance piece of classical music of at least 2 minutes in length but no longer than 5 minutes. This piece can be chosen from any period in what is commonly referred to as standard classical repertoire (Bach to Bartok), 5] At least one of the two performance pieces must be memorized. Both may be played from memory if so desired.

• Responsibilities: (1) It is the responsibility of the Merit Scholarship student to attend all scholarship lessons. There will be no make up of missed lessons for Merit Scholarships except in cases of severe illness, or weather and these will be at the discretion of the scholarship administrator. Multiple missed lesson may result in the loss of scholarship support for your lessons. Lessons may still be available for continued study but the lessons will no longer be paid for by the scholarship program. Not showing up for lessons and not calling before hand to let the teacher and school know that you will not be there (no call no show) is grounds for immediate expulsion from the scholarship program. (2) It is the responsibility of the Merit Scholarship student to be prepared for all lessons. This includes adequate and appropriate practice between lessons as well as bringing all books and applicable materials to each lesson. Participation is very important. Students who do not actively participate in their lessons will lose the support of the scholarship fund for their lessons. Lessons will still be available for continued study but lessons will no longer be paid for by the scholarship fund. In these cases the student will be responsible for all lesson fees. (3) It is the responsibility of the Merit Scholarship student to perform in 3 NJSM sponsored events i.e. NJSM local tour, master class, fundraiser, community service, recital, etc. and 1 non- NJSM sponsored event during the scholarship term. Possibilities for non-NJSM sponsored events include but are not limited to: retirement home performance, hospital events, township sponsored events, etc. NJSM must be notified of all non-NJSM performances.

A continuing education scholarship to an individual that exhibits exemplary potential and desire to work within the community to bring music to those in need. Helping Hand Scholarships are available to students pursuing any style/discipline of music and open to students of: banjo, guitar, bass, piano, voice, flute, piccolo, drums, trombone, trumpet, French horn, saxophone, oboe, clarinet, violin, viola, and cello.

• 2 openings each year (one Fall and one Winter/Spring).

• The Award(s): A 16 week full lesson scholarship. This scholarship covers all lesson fees for a period of 16 weeks. It is not transferable to any other individual or party. The scholarship covers lesson costs only and is not applicable toward any other musical materials or fees. Spring term scholarship: The 16 week Winter/Spring Merit Scholarship starts the first week of February and extends to the week before Memorial Day. Fall term scholarship: The 16 Week Fall Merit Scholarship starts the first week of September and extends to the week before the end of year break. (Dec. 24th - Jan 1st)

• Eligibility Requirements: Applicant must be no less than 18 years of age. Applicant must have been taking music lessons previously for a period of not less than three years and have intentions of working with those in need. Applicant must have access to the instrument that they are studying from the beginning of the scholarship term. Applicant must live with in reasonable commuting distance of the NJSM branch they will be attending.

• Application information and procedures: Fully completed Helping Hands Scholarship Application must be received at the New Jersey of Music (located at: 10 Union Street, Medford, NJ. 08055) by the application deadline stated in this section. Applicant must be available for an audition during the audition period as stated in this section. Failing to meet application deadlines and audition scheduling will result in disqualification of consideration for the Helping Hand Scholarship award. Application deadline for the Winter/spring scholarship is the 3rd Monday of January. Auditions for the Winter/Spring will be held the last week of January. Application deadline for the Fall scholarship is the 3rd Monday of June. Auditions for the Fall Scholarship will be held the last week of June.

• Audition Requirements for the Helping Hands Scholarship: 1]All major and minor scales played two octaves up and down (hands together for pianists), 2] All major and minor triad arpeggios played two octaves up and down (hands together for pianists), 3] Three performance pieces of your choosing. Pieces need be at least 2 minutes in length but not longer than 5 minutes for each piece. The only other requirement for these performance pieces is that they be written pieces of music. Please no improvisation. You can study improvisation with an awarded scholarship just not use improvisation as part of the audition process. 4] At least two of the three performance pieces must be memorized. All pieces may be played from memory if so desired.

