Scholarships and Sliding Scale - Blue Bear School of Music

Jean Mazzei

Andrea Fultz



		Free Report

Acoustic Guitar Electric Guitar Voice Piano/Keys Bass Drums Sax/Clarinet Mandolin/Fiddle

Sliding Scale and Young Musician Scholarship Programs

Since 1986 Blue Bear has offered scholarships to talented and dedicated young musicians. These scholarships are supported by music businesses and individuals with an interest in making quality music education available to motivated youth who might not otherwise be able to fully explore their passion. Some past scholarship winners have gone on to successful music careers, including Howard Wiley (tenor sax phenom active in the Bay Area and national jazz scene), essence (successful Bay Area singer/songwriter) and Arion Salazar (bassist with Third Eye Blind). More recent scholarship winners are establishing themselves in emerging bands or as solo artists; see our Blue Bear Affiliated Bands and Artists page (which includes much of the incredibly varied music emerging from our Blue Bear community - students, alumni, teachers, staff and board). Other scholarship winners have become professional working musicians, and many have maintained an active and rewarding involvement with music balanced with non-music careers. Whatever the result, a Blue Bear Scholarship offers a fantastic opportunity for musical growth and development under the guidance of experienced professional musician/teachers.

• Sliding scale tuition support is available for both private lessons and group courses, all ages, no audition required.

• Scholarships for young musicians and singers ages 12-25 are awarded by annual audition.

• The next Scholarship application deadline is April 15, 2008; auditions take place in late April and early May.

More info on applications and auditions

2008 Scholarship Benefactors
Bill Spooner Songwriting Scholarship:
• Cathyann Stonehill
• Paul Wattis

2008 Scholarship SuperSponsors
• Huey Lewis & The News
• Phillips, Erlewine & Given LLP

2008 Scholarship Sponsors
• Jon Hollander
• Mike Kappus - The Rosebud Agency
• The Lucasfilm Foundation
• Bonnie Raitt
• Pavel and Joy Svihra in honor of
the Pockell-Schroeder Family
• WomenROCK

2007 Blue Bear Scholarship Winners (left-right):
Nathan Pastor, Ian Ackley, Khadejhia Kassenbrock, Natasha Weidner, Marley Walker, Roben Bonstin
and Ellie Cope
Not pictured: Celeste Ignacio, Justin Lousteau,
Elliot Low, Adam Nash, Alex Nash

Keith Allen Memorial Scholarship Fund
• Thomas and Patricia Allen
• Charles Felsenthal
• Ned and Robin Selfe

2008 Celebrity Sponsors

Elvin Bishop

Booker T. Jones

Past Celebrity Sponsors
Peter Apfelbaum • Pat Benatar and Neil Giraldo • Blackalicious • Charles Brown • Cake
Tommy Castro • Tracy Chapman • Craig Chaquico • Les Claypool • Clarence Clemons
Counting Crows • Robert Cray • The Donnas • The Doobie Brothers • Robben Ford
Goapele • Alex de Grassi • Green Day • The Greyboy Allstars • Bonnie Hayes
John Lee Hooker • Bruce Hornsby • Charlie Hunter • Bobby McFerrin • Metallica
Papa Roach • Bonnie Raitt • Rancid • Vicki Randle • Carlos Santana • Alex Skolnick
Smash Mouth • Bill "Sputnik" Spooner • Tuck & Patti

Make a tax-deductible donation to the Blue Bear Scholarship Fund
The form will allow you to note any honorarium or memorial intent. It's easy!

Your grocery purchases can support our Scholarships. And it's free! escrip.com

Scholarship Applications and Auditions

The next Blue Bear Scholarship auditions are in May, 2009.

To apply for a Blue Bear Scholarship:

Download the application here (pdf) or call Blue Bear at 415.673.3600
to request an application by mail.
Complete the application as instructed in the form.
Mail the completed application to Blue Bear, or drop it off in person.

Scholarship auditions are usually held over several Saturdays in late April and early May. There are four parts to the audition.

You play some technical exercises on your instrument – scales, arpeggios, long tones, paradiddles, etc. Singers will be led through a warm-up exercise.
You perform two pieces in any style, whatever shows off your skills and strengths.
We will test your ear by playing intervals, short melodic ideas or rhythms and having you play or sing them back.
You'll improvise over a 12-bar blues accompaniment. Don't worry if you've never improvised before; we'll help you out.

