Eastman Pathways

About Pathways

Eastman Pathways provides scholarships for dedicated and talented Rochester City School District students to pursue music at the Eastman Community Music School. Eastman’s world-class faculty guide our students through a rigorous course of study, including individual lessons, ensembles, music history and theory classes…and more!

Since the program’s inception in 1997, its student population has reflected Rochester’s rich cultural diversity: students from underrepresented communities account for over half of the graduating classes.

83% of Pathways graduates have gone on to attend college, and 47% chose to major in music.

Eastman Pathways honors the legacy of world-renowned baritone William Warfield, who graduated from both the RCSD and the Eastman School of Music. Graduates of the Pathways program have attended colleges such as Eastman, University of Rochester, Harvard, MIT, Columbia, the University of Miami, SUNY Fredonia, the Manhattan School of Music, and Juilliard.

Application Information

COVID-19 UPDATE

The Pathways application period for the 2020-2021 school year is now closed. Please email eastmanpathways@esm.rochester.edu if you have any questions!

Applicants will receive further information via email about auditions, which will happen during the first week of November.

RCSD Teacher Recommendation Form

RCSD teachers must fill out this recommendation form for each of their new students applying for the Pathways Program.

***NOTE: RCSD teachers will receive separate information via email about recommending their returning students. This form is only to be used for new students.

Applicant Eligibility: Who Can Apply?

We want to ensure the success of all the students in our program. So, we require that all prospective students meet the following requirements before applying.

To apply for the Pathways Program, the student:

Must attend a Rochester City School
Must be recommended by their RCSD instrumental, vocal or general music teacher
Must be in 4th-10th grades
Must have played their instrument for at least one year and
audition on a NYSSMA solo
Must be in good academic standing (2.0 minimum) and have
no disciplinary referral
Must be a participant in the school music program and continue in 2020-2021
Must maintain 90% attendance or above
Students attending SOTA must be registered in a music ensemble

If the student meets the above requirements, congratulations! You’re eligible to apply for Pathways! Keep reading to find out more…

Financial Information: How Much Does Pathways Cost?

Before reading this section, remember that acceptance to Pathways is NOT based on income. We are looking for talented students with good teacher recommendations. Your income level will not effect your acceptance to Pathways.

Scholarships:

A Pathways Scholarship covers private lessons, and any classes or ensembles you are eligible for.

To determine the amount of your Pathways scholarship, we look at Page 1 of your IRS form, which you submit with your application:

Income under $40,000	Full tuition scholarship
Income above $40,000	Scholarship amount based on a sliding scale

Additional costs:

All students are required to pay a $30.00 registration fee per year. There may be other fees (up to $25/semester) for materials such as theory text books, or music books. Need-based funding for materials is sometimes available upon request.

Application and Audition: How Do I Apply?

Step 1: Get a School Teacher Recommendation

Ask your school music teacher to submit a recommendation.

Step 2: Submit a Pathways Application

Fill out the Pathways Application Form online.

Here is a checklist of all the information you will need to complete in the application:

General Information	Your Contact and School Information Your Legal Guardian Contact information
Proof of Family Income	Page 1 of your family’s latest IRS form (1040, 1040A, or 1040EZ) must be submitted with your application
Grade Consent	Permission to check your grades throughout the year
Report Card	Evidence of your current academic standing; bring this to your audition.
Citywide Commitment	Agreement to partner with the RCSD and give back to the district
RCSD Music Teacher Recommendation Form	This form must be filled out and submitted by your RCSD teacher. We cannot process your application until we have this recommendation.

The entire Pathways application is now available online. You may request a paper copy by emailing eastmanpathways@esm.rochester.edu

Step 3: Perform an Audition

After we receive your application, you must perform a live audition. Further information regarding your audition day and time will be sent to you after you submit the application

During the audition, we will ask you to:

Tell us the names of notes in bass and treble clefs
Perform 2-3 scales (of the student’s choice)
Sightread a short piece appropriate for your NYSSMA Level
Perform a prepared solo from the NYSSA Manual

Select a NYSSMA Solo with your school music teacher, and practice before your audition. Follow these guidelines when choosing your solo:

Elementary Choral Students	Perform any traditional song such as: My Country Tis of Thee, My Favorite Things or Edelweiss.
4th and 5th graders	Perform a NYSSMA Solo Level 1 or higher
6th, 7th and 8th graders	Perform a NYSSMA Solo Level 2 or higher
9th and 10th graders	Perform NYSSMA Solo Level 3 or higher

Audition Requirements

During the audition, we will ask you to:

Tell us the names of notes in bass and treble clefs
Perform 2-3 scales (of the student’s choice)
Sightread a short piece appropriate for your NYSSMA Level
Perform a prepared solo from the NYSSA Manual

Select a NYSSMA Solo with your school music teacher, and practice before your audition. Follow these guidelines when choosing your solo:

Elementary Choral Students	Perform any traditional song such as: My Country Tis of Thee, My Favorite Things or Edelweiss.
4th and 5th graders	Perform a NYSSMA Solo Level 1 or higher
6th, 7th and 8th graders	Perform a NYSSMA Solo Level 2 or higher
9th and 10th graders	Perform NYSSMA Solo Level 3 or higher