• Responsibilities: (1) It is the responsibility of the Helping Hands Scholarship student to attend allscholarship lessons. There will be no make up of missed lessons for Helping Hands Scholarships except in cases of severe illness or weather and these will be at the discretion of the scholarship administrator. Multiple missed lessons may result in the loss of scholarship support for your lessons. Lessons may still be available for continued study but the lessons will no longer be paid for by the scholarship program. In these cases the student will be responsible for all lesson fees. Not showing up for lessons and not calling before hand to let the teacher and school know that you will not be there (no call no show) are grounds for immediate expulsion from the scholarship program. (2) It is the responsibility of the scholarship student to be prepared for all lessons. This includes adequate and appropriate practice between lessons as well as bringing all books and applicable materials to each lesson. Participation is very important. Students who do not actively participate in their lessons will lose the support of the scholarship fund for their lessons. Lessons will still be available for continued study but lessons will no longer be paid for by the scholarship fund. In these cases the student will be responsible for all lesson fees. (3) It is the responsibility of the Helping Hands Scholarship student to perform in two NJSM sponsored events i.e. local tour, master class, fundraiser, community service, recital, etc. and three non- NJSM sponsored events during the course of the scholarship term. Possibilities for non-NJSM sponsored events include but are not limited to: retirement home performances, hospital events, township sponsored events etc. NJSM must be notified of all non-NJSM performances.

To an individual between the ages of 8 and 98, not currently studying music with an interest in studying music. This scholarship is open to students interested in the study of: banjo, guitar, bass, piano, voice, flute, piccolo, drums, trombone, trumpet, French horn, saxophone, oboe, clarinet, violin, viola, and cello.

• 4 openings each year (two Fall and two Winter/Spring).

• The Award(s): A 6 week full lesson scholarship. This scholarship covers all lesson fees for a period of 6 weeks. It is not transferable to any other individual or party. The scholarship covers lesson costs only and is not applicable toward any other musical materials, instruments or fees. Winter/Spring term scholarships (2): The 1st Winter/Spring Music Introduction scholarship is 6 weeks starting the first week of February and extending to mid March. The second Winter/Spring Music Introduction scholarship starts the first week of April and extends to mid May. Fall term scholarships (2): The 1st Fall Music Introduction Scholarship is 6 weeks starting the first week of September and extending to mid Oct. 2010. The second Music Introduction Scholarship starts the 3rd week of October and extends to the first week of December.

• Eligibility Requirements: Applicant must be between ages of 8 and 98 years old, and must have not studied music before. Applicant must have access to the instrument that they are studying from the beginning of the scholarship term. Applicant must live with in reasonable commuting distance to the NJSM branch at which they plan to attend.

• Application information and procedures: Fully completed Music Introduction Scholarship Applications must be received at the New Jersey of Music (located at: 10 Union Street, Medford, NJ. 08055) by the application deadlines stated in this section. An audition is not required for the Music Introduction Scholarship, but a mandatory brief interview is required. Failing to meet application deadlines and interview scheduling will result in disqualification of consideration for the Music Introduction Scholarship award. The deadline for 1st Winter/Spring Music Introduction Scholarship is the 3rd Monday of January. The accompanying brief interview will be scheduled for the following week. Application deadline for 2nd Winter/Spring Music Introduction Scholarship is the 2nd Monday of March. The accompanying brief interview will be scheduled for the week the following week. Application deadline for the 1st Fall Music Introduction scholarship is the first Monday in August and the accompanying interview will be held the following week. Application deadline for the 2nd Fall Music Introduction scholarship is the 2nd Monday of October. And the accompanying interview will be held the following week.

• Responsibilities: (1) It is the responsibility of the scholarship student to attend all scholarship lessons. There will be no make up lessons for Music Introduction Scholarships except in cases of severe illness or weather and these will be at the discretion of the scholarship administrator. Multiple missed lessons may result in the loss of scholarship support for your lessons. Lessons may still be available for continued study but the lessons will no longer be paid for by the scholarship program. In these cases the student will be responsible for all lesson fees. Not showing up for lessons and not calling before hand to let the teacher and school know that you will not be there (no call no show) is grounds for immediate expulsion from the scholarship program. (2) It is the responsibility of the scholarship student to be prepared for all lessons. This includes adequate and appropriate practice between lessons as well as bringing all books and applicable materials to each lesson. Participation is very important. Students who do not actively participate in their lessons will lose the support of the scholarship fund for their lessons. Lessons will still be available for continued study but lessons will no longer be paid for by the scholarship fund. In these cases the student will be responsible for all lesson and applicable fees. There are no performance requirements for the Music Introduction Scholarship.

I am a nocturnal creature from the mundane land of Mount Laurel, New Jersey. I've been playing guitar for around four years. Besides guitar, I've been playing harmonica for a little over a year. I like messing around with guitar electronics and hope to build a guitar or bass soon. Maybe I'll become a guitar builder or repairer. I've been thinking about going to school for something music related, specifically for jazz (a challenge!) Besides music I like computers, Halloween, trains, hot sauce, drawing and other things. Currently I am institutionalized at Lenape High School. I'm a senior and only have one easy year left till I'm out, so that's amazing. I'd also like to go to Mars, but wouldn't want to be the first person.