By the end of this course, you will have a strong, personalized narrative about your identity as a music professional and a clear vision a project or body of work you want to pursue. This narrative will support applications for grants, residencies, commissions, showcases, or label/agency representation. You’ll also gain tools to speak and write confidently about your music practice.
🛠 How We’ll Get There
- Attend four in-person, one-hour sessions
- Engage with brief lectures from an experienced grant reviewer and writer
- Collaborate through group brainstorming and peer feedback
- Write and revise key grant elements during and between sessions
- Partner with a peer for accountability and support
🎓 What the Instructor Will Do
- Share practical knowledge and tips for musicians seeking funding
- Provide real-life examples (good, bad, and everything in between)
- Show up ready to support your growth with honesty and respect
- Adapt sessions based on group needs and feedback
- Keep it real—no PowerPoints, just real talk and real writing
🚫 What the Instructor Won’t Do
- Write your grants for you
- Make you sit through boring slides
- Sugarcoat feedback—this is about getting better, not staying comfortable
👩🏫 About the Instructor – Mary Burruss
You may know Mary from her years writing about the arts for STYLE WEEKLY, but she’s also a seasoned grant reviewer and strategist who’s read and evaluated dozens of music and arts grants. Currently working with CultureWorks, she helps artists improve their applications and land funding. Mary brings a creative lens, business acumen, and a wicked sense of humor to everything she does. With degrees in fine arts and marketing, and years of university teaching under her belt, she’s here to help you bridge the gap between your passion and your pitch.
Please email reese@shockoerecords.com with any questions.
