TMEA Scholarships
Offered by Texas Music Educators Association
About This Scholarship
The Texas Music Educators Association runs one of the most generous scholarship programs in the country for future music teachers, and one application covers every award you qualify for. High school seniors compete for the Bill Cormack Scholarship ($3,000 per year for up to five years) and several Past-Presidents and Executive Board scholarships at $2,500 per year, while undergraduates can win the Robert Floyd Scholarship for Music Education at $4,000 per year for up to four years. One-year awards, student-teaching semester awards, and graduate study awards round out the list.
The common thread is Texas music education. Applicants must be pursuing a music education degree leading to Texas teacher certification, with music as the primary teaching field. Seniors must be Texas high school graduates entering a Texas college or university full time, and college-level applicants must hold TMEA College Student or Active membership. A 3.0 GPA is required for undergraduate and student-teaching applicants.
The application is serious: five references (seniors need one from their primary ensemble director), a self-written essay, a resume, and a transcript, all due by 4:30 p.m. CT on October 30. TMEA states that essays are screened for AI-generated content and the result affects evaluation, so write it yourself. Winners are notified by email by the end of January.
Eligibility
- Pursuing (or planning to pursue) a music education degree leading to Texas teacher certification, with music as the primary teaching field
- High school seniors: Texas high school graduates entering a Texas college or university full time in fall 2027; no TMEA membership required
- Undergraduates: TMEA College Student membership and a minimum 3.0 GPA; graduate and elementary-educator applicants need Active membership
- Student-teaching applicants: minimum 3.0 GPA
- Continuing-education awards available to current Texas elementary music educators
How To Apply
- Start one application (and only one) at tmea.org/scholarships/application between August 1 and October 30
- Line up five references; seniors must include their primary ensemble director
- Upload a self-written essay, a professional resume, and a current transcript as PDF or Word files
- Submit everything by 4:30 p.m. CT on October 30; mailed transcripts must arrive by the same date
- Watch for email notification by the end of January
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to major in music education?
Yes. Every TMEA scholarship requires a music education degree path leading to Texas teacher certification, with music as the primary teaching field.
Are the awards renewable?
The largest ones are multi-year: the Bill Cormack Scholarship pays $3,000 per year for up to five years, and the Robert Floyd Scholarship pays $4,000 per year for up to four years. One-year and one-semester awards are also offered.
Do high school applicants need to be TMEA members?
No. Seniors have no membership requirement, but undergraduate applicants must be TMEA College Student Members and graduate applicants must be Active Members.