Scholarships are awarded on a variety of factors including the skill and accomplishment you demonstrate, the talent we perceive, and your interest and commitment to the study of music. Scholarship awards can be used for Blue Bear classes and lessons anytime over the course of one year beginning the summer after auditions are held.

Keith Allen Memorial Scholarship

Keith Allen at Blue Bear circa 1974

Keith Allen, an early Blue Bear teacher and Association Member, passed away unexpectedly on January 1, 2004. He was 50 years old. According to Bonnie Hayes (Blue Bear teacher, board member and alumna): "To say that Keith was an incredible musician, a precise and soulful singer, a gifted teacher, is to say things that have been said a lot since he died. But what I think he'd like is for me to say that he made musical situations work through generosity, humor, and a kind of pure goodness you don't see much. Keith was deeply, deservedly loved, and he loved well. And he played well. What's better than that?"

Natasha Weidner

Through a generous donation from Ned and Robin Selfe, also members of the Blue Bear community in the '70s, Charles Felsenthal, and Thomas and Patricia Allen, Blue Bear has instituted a Keith Allen Memorial Scholarship for a promising young guitarist.

Natasha Weidner is the recipient of the 2007 Keith Allen Memorial Scholarship award. She is an accomplished classical guitarist who got her start on the instrument at Blue Bear School of Music, and a returnee for the third time to the ranks of Blue Bear Scholarship Winner.

Donations to the Keith Allen Memorial Scholarship can be made on our Donations page.

Sliding Scale Support

As part of our Scholarship Program, Blue Bear offers a limited amount of sliding scale support for classes and lessons. The amount of support you receive is based on your gross income from your tax return. Sliding scale support is available on a first-come, first-served basis, and is not limited to the 12 to 25 age group. Consult the chart below to see if you qualify. If you do, then bring a copy of page one of your prior year tax return to the school when paying your tuition.

Please note: sliding scale applicants cannot be listed as a dependent on another person's tax return.

Sliding Scale Discount (per quarter):

# in Family		1 in Family	2 in Family	3 in Family
Gross Income (based on prior year's tax return)**
A	$25,000	$75 off one group class See below for lessons discount.
B	$30,000	$50 off one group class $10 off each half-hour private lesson* $15 off each one-hour private lesson*	$75 off one group class See below for lessons discount.
C	$35,000	$50 off one group class $7.50 off each half-hour private lesson* $12.50 off each one-hour private lesson*	$50 off one group class $10 off each half-hour private lesson* $15 off each one-hour private lesson*	$75 off one group class See below for lessons discount.
D	$40,000	$5 off each half-hour private lesson* $10 off each one-hour private lesson*	$50 off one group class $7.50 off each half-hour private lesson* $12.50 off each one-hour private lesson*	$50 off one group class $10 off each half-hour private lesson* $15 off each one-hour private lesson*
E	$45,000		$5 off each half-hour private lesson* $10 off each one-hour private lesson*	$50 off one group class $7.50 off each half-hour private lesson* $12.50 off each one-hour private lesson*
F	$50,000			$5 off each half-hour private lesson* $10 off each one-hour private lesson*
G	$55,000
H	$60,000
I	$65,000

* No ten-lesson discounts, applies to one- or four-lesson rates only (more info)
** Note: GROSS income, not ADJUSTED GROSS

Sliding Scale Discount for Summer Camps:

# of Dependents		1 Dependent	2 Dependents	3 Dependents
Gross Income (based on prior year's tax return)*
A	$20,000	$450 off Summer Camp
B	$25,000	$300 off Summer Camp	$450 off Summer Camp
C	$30,000	$200 off Summer Camp	$300 off Summer Camp	$450 off Summer Camp
D	$35,000		$200 off Summer Camp	$300 off Summer Camp
E	$40,000	$100 off Summer Camp		$200 off Summer Camp
F	$45,000		$100 off Summer Camp
G	$50,000			$100 off Summer Camp
H	$55,000
I	$60,000

* Note: GROSS income, not ADJUSTED GROSS

Blue Bear School of Music does not discriminate according to race, color, or national or ethnic origin. Blue Bear School of Music operates at Fort Mason Center in cooperation with the Fort Mason Foundation and the Golden Gate National Recreation Area.