Looking to fund a project while you are at CU? Check out these sources:

Funds from the College of Music

Funds from the ECM
Funds from the Graduate School
Funds on Campus

Not at CU? Check out these potential sources:

Links to On-line Funding Sources

Need some inspiration to get started?

"How I Raised $2,200 in Four Weeks to Study with Wynton Marsalis"

College of Music Awards

Undergraduate Student Awards from the Dean

Up to $400 available to undergraduates in the College of Music for professional expenses, such as competitions and festivals. See Victoria in the main office for an application form. Applications must be submitted at least three weeks prior to use of funds.

Graduate Student Awards from the Dean

Up to $500 available to full-time graduate students in good standing. Awards are made on a first come, first served basis. Applications are available in the graduate music office and may be submitted at any time.

Fiske Award for Academic Achievement in Music

This award, in the amount of $1200 is given in recognition of excellence in academic achievement in the study of music. at any time.

William Clendenin Award in Music History

This $750 award is given in recognition of outstanding work in music history.*

*Eligibility:
Any undergraduate music student in any major, with sufficient GPA is eligible. Selections will be based on:

* The student's performance in music history and theory. A minimum GPA of 3.0 is required in music history, musicology, and theory courses.
* Quality of research and writing as demonstrated in a short paper.

For more infromation and deadlines, please contact Dr. Riis.

Funds from the ECM

Funding opportunities from the ECM are designed to encourage students to think creatively about opportunities in the field of music, to write proposals effectively, and to speak persuasively in support of their project.

Entrepreneurs in Music Grants

The Entrepreneurship Center for Music invites students to apply for entrepreneurial small grants during the academic year. These grants range from $50 to $400 and are awarded on the basis of projects that demonstrate skill in 1) recognizing a music business opportunity; 2) exploring the market for their idea; 3) creating a realistic budget for their project; 4) relevance to the stated career objectives. The applications are reviewed by the ECM Faculty Advisors during the first three weeks of each semester. Students may request a special needs review after the first three weeks.

For an application form, click here.

Entrepreneurs in Music Competition

At the end of spring semester, students are encouraged to compete in the annual Entrepreneurs in Music Competition. Each individual or team is asked to submit a two page paper describing their entrepreneurial activity. Winners are selected by the ECM Faculty Advisors and prizes are $200, $100, $50 for first through third place.

Funds from the Graduate School

University of Colorado at Boulder Graduate School Awards

Here you'll find information on the various awards, grants, fellowships, and assistantships the University of Colorado at Boulder Graduate School offers.

Funds on Campus

Arts and Sciences Student Government (ASSG)

With a budget of over $45,000, ASSG uses funds to help address special events and arts and sciences student groups. 492-6864

Cultural Events Board (CEB)

One of the largest endowed groups on campus, funding projects that help to diversify the campus. 492-3227

Onstage

Provides money for projects in the performing arts that will create otherwise impossible opportunities. 735-SHOW

Student Organizations Committee (SOC)

Funds from this committee are used only for operating supplies and expenses and are made possible through an application process. 492-7473

UCSU Representative Council

Gives student voices the chance to be heard and provides funding to student hroups that meet its guidlines. 492-7473

Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP)

Grants UROP was designed to create research partnerships between faculty and undergraduate students. UROP is a campus-wide program, supporting students from all schools and colleges in all academic disciplines. 492-2596

Links to On-line Funding Sources

Chamber Music America

Colorado Council on the Arts

National Endowment for the Arts

National Endowment for the Humanities

Western States Arts Federation

How I Raised $2,200 in Four Weeks to Study with Wynton Marsalis

An amazing opportunity to study with Wynton Marsalis came my way, and I grabbed it. How many guys get to go to New York and take some lessons with The Man? The only problem was I had exactly $49 in my checking account. I went by the Entrepreneurship Center for Music office to get some ideas. We came up with a plan and I got busy. Here's what worked for me, and some other ideas that might work for you.

The Number One most important thing I did was get an attitude adjustment. I started thinking of myself as an entrepreneur looking for venture capital. The "struggling artist" mind set just doesn't cut it. I was looking for investments, not handouts. This made a big difference in how I felt about asking people for money, and how I felt about my career.

Next I made a list of all the people who know me and want to see me succeed. My list included high school teachers, family and friends, former music teachers, guys I know at the music store. These were the people I asked to invest in my project. If they said no, I asked them who else I might talk to, so they still felt they were helping me in some way.

I made a budget for the project. This wasn't as hard as it sounds. I just thought about all the different things I would need to get to New York and study with Wynton, such as a plane ticket, a place to stay, food, the cost of the lessons, taxis. I called a friend of mine in New York to get some idea of how much things cost there. I listed each item and the cost, and "sold" pieces of the budget. That way no one felt hit up for the whole cost. I found a CU alum in New York City who gave me a place to stay. My aunt gave me her Frequent Flyer miles to buy the plane ticket. You get the picture.

Next I got my publicity materials together with the help of a book called Making Music in Looking Glass Land - A Guide to Survival and Business Skills for the Classical Musician, by Ellen Highstein. Chapter Two in the book tells you how to make your materials look professional. I used these when I spoke to prospective investors.

My web page was a big help. It has a photo of me on there with Wynton from a jazz clinic I went to last year, and some clips of my playing. People I talked to about investing were impressed that a student could have such a professional looking site. It helped convince them I'm serious about my music.

One thing I would have done if I'd had more time was put on a benefit concert. You need about six to eight weeks to plan one of these.

Raising the money took a lot of time and at first I was nervous about asking people for money. But when I had my materials together and my budget, people could see this was a business proposition and I wasn't just hitting them up for money.

The lessons with Wynton were great and New York was awesome! I'm going to be busy writing thank you notes to my investors and keeping them updated on what's happening with my playing. It feels good to know so many people want me to succeed.