Music Merit Badge
Six requirements. A song or hymn your counselor chooses, sung or played; the five groups of instruments and how they make sound; TWO of four ways to explore music, one of them six months in a group or six solo performances; ONE of teaching songs, composing, or making an instrument; intellectual property and recorded music; and a career or a hobby.
The plan behind this
Requirement 3: do TWO of four
| route | what it asks |
|---|---|
| 3(a) | a live performance, or three hours of recordings, from any two of: blues, jazz, classical, country, bluegrass, ethnic, gospel, musical theater, opera; describe the sound and instruments, identify the composers or songwriters, performers and titles, and discuss your thoughts |
| 3(b) | interview an adult member of your family about music, listen to three of their favorite tunes with them, and play three of yours for them |
| 3(c) | serve six months in a school band, choir or other organized musical group, or perform as a soloist in public six times |
| 3(d) | five people important in the history of American music and why they remain influential: at least one composer, one performer, one innovator, and one person born more than 100 years ago |
3(c) is the slow one. If you choose it, start early, or count a group you already belong to.
Requirement 4: do ONE of three
| route | what it asks |
|---|---|
| 4(a) | teach three songs to a group and lead them in singing, using proper hand motions |
| 4(b) | compose and write the score for a piece of 12 measures or more, and play it on an instrument |
| 4(c) | make a traditional instrument and learn to play it |
Requirement 6: a career or a hobby
6(a) researches one career related to music: training and education, costs, job prospects, salary, duties and advancement. An internet or library search, an interview with a professional or a visit to a workplace needs your parent or guardian's permission. 6(b) researches a hobby: training, expenses, and the organizations that promote or support it, with your short- and long-term goals.
The pamphlet
The free pamphlet linked from the badge page is the combined Music and Bugling pamphlet.
What this page is
The Music merit badge, drawn so the three choices are drawn as questions, with the six months of 3(c) and the family interview of 3(b) standing out. It is not a copy of the requirements: each step is a short label with a link to the official requirements, which are what actually governs and which change from year to year. The free official pamphlet is the fuller guide.
Sources for this page
- Music Merit Badge Requirements, Merit Badge Hub, last modified 2026-05-05 · The requirements themselves, and the free official pamphlet linked from them.
- Guide to Advancement, 2025, Section 7.0.0.3 · The process every merit badge is earned through, which this page does not repeat.
- Guide to Advancement, 2025, Section 7.0.4.3 · Which version of a changed requirement applies to a Scout who has already started.
- Guide to Advancement, 2025, Section 4.0.0.1 · Why the requirements are not in the Guide to Advancement and are expected to change annually.
Last checked against its sources on .